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    TRAINS March Issue

    I feel compelled to jump in. There's a simple way to "fix Amtrak": insist that all intercity passenger trains run on time. In doing this, you demonstrate where the choke points are in the American railroad network. The railroads that want to run 10,000 ton land barges will hate you for...
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    "Catch the Keystone" Advertising Campaign

    Seems to me I attempted to access the website when it went live with an iPhone. Why, oh why, would PennDOT in this day and age build a website for people on-the-go, and NOT make it accessible from an iPhone? Anyone with answers, kindly type. Thanks.
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    New equipment for Amtrak

    Dutch, Was it you or someone else who typed about how the Viewliner design was horribly expensive to build, and that another approach might be A Good Idea? It's been a while, but IIRC, someone posted that the exterior shell of the Viewliners was complicated to the point where substantial...
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    New equipment for Amtrak

    Somehow, a post of mine in this thread got eaten by IPS; I'll amplify some thoughts a bit. The turboliners are dead as far as regular service is concerned. If you want to get any use out of them, run some fan trips in the summer on Empire Service with an extra fare. I used to think Amfleet...
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    New equipment for Amtrak

    We should also keep in mind the buff strength regulations for passenger rail rolling stock.
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    How Should Amtrak Reform?

    I forgot to mention one other thing in Step one of my last post: having Amtrak trains run on time would quickly settle the notion of which managers are competent, and which aren't.
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    How Should Amtrak Reform?

    Step one: Make all (that's ALL) Amtrak trains run on time. Yes, folks, I'm talking about DB standards of "on time" -- not the wussy standard Amtrak uses at present. Let me reiterate: If #43 is supposed to show up at Greensburg, PA at 8:01 A.M., I had better be able to set my watch by it. No...
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    ARC Project

    Jis, If you've got a better explanation than Alan, post it. While I'm not in newsbiz the way I used to be, I do have a number of connections who need to know the details on this. Most important: the facts have to be DEAD STRAIGHT. If they aren't, it's game over, folks. If we're going to...
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    Joseph Boardman next CEO of Amtrak

    All of this chit-chat is well and good, but keep in mind the point Mr. Pittsburgher touched upon: Any national rail transportation planning is at the mercy of the freight railroads. Some of the people running freight railroads even have the quaint notion the feds can stay out of such things as...
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    Joseph Boardman next CEO of Amtrak

    Quite. Mr. Pittsburgher, I'm with you on some of this, and respectfully disagree on some of it as well. As I see it, the move to electrification lies more in the freight railroads being significantly compensated for their rights-of-way in order to enable the American nation to enhance its...
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    Amtrak's (or rails') share of THESE feddybux?

    Silly, silly me. This is what I get from staying in the building, and not getting out in the field these days. I'll answer my own question. Courtesy the AASHTO website: More details in the table at the link.
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    Amtrak's (or rails') share of THESE feddybux?

    Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal: Sure, a new rail tunnel to Manhattan is needed. If that gobbles up the "rail" part of this package (a very big IF) though, that's not the greatest of ideas, IMO.
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    Harassed For Photography

    Interesting you folks should bring this up. Pardon the digression here. Seems to me the NS crew that splattered chlorine gas over Graniteville(sp?), SC were company men to the end -- right up until NS threw them under the bus, even if they deserved it. I think in that incident, they thought...
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    Harassed For Photography

    Really? I'll take your words at face value, but I'm a bit skeptical, 'coz I used to work in the newsbiz. President Reagan's words, "Trust, but verify" strike me at this time. Anyone on this forum have good ideas to verify this story?
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    Photo Harassment Pic

    Okay. First time on this forum in months (owing to the different gig I have where I work), and I see the police are beating up on photographers. Fill me in -- the trip report doesn't mention this bit of "detaining and harassing." I don't want to fire off my views without having heard at least...
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    Need expert advise for 4 days on the train

    Sound advice. I really miss the real railroad french toast for breakfast. These days, I'd get the omelette du jour just to let the cooks know some of us appreciate the fact we can still purchase fresh-cooked eggs on a train. :) I'd suggest bringing some snacks like granola bars or trail mix...
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    Reserved Seats??

    To answer your question directly, yes, I would. It's called "common courtesy", and it's still present out here in flyover country. :) The last time I rode the Broadway Limited in 1990, as was my habit on that train when boarding in Greensburg, PA, I got a coach seat -- an aisle one at that...
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    Reserved Seats??

    "Reserved Seats" on Amtrak is one of my pet peeves that I spout off about over the years. You have been warned. :) Anyway, DB in Germany somehow manages to reserve one a specific seat on a specific coach on a specific train. This was happening in the mid-to-late 1980's while I was stationed...
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    Pennsylvanian

    In my late teens, I used to take the ride from Greensburg to Altoona and back. My memories of the schedules are a bit hazy, but I seem to recall I would take the Pennsylvanian out (this was after the demise of the National Limited), arrive at Altoona about 10:00a, and have a couple hours to...
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    Improvements To NEC Services

    Excellent idea, assuming the cash could be found for such a thing. <_< I sometimes wonder just how much imagination Amtrak management has, or it it the lack of "can-do" spirit?
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