I think this qualifies for The Interchange. Today, May 1, 2021 is the 50th anniversary of the start of Amtrak service. This is to all of us who have been interested in, been passengers on, employees of, or even board members of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, many, if not most, of us would consider ourselves to be faithful members of the Ancient and Loyal Order of the Pointless Arrow. This day is ours. Happy Birthday Amtrak!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEjL-RrFUWM

Nothing has preserved passenger rail in America better than Amtrak. They have their faults, but I’ve loved the opportunity of traveling my country by rail on historic routes that offer breathtaking scenery.

While tourist trains and museum operations are great, there is something about the real thing... literally traveling across the country with fellow passengers from all walks of life. Fellow passengers on the way to graduations, weddings, funerals, new jobs, new starts on life.

Happy Birthday Amtrak!

Yes indeed !! Happy Birthday Amtrak !!! And, now that we again have an adult as our president and a CIC who publicly professes his love for Amtrak ( and who has proposed a MAJOR increase in Amtrak funding) perhaps, just maybe Amtrak's best days lie ahead??

Hope springs eternal. Ross Rowland

Yes, hopes and crossed fingers for 50 years more.

Yesterday, April 30, 2021, President Biden spoke at Amtrak's Penn Coach Yard next to 30th Street Station, Philadelphia. I understand he flew to Philly in Air Force One. I believe putting together a POTUS train on the NEC would have disrupted service enough that flying was the only viable option. Being at Penn Coach Yard prevented disruption of Amtrak and Septa passengers up in the station and made social distancing easier. It also put the Acela II Test Train in the background.

Biden and other Delaware and Philadelphia politicians have been regulars on Amtrak's Metroliner and Acela service.

Here's Channel 3:

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2021/ ... on-amtrak/

Biden first appears at 0:40 of the broadcast.

Phil Mulligan

While we are on the subject, see Northwestern University's new online exhibit for Amtrak's 50th. They use some of the items I donated as part of the online exhibit. See https://sites.northwestern.edu/amtrak50/.

Thank you very much for sharing that. It contains links to many valuable reports.