A question on passenger service levels on UP, NP, and GN in the late '60's

[PNWRMNM]

Chris,

I do not know about UP but in Washington State both GN and NP ran two pairs of trains each way daily. GN Empire Builder and NP North Coast Limited were premier trains both excellent until late 1960's by my personal knowledge, presume continued so up to Amtrak. GN Western Star was a heavy mail train with 3-4 passenger cars in this era. NP Mainstreeter was similar but without the mail so ran shorter, 6-7 cars as I recall. I worked for GN in Wenatchee at the time and my uncle was conductor on NCL between Seattle and Ellensburg. Rode all these trains, and NP several times including cab rides. Those are the good old days!

Also SP&S ran Portland Sections of EB/NCL and Star/Mainstreeter between Spokane and Portland, picking up and setting out NP cars in Pasco. That was 6 pairs of trains. Amtrak ran one pair of trains day one and still does. Oh, boy! (I hope you can hear the sarcasm)

Mac

[dldance]

My last UP passenger trip was from Salt Lake City to Omaha in August of 1967. (I continued on to Chigago but I don't remember if it was CNW or RI that handled that segment.)

The staff was very professional - helpful and friendly. However the equipment was another story. It was clean and comfortable but we were frequently delayed by equipment malfunctions -- and the A/C on my car was out for all of the trip.

The train was about 5 hours late getting into Omaha. Part of the problem was that the WP was about 2 hours late getting into Ogden - but the train got later and later throughout the trip.

I will never forget that trip.

dd

[Anonymous]

How did railroads like Union Pacific, Northern Pacific, and Great Northern maintain their passenger trains in the years before Amtrak? Let's say from 1967 to the start of Amtrak in 1971. I know NP was a pro-passenger road, and GN and UP may have shared similar sentiments. Did these roads maintain an air of professionalism in those final years, or did they slack off towards the end?