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  1. jphjaxfl

    Second train CHI-MSP

    You have done an excellent assessment of reinstating passenger train service just about any place in the US. Look at all the obstacles AAF/Brightline has encountered in Florida which is a privately funded project. I strongly believe that Brightline from Miami to Orlando will be very successful...
  2. jphjaxfl

    CUS electrification

    Where is the funding coming from for Amtrak to convert all cars to viewliners? Since Amtrak owns the Viewliner design, why haven't they finished up the the current group of Sleeping cars and Dormitory Baggage cars?
  3. jphjaxfl

    Chicago Union Station: My View Based on My Experience

    Chicago Union Station was much more user-friendly in the 50s and 60s prior to Amtrak. With Amtrak owning, the facility, it should be more user-friendly. Keep in mind Chicago had 5 other intercity train stations, most of which were easier to use than Union even then. My favorite was Dearborn...
  4. jphjaxfl

    How Many "Union Stations" Are There?

    It really wasn't practical for Amtrak to continue to use the large stations for so few trains. A good example is Jacksonville, FL which still has a grand old Union Terminal which is now used by the City as a convention auditorium. Amtrak use the Terminal for almost 2 years after they started...
  5. jphjaxfl

    Phoenix AZ?

    Except for the Northeastern US where Amtrak owns the right of way (in conjunction with some commuter entities) Amtrak has to travel on tracks owned by the freight railroads which say where Amtrak can operate. When Amtrak started, the traveling public was lead to believe that service would...
  6. jphjaxfl

    How Many "Union Stations" Are There?

    Peoria. Illinois had a beautiful Union Station which was built in 1882, but, unfortunately, destroyed by fire in the early 1960s. It's last passenger train was in 1955. It was built and owned by the Peoria and Pekin Union Railroad which was a terminal railroad owned by several major railroads...
  7. jphjaxfl

    Brightline Trains Florida discussion

    The traffic through the West Palm Beach to Miami corridor on both I-95 and the Florida Turnpike which is further west but parallels I95 can be extremely congested all hours of the day specially in the winters months. Brightline has been needed for years.
  8. jphjaxfl

    Heritage Rebuilds Question

    I remember the doors as shown on the pictured Slumbercoach being red, not orange.
  9. jphjaxfl

    Savannah To Jessup GA Distance?

    If I recall, the Seaboard Airline between Savannah and Jacksonville did not go through Jesup.
  10. jphjaxfl

    NARP/RPA Spring on the Hill

    Great Report! Glad to see so many millenials supporting Amtrak and passenger rail. That is very positive for the long term.
  11. jphjaxfl

    Sleeper-Less Overnight/LD Trains?

    In pre-Amtrak days, the trains that ran overnight without Sleeping Cars were mostly, passenger, mail and express trains making local stops. Even some of those types of trains carried Sleeping Cars for part of their runs.
  12. jphjaxfl

    Amtrak vs Greyhound

    I don't do intercity buses for anything more than an hour ride, not matter whether Greyhound or other. Passengers trains are many times superior to the buses. The scenery is usually much better too because you are using the railroad right of ways instead of freeways or highways. If Amtrak has...
  13. jphjaxfl

    20th Century Ltd -v- Lake Shore Ltd.

    My Dad worked for the New York Central in the midwest and we did ride the 20th Century LTD. Everyone at New York Central was aware of the 20th Century LTD, so all other trains along the route both passenger and freight would take a side track so that the Century could pass. The Century also...
  14. jphjaxfl

    Brightline Trains Florida discussion

    It would be nice if Amtrak could have its new cars delivered as efficiently as the Brightline's beautiful new trains
  15. jphjaxfl

    Ideas for Additional "Night Owl" Train Service

    I traveled in Slumbercoaches many times on the CB&Q's Denver Zephyr, NP's Mainstreeter, SCL' s Miami to Northeast trains, New York Central Chicago to New York trains, Amtrak's Empire Builder and other Amtrak trains. They were very comfortable and priced right for my college and Air Force...
  16. jphjaxfl

    highest top speed of the old nyc to chicago trains?

    The Grand Trunk Western and Lehigh Valley also had through trains from Chicago to New York via Canada and Buffalo at one time. The Nickel Plate-Lackawanna also had the City of Chicago and City of Cleveland from Chicago to Hoboken in addition to the Westerner New Yorker. Nickel Plate built...
  17. jphjaxfl

    What would you add?

    agreed, if those routes haven't been reinstated after almost 46 years, it won't be happening. After 5/1/1971, politicians tried to reinstate routes in their territories. The North Coast Hiawatha was reinstated with support of Mike Mansfield. The Shenandoan and the Mountaineer were reinstated...
  18. jphjaxfl

    Could Only Some of the LD Trains Be Cut Instead of All of Them?

    You are very correct. But anytime that passenger train service is totally eliminated from a route, the infrastructure dies with the train and it is almost impossible to restore it. The private railroads are pleased to get rid of any passenger train infrastructure due to added expense including...
  19. jphjaxfl

    Your Experiences on Pre-Amtrak Trains?

    I joined the Air Force in July, 1971 in Louisville, KY after graduating from college. The AF flew us from Louisville to San Antonio on an American Airlines flight with a change at Dallas Love field. I had already had a number of flights including a trip on PanAm to Europe. After Basic...
  20. jphjaxfl

    91 (Silver Star, 3/14) Not stopping at Tampa or Lakeland

    The Silver Star often bi-passes Tampa with a bus connection. I have been waiting for the Star in Tampa only to be told we had to board busses to Dade City to board the train. That is why I would drive to and from Tampa rather than taking the train.
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