Early Amtrak Question

[AntonioFP45]

Forgot to mention.....

Amtrak's early years were very colorful, but rough.  ACL's former flagship, The Champion (no longer called East Coast or West Coast) unfortunately became notorious for running many hours late through the mid 70s.  On a few occasions up to 8 hours. It was a combination of the train's schedule, Penn Central management's hostility towards Amtrak, and/or locomotive breakdowns. 

The other trains suffered as well, however, the old Champ was often singled out publicly.  Things did get better before its termination in the late 70s. I still remember seeing her run with 15 cars hauled by double-header SDP40fs.  Very memorable and impressive sight.  

[DavidBragdon]

For several years the Amtrak trains on the Washington / Newport News - Cincy - Chicago route (the Washington and Newport News sections were separate east of Charlottesville) were a rare example of a train having different names in different directions.  In one direction it was the George Washington (inherited C&O name) and in the other direction it was the James Whitcomb Riley, named for the Indiana poet.

 

[AntonioFP45]

If this helps a bit....... 

I have a collection of Amtrak schedules from the 1970s, except 1974!

According to my 1971 schedule, The Silver Star and The Champion stopped at DeLand Florida.  The Silver Meteor did not as it was a New York to Miami train only at that time and did not go to Tampa (though it did a few years later as Amtrak continued to make changes). 

At least two ACL train names did make it into Amtrak with the Champion being one and the Palmetto the other.  I don't know if there were others.

Peace

 

[Lost World]

I took my first trip on Amtrak when I was three years old (1974).  We went from Charleston WV to Deland FL via Washington DC, and I remember very little of the trip.  I was wondering what the names were of the two trains we rode.  I know we caught the train in Charleston very late at night, something like two or three in the morning.  Didn't Amtrak like to call their Cincinnati-DC train at the time the George Washington, after the former C&O flagship?

From DC to FL I'm not sure what train it would have been.  Deland is on the old ACL, but I'm not sure if any of the ACL's train names made it to the Amtrak era.  I'm guessing this train was either the Silver Star or the Silver Meteor.  Thanks to anyone who might be able to clear this up.