the July issue of Harper's magazine

[54light15]

There's an article called "The Lost Glory of America's Railroads" that is fascinating. The cover art is a New York Central poster from 1942. Gives you an idea, if you don't have it already, of what we lost.

[Firelock76]

Well, WE know what we lost.  At least "Harpers"  is trying to tell everyone else what we lost. 

[54light15]

Ain't  that a fact and do you suppose it will have any effect on the great unwashed?  Yes, I know that here I'm preaching to the choir but one can only hope. I mean really, how much time are we supposed to waste sitting in traffic because there's no other way?  

[Firelock76]

Well you know the old saying:  Throw enough $#!+ against the wall often enough and some of it's bound to stick!

If enough people stop and think, if enough remember "Hey, my grandparents used to talk about passenger trains and how great they were!", there could very well be the beginnings of a groundswell.

You never know.

[tree68]

Hardly a trip goes by on our railroad that at least one passenger doesn't offer that they've never been on a train before. 

With the kids, I'd expect that.  With the older folks (especially in the 30-50 range, I guess it's indicative of what we have lost.

We're lucky in that we offer something resembling a "mainline" railroad experience, especially on our Utica-Thendara trips.  We run 30-40 MPH and travel from an urban locale up to the mountains (and back).  Kinda gives people a picture of what it was like travelling by rail "back in the day."

[John WR]

Thanks for the note about the Harper's article.   I'll certainly read it.    

[schlimm]

54light15

There's an article called "The Lost Glory of America's Railroads" that is fascinating. The cover art is a New York Central poster from 1942. Gives you an idea, if you don't have it already, of what we lost.

The author says that there are three primary groups of Amtrak LD train passengers: "Foamers" (mostly old), British tourists and people who have either physical or mental barriers (anxiety) to riding airplanes or autos.  Not a particularly essential service.   He also said the ride and noise in the sleeper cars made restful sleep difficult.

[Deggesty]

I'm glad to know that I do not fit into any of his major groups.

I may fit the category of old, but I do not foam.

Even though I am of British ancestry (most of my English ancestors came to the New World in the 17th century), I consider myself to be a native-born American.

I prefer the roomy comfort of a train to the cramped seating of an airplane (and I do not have to be frisked before boarding). And, why drive when you can ride?

My wife spoke of travel by train as "travel in civilized comfort."

The author could wear ear plugs; I never needed any, from my earliest trip (in 1938) to this year. The author does not like being rocked to sleep?

I did not notice anyone from any of these groups on my last trip on Amtrak.