Gunn Speaks Out

[Anonymous]

BB and Anti [8D]

It was suggested to me a while back to downsize my photo in my sig line. I just got rid of it for now. I might bring it back later but much smaller. I have dial up so I did this in consideration of others who have dial up. It takes a while to upload images and pages and it is a source of frustration to wait as long as it takes sometimes.

A G, your image was good and interesting, might I suggest you just downsize it and keep it. It was cool, where did you find it anyway?

Many websites have a limit on images. If your image is oversized the website automatically resizes it to the max allowable. Maybe this site should do that. That way, those of us who are not computer geeks would not offend others who are.

[co614]

IMHO David Gunn was the first capable CEO since W.G.Claytor,Jr. What he and his team were able to accomplish in the last 3 years DESPITE an Administration dedicated to destroying Amtrak,was truly remarkable. Therein lies his doom.
Had he been another bungler like Warrington he'd still be there. His successes were ruining the Administrations game plan to implode the Company, and they feared that further progress would surely end any chance of getting rid of it.
Firing Gunn however may yet prove a very stupid strategic move as it has substantially energized many in Congress who heretofore were not all that caring on this topic and has led several key members of Congress to put the Administration on notice that it expects 4 new nominees for the Amtrak BOD shortly after the Holidays and that they will be people with credentials in the field, and the recently approved enabling legislation is being "codified" with language insuring the continuance AND future expansion of the LDT's.
From the 5 years I served on the BOD(1982-87) I can tell you first hand that at the end of the day the game is decided in the halls of Congress, not in the White House nor the DOT.
The next few months should be very interesting to say the least!!
Ross Rowland

[Anonymous]

What was Gunn, he didn't do squat either. I thought he was a real railroader turns out in his clip he thinks he can pull a fast one, but not on people who know about railroads. When he talks about the privatization of the line he compares it to a highway, bad analogy. He says you can't get 2 companies to run on the same tracks for getting this is a common occurrence of freight railroads. He clearly is just upset over losing his job, since he was stopping any reform. As to who takes over you will just hear the same Bush bashing jokes. Me, however, I don't know and am wondering.

[Junctionfan]

You have a Bush fixation don't you? How.........why........you would have such a blind admiration for the Bush administration is very strange indeed.

Gunn was fired because he spoke against the administration's lack of positive action of Amtrak and he wanted to fix it. Plain and simple, those morons on the board wouldn't know how to run a railroad if their lives depended on it. If I'm not mistaken, the best way to do something is be honest which is what Jesse Ventura did-when asked about his platform he said he didn't know what should be done but he would hire folk who knew what they were doing-brilliant. Sounds like Bush needs to learn from Ventura.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrnut282

After reading through this topic, I had to scroll back to the header to remember what the subject was.[#offtopic] I shouldn't be surprised. Its hard to find a topic that stayed on track for two pages on this forum.
Again I'll ask, since Gunn was ousted, who is waiting in the wings to take over? Is there a latter day Claytor out there? I'm afraid we'll get stuck with another clueless political hack collecting a paycheck.

Sorry to have gone off topic with "housekeeping". It happens.

The answer to your question seems to be nobody with railroad experience. I heard somewhere some former airline exec was being considered. I would say that your fears are well founded.

Jim, while the dmensions of your photo were a little large, it's the file size that really matters.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by co614

IMHO David Gunn was the first capable CEO since W.G.Claytor,Jr. What he and his team were able to accomplish in the last 3 years DESPITE an Administration dedicated to destroying Amtrak,was truly remarkable. Therein lies his doom.
Had he been another bungler like Warrington he'd still be there. His successes were ruining the Administrations game plan to implode the Company, and they feared that further progress would surely end any chance of getting rid of it.

Firing Gunn however may yet prove a very stupid strategic move as it has substantially energized many in Congress who heretofore were not all that caring on this topic and has led several key members of Congress to put the Administration on notice that it expects 4 new nominees for the Amtrak BOD shortly after the Holidays and that they will be people with credentials in the field, and the recently approved enabling legislation is being "codified" with language insuring the continuance AND future expansion of the LDT's.

I could not agree more with the first paragraph. [;)]

I would very much like to see improved service and expansion of the long distance trains. We need a LDT running East/West in the middle of the country. Right now, we have none. If I want to go east or west, I first have to trave north or south to Chicago or San Antonio, then I can go east or west. [:(!] With the leg from New Orleans to Florida cut that takes out part of that run. [:(]

We have many railroad beds in this country that don't have trains running on them. We also have rails to trails that could be reclaimed for passenger trains. I have worked on airplanes before, I would much rather take the train these days. It sure would be nice to have that opportunity.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

You have a Bush fixation don't you? How.........why........you would have such a blind admiration for the Bush administration is very strange indeed.

Gunn was fired because he spoke against the administration's lack of positive action of Amtrak and he wanted to fix it. Plain and simple, those morons on the board wouldn't know how to run a railroad if their lives depended on it. If I'm not mistaken, the best way to do something is be honest which is what Jesse Ventura did-when asked about his platform he said he didn't know what should be done but he would hire folk who knew what they were doing-brilliant. Sounds like Bush needs to learn from Ventura.

Gunn, did nothing, and got fired. We got Gunn because he was supposed to know how to run a railroad, but he didn't do anything to fix the problems. If you listen what he was trying to stop, was to the destruction of Amtrak, but a reform to a flawed system. As Mineta said we shouldn't keep pumping money into a flawed system; but Gunn wouldn’t allow it to be changed. In the interview Gunn blames Bush for his firing. If Gunn is so great, what did he do that was saving Amtrak? Gunn clearly put it out in the interview money should just be kept being pumped into Amtrak, with no major changes. He must be very conceited to believe that he can make it work, when it hasn’t worked in about 30 years.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

You have a Bush fixation don't you? How.........why........you would have such a blind admiration for the Bush administration is very strange indeed.

Gunn was fired because he spoke against the administration's lack of positive action of Amtrak and he wanted to fix it. Plain and simple, those morons on the board wouldn't know how to run a railroad if their lives depended on it. If I'm not mistaken, the best way to do something is be honest which is what Jesse Ventura did-when asked about his platform he said he didn't know what should be done but he would hire folk who knew what they were doing-brilliant. Sounds like Bush needs to learn from Ventura.

Gunn, did nothing, and got fired. We got Gunn because he was supposed to know how to run a railroad, but he didn't do anything to fix the problems. If you listen what he was trying to stop, was to the destruction of Amtrak, but a reform to a flawed system. As Mineta said we shouldn't keep pumping money into a flawed system; but Gunn wouldn’t allow it to be changed. In the interview Gunn blames Bush for his firing. If Gunn is so great, what did he do that was saving Amtrak? Gunn clearly put it out in the interview money should just be kept being pumped into Amtrak, with no major changes. He must be very conceited to believe that he can make it work, when it hasn’t worked in about 30 years.

M I S S O U R I

How ya doin?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by co614

IMHO David Gunn was the first capable CEO since W.G.Claytor,Jr. What he and his team were able to accomplish in the last 3 years DESPITE an Administration dedicated to destroying Amtrak,was truly remarkable. Therein lies his doom.
Had he been another bungler like Warrington he'd still be there. His successes were ruining the Administrations game plan to implode the Company, and they feared that further progress would surely end any chance of getting rid of it.
Firing Gunn however may yet prove a very stupid strategic move as it has substantially energized many in Congress who heretofore were not all that caring on this topic and has led several key members of Congress to put the Administration on notice that it expects 4 new nominees for the Amtrak BOD shortly after the Holidays and that they will be people with credentials in the field, and the recently approved enabling legislation is being "codified" with language insuring the continuance AND future expansion of the LDT's.
From the 5 years I served on the BOD(1982-87) I can tell you first hand that at the end of the day the game is decided in the halls of Congress, not in the White House nor the DOT.
The next few months should be very interesting to say the least!!
Ross Rowland

Anyways would some one be kind enough to find were this administration pledged Amtrak’s destruction? What did Gunn do? Why do all you guy talk about progress, with no facts? I am not saying he didn't make progress, but I haven't seen any. Why are we assuming Gunn is an angelic prophet, yet Mineta who has made clear his goal many times, is lying?

[Big_Boy_4005]

James, what is so difficult to understand about Gunn's firing? He did not want to follow the plan set forth, and was fired for it. The plan is in black and white (as during the hearing Mr Gunn held up a printed copy) and contains a number of potentially distructive policies, as identified by Mr Gunn. I hope that you would agree that Mr Gunn qualifies as an expert in railroading, far more than you or I.

He didn't like all of parts of the plan. He followed the parts that he thought were reasonable based on his experience. He only had the best intentions and motives for preserving Amtrak in mind.

Do you think an airline exec or a lawyer knows more about railroading than a railroad man?

[Anonymous]

Amtrak's a political football. It might continue to exist, but I doubt that the future lies there.

[Anonymous]

Big Boy 4005,

I am not saying I know more about it than he does. I just would like to see some this "progress despite efforts to destroy Amtrak." Or see where Mineta (or anyone) has decided to try destroy Amtrak. Gunn, as you said, did not make the changes other thought were needed. Holding status quo, is hardly a turn around.

[daveklepper]

I still say Mineta was not doing his job, and if he had been, Gunn would have known he could get support and he would have called Mineta and said: "That dumb mayor woun't let me evacuate the helpless on a 20 car train leaving New Orleans in a few hours" and Mineta would have called Bush who would have read the riot act to the mayor and lives would have been saved.

But if Mineta would really have been doing his job we would have the very necessary National Public Transportation System in place, ready to react to any kind of emergency like Katrina or 11.09.01 or whatever, and the Mayor would have been given a preplanned scnereo adapted specifically to New Orleans. And the buses and trains would have arrived and the school buses would have been used. This would be part of an INTELLIGENT national transportation policy that would make for a strong USA. I remember the A-cards and WWII rationing and the USAmust be prepared for that kind of situation again.

And don't forget, it is FACT that the private personal automobile the MOST SUBSIDIZED form of transportation because all taxes from highway and auto petroleum use have gone for highway purposes, a whole huge industry with most of its real estate not paying taxes into the general welfare. Starting about 1932. Quite a backlog! Railroad freight is the ONLY form of transportation not subsidized in the USA. And automobile transportation takes up more LAND per passenger mile than any other form of transportation, land that could earn income as farmland, offices, factories, residences, whatever.

Mineta has distorted thinking.

That having been said, I think the idea of private operation of a Milwaukee-Chicago-St, Louis-Kansas City Corridor is worth trying. It might work and would cause minimum disruption to the national Amtrak system. If done right it could also get the UP freight off the BNSF KC-Chicago.

[Junctionfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

You have a Bush fixation don't you? How.........why........you would have such a blind admiration for the Bush administration is very strange indeed.

Gunn was fired because he spoke against the administration's lack of positive action of Amtrak and he wanted to fix it. Plain and simple, those morons on the board wouldn't know how to run a railroad if their lives depended on it. If I'm not mistaken, the best way to do something is be honest which is what Jesse Ventura did-when asked about his platform he said he didn't know what should be done but he would hire folk who knew what they were doing-brilliant. Sounds like Bush needs to learn from Ventura.

Gunn, did nothing, and got fired. We got Gunn because he was supposed to know how to run a railroad, but he didn't do anything to fix the problems. If you listen what he was trying to stop, was to the destruction of Amtrak, but a reform to a flawed system. As Mineta said we shouldn't keep pumping money into a flawed system; but Gunn wouldn’t allow it to be changed. In the interview Gunn blames Bush for his firing. If Gunn is so great, what did he do that was saving Amtrak? Gunn clearly put it out in the interview money should just be kept being pumped into Amtrak, with no major changes. He must be very conceited to believe that he can make it work, when it hasn’t worked in about 30 years.

Well the airlines have major problems too but you don't hear down with the airlines.

Back to the railroad-if Amtrak needs money and Gunn couldn't get money, how is that Gunn's fault? What is the point in making meaningless reforms when all it will amount to is a meaningless gesture? If money was Amtrak's problem than they should have recieved money; they didn't give him a chance to see if he could have done a good job with the required resources.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well, let's look at this from a money perspective, since that is really what this is all about. The president sees Amtrak as a waste, and a bottomless pit. This is why in his budget proposal discussed earlier in this topic, recommended $0 for Amtrak.

The board who fired Mr Gunn, had actually complimented him on his progress with cost cutting in certain areas of their plan, earlier in the year. This is why the firing smacks of political motivation, and what upset many members of the congressional subcommittee at the hearing.

Amtrak in it's current form will always need financial support. It is unrealistic to expect otherwise.

What the president wants to do is much like sending a 14 year old out into the world and expecting him to survive on his own with no support.

James, would your parents do that to you? I seriously doubt it. Would you survive if they did? My guess is maybe, but it wouldn't be the lifestyle you are used to.

Mr Gunn was doing a pretty good job trying to raise this "child", to a level where it could survive without being on "welfare".

[Anonymous]

Can you please show me some facts? Again you state “Bush hates Amtrak”, and he may; and again “Gunn was doing a good job”, and he may have been what evidence do you have? Amtrak is a bottomless pit. We keep throwing money at it, and any time anyone suggests anything else, you say they are trying to destroy it. We need to get Amtrak as something other than a slower than dog meat service that caters only to the rich. The idea of having private railroad run on the NEC would bring competition to a monoploly. Bush in his plan suggests that the states fund Amtrak, which is still being paid for by our tax dollars either way. The idea of breaking off the NEC doesn't sound outrageous either. What you’re trying to do is make sure that 14 stays on welfare forever.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

I still say Mineta was not doing his job, and if he had been, Gunn would have known he could get support and he would have called Mineta and said: "That dumb mayor woun't let me evacuate the helpless on a 20 car train leaving New Orleans in a few hours" and Mineta would have called Bush who would have read the riot act to the mayor and lives would have been saved.

But if Mineta would really have been doing his job we would have the very necessary National Public Transportation System in place, ready to react to any kind of emergency like Katrina or 11.09.01 or whatever, and the Mayor would have been given a preplanned scnereo adapted specifically to New Orleans. And the buses and trains would have arrived and the school buses would have been be part of anused. This would INTELLIGENT national transportation policy that would make for a strong USA. I remember the A-cards and WWII rationing and the USAmust be prepared for that kind of situation again.

How does Mineta know about every Amtrak train leaving New Orleans? The mayor had already gotten a call from Amtrak. Mineta is not supposed to make up for every bungler who decided to toss their plan for that particular city right out the window. Let us review the facts:
1. New Orleans had a city specific evacuation plan, to get people without cars out first.
2. The buses were there, Mr. Nagin decided his people were too good for school busses, and didn’t use them.
3. The trains were running up to the last minute, but Mr. Nagin decided his people were too good for an Amtrak train.
Everything you suggest was in place except for another layer of bureaucracy

I am intrigued here, what do you mean by a National Public Transportation System in place? Do you mean on top of the best highway system in the world, or do you mean some sort free (i.e. tax payer provided) Amtrak service?

[Modelcar]

...I've been watching Amtrak since it's creation...and followed the info as it went from station to station of time....I fully agree with Mr. Ross Rowland's comments about Mr. Gunn...A real railroad Ex. and do'er....Guess It's a mystery to me why opinions of some give him such low marks.....But then, I'm not surprised.

[Modelcar]

...Dave....Don't forget the "B" and "C" cards...and even "T" cards...{stickers} as well.....

[edbenton]

Hey lotus 100 billion to the airlines in the last 4 yrs mean anything to you plus all of the bankrupt ones dumping the peinsions on the goverment to pay. that adds another 22 billion just from United alone with Delta and northwest maybe another 10 billion. Amtrack in 35 years has recived 35-40 billion 1/3 of what the airlines have gotten since 9/11. And what I am talking about is the cash just given to them to keep them afloat. This does not include the subsisedized cost of the ATC program. What we spend on Amtrak a year is about what is takes to fund the building of a Nimitz class carrier per year. Maybe Bush is trying to finish his dads carrier before he dies. The next carrier to be commisioned is th George HW Bush in 2 years.. Lotus just remember this I am a Republican and I can not stand W Bush either.

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

Can you please show me some facts? Again you state “Bush hates Amtrak”, and he may; and again “Gunn was doing a good job”, and he may have been what evidence do you have? Amtrak is a bottomless pit. We keep throwing money at it, and any time anyone suggests anything else, you say they are trying to destroy it. We need to get Amtrak as something other than a slower than dog meat service that caters only to the rich. The idea of having private railroad run on the NEC would bring competition to a monoploly. Bush in his plan suggests that the states fund Amtrak, which is still being paid for by our tax dollars either way. The idea of breaking off the NEC doesn't sound outrageous either. What you’re trying to do is make sure that 14 stays on welfare forever.

James, I'm not sure what you mean by "Amtrak is a bottomless pit," unless you also consider the tax money dropped into the airports, air traffic control system, and highways as a bottomless pit in the same vein.

Amtrak is hardly a "slower than dog meat service that caters only to the rich." Take for example the route of the Empire Builder. Several states across the route push for the subsidy because it's the only public transportation available in many of the communities along its route. Rich people don't use and have no need for public transportation.

The idea of having one entity run the Northeast Corridor and another own and maintain it is a folly explained better in the interview with Gunn on the NPR link. This is the disagreement point that Gunn claims led to his firing. As I've said in other posts, I'm more inclined to listen to an experienced rairoad passenger manager than a political appointee that doesn't even know the basics about how a railroad works.

It's one of those things like "open access," sounds great in theory, but as soon as you try to figure out the logistics of actually running a railroad under these rules, the whole concept falls on its face. The shear traffic density in the NEC almost makes it impossible to have it run by separate entities. Most railroads with a high density corridor have a hard enough time getting the operation and track departments to work together, a problem only to be made worse by having the departments actually be two separate companies.

Go to the Amtrak website and request a hard copy of the timetable. Then look at the number of trains and times that they run. Pulling one track out of service for major repairs for even a day would throw a serious monkey wrench into the whole operation without proper coordination between the two departments.

[jockellis]

G'day, Y'all,
I think we can agree that Ross Rowland knows railroading and can give an accurate assessment of David Gunn's stewardship of AMTRAK. But Mineta and DOT? Didn't I read recently that a railroad exec asked Mineta how many real railroaders had been consulted concerning the feasibility before the administration's plan for AMTRAK was made and Mineta finally admitted that no experts had been consulted? I think Gunn is the Only AMTRAK president to admit that rail passenger service will all cost the government money. The rest told Congress what it wanted to hear. The problem with transportation is that nothing actually pays for itself; the government must dole out money for its continued existance. When the federal government started the interstate program, it failed to include a penny for upkeep. This year transportation experts said the highways and byways of America needed $375 billion in maintenance. The administration gave $268 billion of federal taxes for all forms of transportation. So our roads and cridges are still crumbling.
How many states does the Northeast Corridor serve? Three? Four? I certainly don't want my Congressmen to be voting those states funds to help what's left of AMTRAK after the administration gets through with it. Even with the passenger count , commuter rail service in the NEC will still cost government some money. I don't mind the money being spent there as long as Georgia gets some trains.
And being a non destructive testing (NDT) inspector, I have my doubts about the validity of the FRA's sidelining of the Acela units because what I read in the papers, on the internet and on the Trains.com rail news, seems to prove to me that America's elite, administration-hating media can be just as gullible in reporting "facts" as can anyone else.
Jock Ellis
Cumming, GA US of A
Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers

[jeaton]

Lotus
Sometimes I wonder if you read any of the posts before you launch into your drivel. If you check back a few you will find a post by Ross Rowland. He, as I, and many other people who have suggested that Gunn's firing was a mistake, have made railroad transportation a career spanning many more years than you have been alive.

I can dismiss you because I know that you are nothing more than an arrogant, snotty kid.
But when you show a total lack of respect for someone who has actually been involved in the process... Well I guess some people can be fooled all the time.

[Anonymous]

At the moment I am not sure his firing was a mistake. I am not getting all the facts. I know why he was fired, but you haven't told me what he did that was so great. Gunn made have been holding down the fort, but he hasn't done anything spectacular. I don't know if any replacements we haven't heard about are out there. I don't want to hear your opinions and copy them. I want to know the all the facts and decide for myself. I have asked for three occasions for the data, and you have refused to answer me. BTW I think Ross Rowland has a very good point, he pointed our what I was saying about congress; and I respect his opinion to the utmost.
For the umpteenth time.
WHAT HAS GUNN DONE TO REFORM AMTRAK?
WHERE HAS MINETA SAID HE IS TRYING DO DESTROY AMTRAK
I know he wants to completely change the system, I know he didn't want to give it "federal funding," but these are hardly trying to destroy Amtrak. I am quite sorry if acted as if I knew these answers, I am truly curious. But without these I don't see how anyone can make a decision. All I have heard is Gunn wouldn't do anything, so he got fired; this may be true, I haven't heard otherwise, except for your "opinions."

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jockellis

G'day, Y'all,
How many states does the Northeast Corridor serve? Three? Four? I certainly don't want my Congressmen to be voting those states funds to help what's left of AMTRAK after the administration gets through with it. Even with the passenger count , commuter rail service in the NEC will still cost government some money. I don't mind the money being spent there as long as Georgia gets some trains.
Jock Ellis
Cumming, GA US of A
Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers

The Northeast Corridor runs from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington DC, so that would include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Conneticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington DC (technically, not part of any state). So that count would be seven states and the District of Columbia.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edbenton

Hey lotus 100 billion to the airlines in the last 4 yrs mean anything to you plus all of the bankrupt ones dumping the peinsions on the goverment to pay. that adds another 22 billion just from United alone with Delta and northwest maybe another 10 billion. Amtrack in 35 years has recived 35-40 billion 1/3 of what the airlines have gotten since 9/11. And what I am talking about is the cash just given to them to keep them afloat. This does not include the subsisedized cost of the ATC program. What we spend on Amtrak a year is about what is takes to fund the building of a Nimitz class carrier per year. Maybe Bush is trying to finish his dads carrier before he dies. The next carrier to be commisioned is th George HW Bush in 2 years.. Lotus just remember this I am a Republican and I can not stand W Bush either.

Ah-ha, it's the old "but the airlines do it" ploy. I was thinking about this with the NEC, wouldn't having Amtrak own the track but other trains running on it be similar to the way all airlines run on government maintained airports? Railroads even in heavy traffic zones don't have too much problem with other railroads running on trackage rights, so why is the NEC so much different? Even PRB coal trains have to keep schedules.

Also I think that carrier is a bit more important than trains that most people can't afford to, and don't ride on. With the exception of commuters Amtrak is not very useful, it doesn’t haul express good or mail, we need to do something; and Gunn didn’t want to do anything, in fact in the interview he states that if we just keep throwing money at the problem; which as history has proven never works.

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

At the moment I am not sure his firing was a mistake. I am not getting all the facts. I know why he was fired, but you haven't told me what he did that was so great. Gunn made have been holding down the fort, but he hasn't done anything spectacular. I don't know if any replacements we haven't heard about are out there. I don't want to hear your opinions and copy them. I want to know the all the facts and decide for myself. I have asked for three occasions for the data, and you have refused to answer me. BTW I think Ross Rowland has a very good point, he pointed our what I was saying about congress; and I respect his opinion to the utmost.
For the umpteenth time.
WHAT HAS GUNN DONE TO REFORM AMTRAK?
WHERE HAS MINETA SAID HE IS TRYING DO DESTROY AMTRAK
I know he wants to completely change the system, I know he didn't want to give it "federal funding," but these are hardly trying to destroy Amtrak. I am quite sorry if acted as if I knew these answers, I am truly curious. But without these I don't see how anyone can make a decision. All I have heard is Gunn wouldn't do anything, so he got fired; this may be true, I haven't heard otherwise, except for your "opinions."

James, if you have a copy of the November 2005 issue of Trains magazine (one of the magazines published by the sponsors of this forum board), there's an excellent article that should answer most of your questions about "what has Gunn done for Amtrak." Also, the references to the accolades placed on Gunn by other government transportation officials seems to add more confusion to whay he was fired.

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton

Lotus
Sometimes I wonder if you read any of the posts before you launch into your drivel. If you check back a few you will find a post by Ross Rowland. He, as I, and many other people who have suggested that Gunn's firing was a mistake, have made railroad transportation a career spanning many more years than you have been alive.

OK Jeaton, I'm missing something here. Where are the posts on here by Ross Rowland, and what screen name is he using?

[oltmannd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

Can you please show me some facts? Again you state “Bush hates Amtrak”, and he may; and again “Gunn was doing a good job”, and he may have been what evidence do you have? Amtrak is a bottomless pit. We keep throwing money at it, and any time anyone suggests anything else, you say they are trying to destroy it. We need to get Amtrak as something other than a slower than dog meat service that caters only to the rich. The idea of having private railroad run on the NEC would bring competition to a monoploly. Bush in his plan suggests that the states fund Amtrak, which is still being paid for by our tax dollars either way. The idea of breaking off the NEC doesn't sound outrageous either. What you’re trying to do is make sure that 14 stays on welfare forever.

James-

You are clearly shooting from the hip.

Please take some time and research Gunn's resume and credentials. Then, research his record at Amtrak. Finally, take a look at the reform proposal that he and the Amtrak Board put together last April.

Then, and only then, will you be in a reasonable position to critize without guessing at what you don't know (and getting it wrong most of the time)

There is plenty of room for critizism, but you are way off base.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

You have a Bush fixation don't you? How.........why........you would have such a blind admiration for the Bush administration is very strange indeed.

Gunn was fired because he spoke against the administration's lack of positive action of Amtrak and he wanted to fix it. Plain and simple, those morons on the board wouldn't know how to run a railroad if their lives depended on it. If I'm not mistaken, the best way to do something is be honest which is what Jesse Ventura did-when asked about his platform he said he didn't know what should be done but he would hire folk who knew what they were doing-brilliant. Sounds like Bush needs to learn from Ventura.

Gunn, did nothing, and got fired. We got Gunn because he was supposed to know how to run a railroad, but he didn't do anything to fix the problems. If you listen what he was trying to stop, was to the destruction of Amtrak, but a reform to a flawed system. As Mineta said we shouldn't keep pumping money into a flawed system; but Gunn wouldn’t allow it to be changed. In the interview Gunn blames Bush for his firing. If Gunn is so great, what did he do that was saving Amtrak? Gunn clearly put it out in the interview money should just be kept being pumped into Amtrak, with no major changes. He must be very conceited to believe that he can make it work, when it hasn’t worked in about 30 years.

M I S S O U R I

How ya doin?

[:D]Hiya Jim, on behave of us oldtimers here on the forum, your so right![;)]

Lets see if a similar fate awaits[xx(]

For the rest of ya..remember what I said about talking to some people is like talking to trees, you can talk all you want, but they dont hear a thing your saying. [X-)][D)]

Gunn Rules, Mineta Drools[;)]