TRAINS MAG. and Amtrak

[Anonymous]

No magazine is going to cover all people's interests all at the same time. You have to have a balance (maybe TRAINS has lost that balance? - I have not read it long enough to know).

You would probaly get just as many people saying 'Where is the Amtrak coverage?' if it was reduced/removed as there are people complaining about there being too much!


Jason.

[favuprailroadfan]

Scott, I will agree with you. Maybe some people don't want to read about UP or BNSF. I am from the Midwest (KANSAS), and I would like to learn more about the Eastern roads. When was the last time that TRAINS did an article on NS's(formaly CR's assault on the Alleghany's(I hope I spelled that right). I think it was some time back in the 80's. They need to go out and just sit trackside and do what they do best. There are more than just 2 major companies here in the US. I would like to read about FEC, NS, CSX, and all the other lines. When have they done a feature on the Bessamer & Lake Erie? TRAINS needs to branch out to the short lines also. That agree with you also. They have some of the older power around. Well just saying what's on my mind.

Laters, Dru

[Anonymous]

Well, I don't know how much the US Army helped, and where (can you bring up any specific instances?), but the system and practices were there before the 1900s. It just went through a big expansion in the years preceeding WWI and the Revolution.
The truth is that until the 1950s or so, Russian railroading was almost indistinguishable from that in the rest of Europe.
Starting in the late 40s and early 50s, as Russia became a superpower, tonnage and passenger mileage on the Russian railways increased to the point where four-axle (or even more) cars became needed (loadings still max out at 25-27 tons, while American ones run in the 32-37 ton range).
Also, the auto-coupler was introduced for the same reasons. However, Russians picked the SA-3 coupler (which, I believe, is a product of American research). This coupler is much more reliable than the knuckle because it basically is a hinge.

[Anonymous]

Scott, you made a good point that we never hear as much on NS, CSX, FEC, CN and other eastern operations. Many short lines have interesting operations.
Today, the Trains newswire has article after article on Amtrak and only one good article on the WC units being auctioned by CN.

[Anonymous]

While I agree that Trains has had a little too much coverage of Amtrak, I find it intersting that everyone is talking about how great it is that they have all their articles on the UP and BNSF. Personally, I feel that these two roads are getting way too much coverage in the magazine. I've always felt that Trains should change it's name to Trains West, because they rarely have a feature article covering anything east of the Mississippi.
I have a large collection of Trains dating back to the 40's, and for the most part it was pretty balanced, with some history, some business, some short lines, some locomotives, etc. Now, if you're not one of the big boys, or out in the desert, you're not gonna get covered.
There are dozens of short lines and regional railroads in this country, and we never really get to hear about them.

Just my two cents worth.
Scott

[Anonymous]

Everytime I ride Amtrak the sleepers are sold out. One has to purchase the tickets in advance just to get a sleeper. Obviously, Amtrak could make more money if they had more sleepers....But that takes capital..... Something Amtrak doesn't have....

[favuprailroadfan]

I haven't gotten my August issue yet so I don't know what its got. It sounds like it might be a pretty good issue. Fred Frailey always does a good job on his articles. He is the one that did the Golden State Route story in the Nov. 2001 issue. Thanks for the info.


Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

Terry,

In the November of 2001 issue of TRAINS they did a article on the UP through KS. It was only on the Golden State, put it was a pretty good story. Me and my buddy have tossed around the idea of doing a story on this line. I have people that will help me in getting even more in depth than what I already know. So I am currently looking for a way to do a story.

Dru

[Modelcar]

I'm reading my new issue of Trains mag. too....and enjoy it as usual. But Mark Hemphill.....there at Trains, please continue to represent the Passenger Train side of railroading as well...That's the way it's been for decades and sure hope the way it continues.

QM

[Anonymous]

Dru,
Just received the August 2002 issue and there is some improvement. Not too much Amtrak, considering the funding problem. The article by Fred Frailey on the UP's old T&P Texas line is fantastic. That is what we want to see. Mr. Frailey has written some great articles in the past. Looks like the next issue on Cincinnati could be a good one.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, a lot of us okies would love to go some place, like St Louis, Chicago, etc and not have to waste hours getting to and from the airports, where you have to spend more hours at security checkpoints.

[Anonymous]

Well, since the U.S.Army helped in construction of the system in the early 1900's, they should be have some similiarties

[Anonymous]

OOPs!

[Anonymous]

In 1905 we did'nt have the roads we now have. In fact, until Ike got the interstate highway system bill passed, most roads were 2 lane and very narrow. Also, in 1905 there were more horse drawn vehicles on our roads than gas engined. It wasn't until after WW11 that the auto and airplane took over as our main means of transport. That is what killed the passenger trains profitability.

[Anonymous]

In 1905 we did'nt have the roads we now have. In fact, until Ike got the interstate highway system bill passed, most roads were 2 lane and very narrow. Also, in 1905 there were more horse drawn vehicles on our roads than gas engined. It wasn't until after WW11 that the auto and airplane took over as our main means of transport. That is what killed the passenger trains profitability.

[Anonymous]

Nope, not much. Contractor has 57 days from start to finish repair. Supposed to be done in August. Little towns traffic is detoured thru will be glad when completed as they are losing money. Seems people don't want to fight the 18 wheelers for space.

[Anonymous]

And those "user" fees don't begin to pay for the airports, highways and waterways!

[Anonymous]

I just hope the DME gets started on the new PRB line of theirs. Maybe they'll give Uncle Pete a little competion? :-))

[Anonymous]

You are absolutly correct, in all you say.

[Anonymous]

Times change, people change, editors and columnists change and or move on. I have been reading Trains, Railfan, and other mags for more years than I care to remember, but I still enjoy them all. I live where UP and BNSF (aka known here as Frisco and MOP) cross. No passenger train but we sure could use one. Yes, I am a firm believer in a national rail passenger system. We need a program like the interstate highway to build it, and the r-o-r is already in place. And if as much of your tax money was spent on it as has been spent on highways, airports, waterways and their related systems, we could have a passenger system here that would out do all the foreign ones. And with the Marshall Plan and the rest of all the so-called foriegn aid we've given to the countries we whipped in WW11, it's no wonder they have the systems they do.

[Anonymous]

Actually, if we wanted to upgrade 6,000 miles of our track to 100 mph, it would cost $59 billion, and to 150 mph, it would cost $120 billion. Two good web sites to check on the goings of high speed rail is at
http://o-keating.com/hsr and at
http://www.railway-technology.com

I noticed that Virgin airlines is involved with your west coast main line, which is 4 tracks, the outer two for freight, the inner two for high speed passenger trains, the passenger trains using the freight track to access the depots and stations.

In America, especially west of the Mississippi River, double rail would be nice.

How about this for a dream corridor. The Trans Texas Corridor is in the works for the next half century, see its 98 page report at
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/ttc/ttc_report_full.pdf

[Anonymous]

I would like to see an comprehensive articles on passenger rail also, and information on what is going on around the globe. Obviously there is plenty of interest in passenger rail to continue covering it, judging by the response to this and other threads on this board.

[Modelcar]

In fact, I'd like to see Trains feature Passenger operations several times a year in their magazine. This months [August], article of the L A Union Station is really great...Would like to see more features similar to this. It just happens to be interesting to me and I suspect a lot of other rail fans.

QM

[Modelcar]

We railroad fans have various interests in the business....I for one, like all aspects of it including Passenger rail efforts and operations, new and old...especially as it happens here in this country. I'd rather not have to buy another magazine to get that side of it. I've been purchasing Trains type magazines since the '40s for all of rail action and would like to see it continue to cover it all. I am one that would rather have a National Passenger system...better than what we have today and not the "transit" type operation suggested. We all have our likes and dislikes, and these are mine.

QM

[Anonymous]

One comment, this forum is a good illustration of the reason Trains has lots of passenger train coverage. People enjoy talking about them, good or bad, they are news.

[Anonymous]

Very true, the railroads of today would be incapable of operating passenger trains like they were operated years ago. It is difficult to get a freight over the rails let alone keeeping a tight schedule for a passenger train. Much of the money that should have gone into capital improvements has gone into paying for overpriced mergers. The rails missed a golden opportunity in the last 20 years, instead of applying their new prosperity to the physical plant expansion that should have taken place, they plowed it into financing the merger movement and are now deeply mortgaged to the investment banks. this debt burden will take years to pay off and in the meantime it has been hard to find the dollars to increase capacity on key corriders where it is most needed.
I can remember the same thing happening to REA in the 1960s, the railroads had a lock on the express business and let it all slip away to UPS and Federal Express. Without a fight.

[Anonymous]

They DID give you a hotel voucher.

To have a short consist when there are large numbers of passengers is, I admit, not good planning. But, I suppose, since they have no money to repair coaches, then standing may be the norm.

The weather is out of Amtrak's (and any other railroads) hands.

Just a little piece of info for you: Amtrak has asked for $1.2 billion dollars for next year, and people have baulked. Here in the UK, our West Coast Route Modernisation (WCRM) is around $12-14 billion alone, and still growing!!! So, I don't think $1.2 billion for a 22 000 mile ystem is a lot.

Jason.

[Anonymous]

First off to say let the railroads take the trains back> DREAM ON. Don't you remember why AMTRAK was formed.
As long as the goverment pays for Aor Traffic Controlers, Taxpayer subsidized airports, how can trains be expected to operate in the black or even close to breaking even.
I just retired after 43 years total railroad service and I would never tell my children, grand children or friends to hire out on the railroads of today.

If management had to operate under same rules and regulations today as 30 or 40 years ago they could not do it.
I hired out on the Great Northern and than worked the last 34 years for the Chicago Northwestern/Union Pacific.
It was no as fun as most of the fellow employees said for the last 15 years.

[mnwestern]

And do you know what? Those great European trains don't turn a profit either. They are subsidized just like highways (and you thought truckers covered all the costs! They don't come close to covering the damage they do to highways.

In fact, if not for trucks, highways would last decades longer) or airports (don't believe airlines cover all the costs of building and maintaining airports or paying for air traffic control.)

What's with this fixation on having Amtrak show a profit? It is a public utility like sewers, water, police protection, fire protection, city streets, and parks. They don't show a profit either, yet they are considered essential to the vitality of a community, state, nation.

A national passenger rail network is vital to this country. What, you people weren't paying attention in the days after 9/11 when only the trains were moving (buses shutdown too, due to our homegrown wackos attacking with knives)?

The next time you travel by Amtrak, check around you at the other passengers traveling. Besides railfans like us, Amtrak is sometimes the only transportation option for people such as the elderly who can fly for health reasons or cost, minorities who can afford airline tickets, students, youth groups such as Scouts, church groups, etc. who can only travel to national gatherings by rail because of cost, etc.

For many communities, Amtrak is the only public transportation choice. Have you ever tried to catch a major airline flight out of Williston, N.D.. Havre or Whitefish, Mont.?

Anyone who thinks the long distance lines cause Amtrak's problems aren't listening. All lines, including the NE corridor and California, lose money. Actually, by some measures, the long distance lines are better bargains. They don't have the infrastructure costs like the NE.

And don't forget, Amtrak runs or controls the rails of many of the busiest commuter lines. So if it shuts down, hundreds of thousands of commuters will be walking, packing the freeways or filling the buses later this week.