Recent content by Sullen Maximus

The best way to ensure you know what side you're on is to book a room on the transition car. This is the car that runs directly behind the luggage car. Since it's the only superliner that has a "standard level" door, it will always have the side with the stairs pointed forward. The only...

UP has also been BY FAR been the most difficult, and horrible rail line to work with. Amtrak failing would be the greatest thing to happen to UP since the golden spike

They also gave UK the highest average train tickets in Europe. Also, It was never full private as companies kept going under, and every time one did, the government just picked up the tab.

Yeah I don't count entirely private owned shuttle companies "serving a line" Like any private shuttle company, they're super expensive. Costs as much one way to vegas from SLC as a round trip to and from Denver.seems more like a service for rich Boomers who don't want to drive.

Who would have thought... filing a federal complaint with the STB magically made most of the issues with UP intentionally screwing over passenger rail not happen anymore.... If there was one rail line that needs to have it's entire network federalized, it's UP....

Not going to lie, that just sounds like nationalized lines, with more steps involved. The reality is that there is a reason why almost no other countries operate rail lines like this. The closest is the UK, but it's more like the inverse of what you said. Basically the government owns the track...

Wrong, the main lines were paid for with citizen tax money. They were heavily subsidized for upkeep with tax dollars. It's the equivalent of paying a contractor to build a house, and then telling them so long as they paid the utility bills and kept the house clean they could live in it BUT IT IS...

Better option, just take the main lines away from them and nationalize them. Companies can buy rights to use the national network, bit this concept of private entities literally holding a monopoly over the main lines is silly. Private spurs cam be kept, but our situation will never improve so...

Although apparently he only deals with amfleet cars. No long distance ones, but still an interesting read.

I have been going over timetables from when the Desert winds and Pioneer were running. The timetable I want to try pitching with the Utah Passenger Rail association is a midday departure arrival from SLC via the overland route. Here is why. 1. Gives Utahs a reasonable departure train. Currently...

Apologies, I read your post as a rant against Amtrak. While they have their own issues, we can't even address it because the freight companies skew Amtrak over so much. Good news though, Amtrak is finally taking UP to court. Not over the Zephyr specifically, but the sunset limited. Hopefully get...

This is currently what SLC, Boise, and Las Vegas are trying to get. There is no north-south lines between Chicago and California. I think they need to bring back the desert wind from Denver to Vegas hitting SLC around midday. Right now, the Zephyr is the only option for SLC And it's times are...

Both photos are in Utah, west of SLC.

You will see some of the lights, but you will not be able to see the tunnels and ridges on the approach because there is no lighting there.

They're on the segment about an hour west of SLC. I knew the 15 hour delay would mean it would be an exceptionally rare daytime Zephyr running on the salt flats. Chased it for 3 hours all the way to Nevada. Got some truly unique rare shots. Normally only daytime Zephyr shots are the east bound...