This is a topic I've always wanted to look into but never got the chance to ask. Out of all the past presidential candidates we've had, have any ever came out as a known proponent of railroading or other preservation related activities? I certainly don't think the four running this year have any connections (I'd be shocked) but as opposed to the past was there ever a strong advocate in the museum realm.
In addition are your local representatives aware of your organizations and are they actively involved in them? The CMRR and Adirondack conflicts bring up reasonable debate this year making the case that there needs to be increased political support not just for museums but rail based industries as well. I look forward to your responses.

Cameron

Hi,

All I can recall is that Richard Nixon pushed Amtrak. I was about 15 at the time so I may not have it 100% correct.

I seem to recall he supported Amtrak as a compromise package. The Republicans (I think) were looking to get the passenger service of the common carrier railroad's backs (big business) and the Democrats wanted a was to support minorities and small town America by keeping the passenger service alive without spending too much.

The exit strategy to kill Amtrak (Rep) and the service to small towns (Dem) were never accomplished. Amtrak's startup route structure was a severely cut back from the private carriers (something like 2/3rds of the private routes - maybe - were abandoned).

In the 1990s, it was claimed that a capitol expense increase for new routes and more equipment on existing routes would have made Amtrak profitable. Hearsay evidence
supported this. Politicians have a way of clouding things in such a way to present the results they want.

Local and state politicians have supported things like PRR 1361, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic and many more but I do not think president or VP have. I think National Senators and Representatives may have also taken railroad preservation stands.

Best I can recall.

Doug vV

We find the local and state politicians generally supportive, but the common refrain is "don't ask for money". Have never heard from any at the national level.

Our railroad is about the only attraction in a fairly small town and the local businesses are also supportive. We buy goods and services locally as much as we can (hardware store, auto parts store, fuel, heating oil, building materials, and use local plumbers and electricians, etc.) and also we have been told by the local restaurants that they always have an uptick in tables served on days that the train runs and also increased customer count at the ice cream store across the street, etc.

Our state's centenial was back in 1989. Sometime before that the parks department and other branches of government had the idea of supporting five museums showcasing industries of the state. These were to be flight, timber, railroads, maritime and agriculture. Of these flight was the only one that got any industry backing. As a result we have a world class flight museum and none of the rest.

Our state's DOT wants to retain a piece of railroad for future development, so they are providing it and repairing it (including installing an equipment yard) for Belmont Trolley, Inc. This organization is planning to develop into a regional electric railway museum for the Southeastern US since we don't have any down here. Opening is scheduled for sometime in 2017 depending on the progress of the track repairs. This is not money, but it's value as an in kind donation of use is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everybody wins - we get to build a tourist destination and promote development and the state keeps its railroad line alive.

I'd encourage approaching the public sector with ideas that reflect their interests and dovetailing them into your own rather than from the opposite perspective.

I suppose that this is as good a time as any to point out that the United States Government is being subjected to its quadrennial performance review and encourage all of you who are registered voters to do so. I have absolutely no reason to favor either ticket if I use a rail preservation criteria and, frankly, I just do not know.

I am going to ruin the sleep of at least one moderator by suggesting that four years from now this august body host a debate where the candidates for office are asked about which steam locomotives should be preserved and operated.

In the real world however the President does not really have time for a hobby or outside interest and in the scale of things issues of historic preservation probably do not even make it to the outside office. Such touchy feely issues tend to be left to First Spouses and as I recall Jacqueline Kennedy made her professional name after her husband's death as an advocate of historical preservation.

The current Vice-President commuted from Wilmington to DC by train on an almost daily basis while he was in the Senate and as result he has a much better appreciation of the importance of rail transportation than many of his peers. You may recall that when he was President-Elect the current incumbent made a point of arriving in Washington on the rear platform of a business car.

As Governor of California Ronald Regan was a major supporter of the California Railroad Museum. I believe that the Carter family owns or owned the former station in Plains, Georgia. Richard Nixon may well have been a railfan and on at least one occasion used a specially configured Metroliner set rather than fly. The Eisenhowers' traveled by train post-retirement and his final trip home to Kansas was by train. Truman hated to fly and after he retired frequently used either an MKT or a Missouri Pacific business car.

While there is a connection, none of this other than the CRM is supporting preservation in sense implicit in the question. The higher you go in the political and governmental food chains the greater the needed spread of attention and the focus tends toward policy rather than specific local projects.

GME


Note 1: Though I was born in new Zealand and my father was a Scottsman, my mother was an American Citizen and under the rules in force at that time I held dual citizenship. When I accepted a commission in the United States Army that act confirmed my American citizenship and I have voted in every Presidential election since.

Note 2: In proper usage the terms "the President" and "The Vice-President" imply the current holder of the office and the names need not be used. A former President or Vice-President is referred to by name with the title and is still addressed as "Mr. President" et c.

MR. Trainlawyer -

Thanks for your comments. I concur that those who are eligible to vote this coming Tuesday, should certainly exercise that privilege, and do so.

One possible "quibble" in your statement. I'm not sure that Truman hated to fly; I think he may have preferred it and I think he had the first aircraft actually assigned to a President. But wife Bess, certainly did not, and that is the reason for much of his train travel.

Les

Hi,



I think this is a slight error. The Plains GA depot was used for the 1976 Carter election campaign (rented not owned - I was 20 at the time and working for the other side so I might be in error also) and the failed reelection campaign in 1980. I do not think the Carters ever owned it. It was owner maybe by the city of Plains and rented out.



I'd forgotten about how interested in railroads he was. In a late 1960s or early 1970s issue of Trains magazine, Nixon had intended to be a street car conductor. I do not recall what happened to move him to politics.

The 1960 Nixon-Kennedy race is rumored to be rigged. I have hearsay evidence from my parents only. Apparently the Chicago Political Machine reported false or slanted vote counts handing the victory to Kennedy. Nixon was strongly urged to get recounts. He did the honorable thing of saying something along the lines of there has been enough anger in the campaign and the voters do not need a dragged out uncertainty. Let the healing begin - something along those lines anyway.

Compare this to the Gore "temper tantrum" in 2000. Any further charges and counter charges about the Gore campaign I will not get into. Its 15 years old and can not be changed.

In conclusion, I do not think any had a plank in their political platform specifically targeted to railroad preservation. The possible exception would have been Nixon and Amtrak - passenger service preservation is a stretch.

Doug vV

Les,
Thank you for the clarification on the Carters use of the station.

Doug,
Truman was certainly willing to fly if he needed to and understood the value of the time saved, which is nowhere near enjoying it. He was the first President to use a dedicated aircraft but then he was also tne first President to serve in the era of the civilian pressurized airliner. There was a reminiscence in Trains many years ago of Truman's use of one of the business cars for a trip to, if I recall correctly, Texas. He was unaccompanied and its fairly clear that this was his preference.

GME

Hi,

I'll ask the next question. Who was the first sitting (in office) President to ride a train?

Doug vV

That was Andy Jackson, who rode the B&O from Ellicott's Mill to Baltimore in 1833.

The way things are today, I'd just as soon the politicians stayed away from my railroad preservation projects.

I'll second that.

Nothing is actually free, especially political money. If they give you money they're buying something from you, even if you don't know what it is yet.

I've dealt with railfans who voted for Obama simply because "Joe Biden rides Amtrak!!!!"

If you actually like the politician's policies or promise thereof that's a good reason to vote for them. Having a common interest with a running-mate is a poor reason, it kind of degrades the whole process.

The candidates themselves have degraded the process.

Sorry, I did not mean to post this and have deleted it.

Doug vV