Despite Your Political Affiliation, This Is Still Cool

[Modelcar]

...I was in one of Harry Truman's cars that was on display over at Strasburg, Pa. some years ago and that was a heavyweight and probably was built in the early part of the 20th century, but at that time it hadn't been modernized inside but I don't know if that is the same car they're using. I doubt it. Have forgotten the name of it......Any cars they are using would surely have to meet modern safety standards to be running on the class 1 rails.

[espeefoamer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Would be neat if their train were riding on Union Pacific's rails. Well then again, those poor dispatchers would really start pulling their hairs out!

I'd like to see Kerry Edwards on the UP. If we're lucky,UP will lose their train for four years[:D][:D][:D]!!!

[Anonymous]

How about the Kerry-bashers grow up a little? At least the juvenile UP-bashers are at least somewhat on topic for a railroading forum. Ddin't come here for brainless political crap.

Wayne

[MP57313]

The train was covered on radio news today...traveling through La Junta, CO. Blue Ridge Front's title to this thread says it all!!!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I was hesistant to post this at first, but hoped most people could simply look at the train aspect of it.

[domefoamer]

I'm glad Kerry took a train. I'm glad they came to rural Colorado, a section of the MIdwest that has quietly been getting screwed by 'Free Trade" and big agbusiness for decades, with the connivance of their own Republican lawmakers (See the recent book, "What's the Matter With Kansas?"). And I'm glad there's an alternative to the oil-soaked buffoon in office today, who's no friend of any tramsportation conveyance except the heavily-tax-subsidized 10 mpg Hummer.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Blue Ridge Front

Yeah, I was hesistant to post this at first, but hoped most people could simply look at the train aspect of it.

Yeah, it's too bad that some aren't mature enough to realize that venting their political preferences, whatever they are, is totally inappropriate for a train forum. Perhaps when they are old enough to vote....

It is good to see the old railroad tradition of "whistle stop" campaigning continuing, no matter who is on board.

Wayne

[domefoamer]

Don't feel singled out. Every internet BB I consult is buzzing with some degree of election talk, whether the main topic is cars, jazz music, photography, or you name it. A recent thread I started on "Why the CZ was late again" led, with no prompting by me, to someone blaming it on someone named George W. Bush, who is supposedly in too tight with the UP's ruling regime. They said it, I didn't.
Anyhow, it's high time some of my fellow railfans lift their heads up out of their timetables and see the see the forest and not just the crossties. Our nation is at a crossorads-- attacked by enemies, watching tax surpluses turn to huge deficits, the rich getting richer & the poor poorer, all the while (can we agree on this?) America's only passenger railroad is kept on a starvation diet, and increasingly its few trains are sidetracked due to the increasing delays on our freight roads. Did you see the recent map from NARP of Amtrak routes threatened by the abysmal on-time performance of several host RRs? ALL of these problems concern interstate commerce. Constitutionally, therefore, all are matters of federal concern. The President and Congress can help or hurt this situation. This matters to me as much as any arcane detail in any other thread hereabouts. I'd like to know both candidates' platforms on freight and passenger rail, wouldn't you? Maybe someone "old enough" will start that thread (I've only voted in seven presidential elections, so far, Muddy).

[fuzzybroken]

I think it's cool! [^] (By the way, if you want to see what my political leanings are, check my website.) I think it's great to have a presidential candidate riding the rails, I would prefer both of them doing this. I think it's a shame that Amtrak is not better-funded and better-supported by both major candidates. (By the way, what's Nader's view of Amtrak?) Amtrak is an essential American commodity, just as it wasin 1972, when it was created. Despite coming so far in its 32 years, it still has a long uphill struggle.

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[jeaton]

When campaigning for reelection in 1992, President Bu***ook a train tour that included routing over WC tracks. We went to see the train at a rural crossing somewhere south of Fond Du Lac. Of course, it was a POTUS train with maybe a dozen cars. I recall at least one car with UP colors that had what appeared to be antenna domes. It was pretty impressive.

Whatever your political persuasion, these events can be history in the making, and at least worth a stop to look. Some where later in your life, you might like to be able to say "...and I was there!"

[mudchicken]

Rolled into the "smile Hi!" City of La Junta at 12:30 pm and was startled to see Kerry's special train still there. (Second section of #3)...gone by 1:30 pm..

Ugly hodgepodge consist

[UPTRAIN]

IF it was on UP rails they'd loose it for 4 years? In those pictures I posted, they were on UP rails!!! LOL

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: fuzzybroken Posted: Today, 16:47:20
I think it's cool! (By the way, if you want to see what my political leanings are, check my website.) I think it's great to have a presidential candidate riding the rails, I would prefer both of them doing this. I think it's a shame that Amtrak is not better-funded and better-supported by both major candidates. (By the way, what's Nader's view of Amtrak?) Amtrak is an essential American commodity, just as it wasin 1972, when it was created. Despite coming so far in its 32 years, it still has a long uphill struggle.

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

I know Bush isn't now, but in 2000 didn't he ride his own campaign train? I think I remember seeing it on the news, the consist behind a CSX engine.

[Modelcar]

....Yes he did.

[Anonymous]

My only quetion is, Will the Bu***rain be a train worthy of attention (or lack there of), or will Mr. Nader's train be an environmentaly correct train (by reasonable definition)?[:-^]

[garr]

piouslion,

Maybe Nader's train could be powered by the Green Goat. RRing doesn't get much more environmentally correct than that.

Jay

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Blue Ridge Front

QUOTE: fuzzybroken Posted: Today, 16:47:20
I think it's cool! (By the way, if you want to see what my political leanings are, check my website.) I think it's great to have a presidential candidate riding the rails, I would prefer both of them doing this. I think it's a shame that Amtrak is not better-funded and better-supported by both major candidates. (By the way, what's Nader's view of Amtrak?) Amtrak is an essential American commodity, just as it wasin 1972, when it was created. Despite coming so far in its 32 years, it still has a long uphill struggle.

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

I know Bush isn't now, but in 2000 didn't he ride his own campaign train? I think I remember seeing it on the news, the consist behind a CSX engine.

Yes, and I beleive it was the SAME observation car on this election express used by Harry Truman . I remember the "Truman spinning in his Grave" comments about Dubya using it for his tour. What goes around comes around.

Oh Well, better that just flying over head dropping "vote for me" leaflets out the window...[:D]

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fuzzybroken

I think it's cool! [^]

By the way, what's Nader's view of Amtrak?
-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

That it needs huge bumbers all the way around and that every seat should have a seatbelt and airbag. Otherwise its "Unsafe at any speed" LOL[:D][8D][;)]


BTW--- Nader failed this week to collect enough signatures in California to qualify for the Ballet in November , OUCH! Thats Gotta Sting![:0]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by garr

piouslion,

Maybe Nader's train could be powered by the Green Goat. RRing doesn't get much more environmentally correct than that.

Jay

No doubt to the correct HEP, I wonder if that is also the mascot for his party?