Arlen Spector and several Representatives all also had a hand in this.
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A bit more about the Pennsylvanian and Bud Shuster.
The Pennsylvanian went on shortly after the route through PA lost the National Limited. That's really the train it replaced, not the long dead Duquesne.
Bud Shuster directed as much pork home as he could. He used his position power to bend things to his will for his home district. For example, when Conrail consolidated backshops, guess which shop "won"? When NS and CSX were doing their Conrail deal, in included keeping Hollidaysburg car shops open for five years. Guess why?
Federal money for a train station in Altoona, for a Railroaders Memorial Museum, a state steam locomotive, etc, etc.
A second train connecting Altoona to the east appears shortly after the National Limited comes off. I can add 2+2....
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
The common factor is congressional pork to appease powerful committee chairs. The Pennsylvanian started in 1980 as a state-supported daylight train between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and was a resumption of the pre-Amtrak Duquesne. It ran to Chicago from 1998 to 2003. It had nothing to do with the NYC-CHI Broadway Limited, which ran as an Amtrak train from 1971-1995. Both trains were PRR ones. The Pennsylvanian represents two problems of Amtrak: 1. Legacy routes that worked 50 years ago. 2. Routes based on political favors and pork. No Way to Run a Railroad and no way to have a modern, useful passenger service.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
CSSHEGEWISCHNot unlike Harley Staggers and the "Potomac Turbo" in the 1970's.
Is there a connection between the West Virginian and the Pennsylvanian? The West Virginian (derisively called the Patomac Turbo and other names) was introduced to try new high speed technology and satisfy Congressman Harley O. Staggers. It was ultimately withdrawn.
New York to Pittsburgh rail service began long before Amtrak. Up to several years ago there was through service from New York to Chicago via PIttsburgh and there was more than one daily train. The Pennsylvanian is a reduction of long standing service on the line. I don't see a connection between these two trains.
oltmanndDo a little digging on his dad.
Don,
I did some digging but did not find a connection between Bud Shuster and The Pennsylvanian or any of its predecessor trains.
Bud Shuster was very successful with pork barrel legislation in general. In Pennsylvania his name is associated with bridges and highways including I-99 which is also known as the Bud Shuster Highway. Repeating the same digits to number an interstate is against Federal policy but at Bud Shuster's insistence the highway number was actually written into the law.
In general Bud Shuster was favorable to Amtrak. He himself said most of all he wanted to be remembered for his contribution to transportation in the United States. However, I did not find any direct link between him and any specific Amtrak route in Pennsylvania.
John
Not unlike Harley Staggers and the "Potomac Turbo" in the 1970's.
John WR oltmanndSchuster's dad would have found quid-pro-quo pork to keep it going. It's probably why the train managed to get from 403b status to part of the national network in the first place. Schuster will have heck-to-pay in his district if it comes off. It just happens that the Pennsylvanian, which has been slated to have its Federal money zeroed out, comes from the district of the guy who is now Chairman of the Subcommittee that oversees Amtrak. It seems like a little more than a coincidence.
oltmanndSchuster's dad would have found quid-pro-quo pork to keep it going. It's probably why the train managed to get from 403b status to part of the national network in the first place. Schuster will have heck-to-pay in his district if it comes off.
It just happens that the Pennsylvanian, which has been slated to have its Federal money zeroed out, comes from the district of the guy who is now Chairman of the Subcommittee that oversees Amtrak. It seems like a little more than a coincidence.
Do a little digging on his dad. He was the head of the same committee for years and years. Funnelled maximum pork toward his district (Altoona area). I'd bet he had quite a bit to do with the Pennsylvanian even existing in the first place.
John WR The Pennsylvanian has fairly few (400 a day) passengers between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh but those few are enthusiastic according to a February 17th article in The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. There are interviews with a several people who describe how important the train is to their lives. There are also descriptions and photographs of empty seats. Reading the article makes it seem a little less impossible for Amtrak to come up with the funds and if it doesn't the state of Pennslyvania to come up with the funds. It also mentions the fact that the House Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Bill Schuster's 9th district includes part of the Pennsylvanian's route. Whether or not the train will continue after October 1 is anybody's guess. If you've never rode over the horseshoe curve and you want to it might be a good idea to do it this spring or summer. Here is a link to the article: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/amtraks-regulars-treasure-the-pennsylvanian-675749/
The Pennsylvanian has fairly few (400 a day) passengers between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh but those few are enthusiastic according to a February 17th article in The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. There are interviews with a several people who describe how important the train is to their lives. There are also descriptions and photographs of empty seats.
Reading the article makes it seem a little less impossible for Amtrak to come up with the funds and if it doesn't the state of Pennslyvania to come up with the funds. It also mentions the fact that the House Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Bill Schuster's 9th district includes part of the Pennsylvanian's route.
Whether or not the train will continue after October 1 is anybody's guess. If you've never rode over the horseshoe curve and you want to it might be a good idea to do it this spring or summer.
Here is a link to the article: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/amtraks-regulars-treasure-the-pennsylvanian-675749/
Schuster's dad would have found quid-pro-quo pork to keep it going. It's probably why the train managed to get from 403b status to part of the national network in the first place. Schuster will have heck-to-pay in his district if it comes off.
Reading the article makes it seem a little less impossible for Amtrak to come up with the funds and if it doesn't the state of Pennslyvania to come up with the funds. It also mentions the fact that the House Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Bill Shuster's 9th district includes part of the Pennsylvanian's route.
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