At some point and I don't know when they also set up a rewards system. If a Amtrak train arrived on time there was a percentage/cut that would go back to the hosting railroad. Pretty much a mute point and not enough to make a difference. Last I heard it was dropped. This next incident occurred sometime in the late 80's while I was still in Victorville, Ca.. Overheard on my scanner at Cajon Pass, Ca. while rail fanning and hot spotting the Summit. Member of the crew to conductor. Looks like no one wants their share of the cut today. Conductor responded, not today. They were running something like six hours late. A surprise and delight to see them come through. Considering they were scheduled to come through, earlier in the morning. Noted today, by those of us on the Chatter Box, (do you like that?). While in Kasas City, they added a third coach to the consist, making it eight passenger cars in total. Also, noting they were an hour behind schedule coming out of Kansas. Does that explain it? Once upon a time: They had a similar problem when switching out Amtrak Express flat's and reefers. Go figure.
One more video to watch. That should give you a sampling of video reviews. I'll leave you to your own conclusion.
Eastbound Capitol Ltd and Lake Shore Ltd are both running 10+ hours behind schedule due to this NS incident west of Toledo. Imagine being the homeowners who woke up to find their back yard full of double stacks:
Just when you think everything is going great. You are retired, made it through life safely and then this. I'd have to go clean my booty off and get new underwear.
One of the routes I'm more familiar with is the old Southern Pacific Line from Los Angeles, to Oakland, CA. Here is a nicely documented account of the Coast Starlight which now runs Los Angeles to Portland. It hosts an older Santa Fe lounge car. See if you can spot it. There's by for more out there but this should at least wet your appetite.
Mine two uhh...err too. Also the California Zephyr from Denver to Sacramento or a shorter version Salt Lake City to Denver. Should I ever be so lucky the Southwest Chief, ...all the way... and back. Round trips of course.
My bucket is Sunset-Coast Starlight-Empire-Lake Shore-Crescent, with touristy visits at various connecting cities.....WHEW! OK, I may be whooped at the end, but what a way to go.
From Canada our brothers and sisters from the north. Here's a different perspective. This comes as close as you can get to riding the passenger trains of yester-year. Enjoy!
The Rocky Mountain Mountaineer. If you don't like this one...well...your not into passenger trains. Enjoy this streamline train ride through the Canadian Rockies. Do I need to add this to my bucket list?
Getting back to Amtrak. A introduction Hollywood style to Amtrak. So, will I see you, get to visit with you all the while riding a Amtrak Train?
You are most welcome. I'm looking at yet one more. It's a Chicago, Ill., to Emeryville, Ca. on the California Zephyr. I've only had time to view parts of it. If I like what I see and the camera work isn't bad I'll post it here Sunday. Tomorrow, tomorrow ...
It's Monday morning and I finally had time to view the whole video. This is perhaps the most honest and level headed approach to riding an Amtrak train. I think you'll like this and may find yourself dreaming of sometime in the future and you see yourself riding the rails. Trip Report After viewing it...what do you think? Do able? I thought so. Amtrak trains are today's dinosaurs. In time they will disappear off the rails and hopefully be replaced with something as, let me think, romantic? It won't be high speed trains as everything will go by in a blur. See you on the rails.
For those interested, today's Wall Street Journal (Saturday/Sunday, July 6th and 7th, 2019) has a large feature article on Amtrak's state, its airline-experienced CEO, its want to drop long distance trains and its hope to break even in the near future. The story A Flight Plan For Amtrak is not available "on line" without a subscription, but WSJ articles can sometimes be found open to all readers weeks later.
Yep, you better ride those dinosaurs now before they are forever eclipsed. By the way #4 SWC Eastbound left LAUPT yesterday night and is now running over six ours late. As I write, currently stopped at Williams. You have to be scratching your head as a CEO or CFO and wondering out loud, "How can we run long distance trains?" From what I've been able to see by watching the various SWC passenger trains, at stops, it appears they aren't running empty. Plenty of passengers boarding and de-boarding at various train stations. I've been watching LaPlata, Flagstaff and Barstow where Virtual Railfan, has camera's. Not so much going on at Barstow, but since it's a smoke break you get an idea of how many people are on the train. Now here's a controversial suggestion. Cut out two of the trains for each route and see what difference that makes. Okay let me explain. On the old Santa Fe route there are currently four Amtrak trains running on the route during a 24 hour period or at any given time. Two leaving from each end and two meeting in the middle. Does that help? We've all known it isn't cost effective to run trains at a financial lose. The thinking of the day is tax payers can afford to pay for it so we will run them. Downside is tax payers may indeed be paying for it but aren't getting much of a break. It still costs more to ride the train then fly. That's been discussed here as well as the differences. I think we've beat that dead horse to usable glue. Anyway, just glad I'm not sitting on a board somewhere making decisions. As much as I like trains and passenger trains. Well let me put it this way. Unless they can get back their first class status as a top priority train and given the right of way over the freight trains. It won't get better. I promise. I'd be voting to cut back the long distance trains. Before giving up on them all together. Run trains as the public demands. Now what do you do with the crews that man these trains? Put them on call. Sorry, that won't work. Find other things for them to do? I know re-open the Harvey Houses. Not.
