Amtrak portmanteau

[lthanlon]

The Associated Press Stylebook entry for Amtrak insists that the name is an "acronym drawn from the words 'American travel by track,'" but I don't think I've ever seen this officially confirmed anywhere. Did Amtrak mention its origin at some point early on?

 

[user 1215]

Wiki says "America" and "Track". So AP must be wrong.

Source for that data is blocked from work. Evidently not reliable.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

I distinctly remember talking to somebody who was there from day 1 and they side with Wikipedia.

 

[Trogdor]

Reality 2, AP 0.

 

[the_traveler]

AP being wrong?

Is that new news?

 

[lthanlon]

AP being wrong?

Is that new news?

Hey, at least they joined the 21st century and changed "Web site" to "website."

 

[rrdude]

Was partners in a short line with "one who was there", Railpax, was always a temp name, and didn't "roll off the tongue".

Americans Travel by Track



AP is rallying.........

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Anyone have the 40th Anniversary book handy? Mine's at home in my "library". It may be in there. And if it is, it's the "America" and "Track", because I've never seen the other suggestion.

 

[the_traveler]

Americans Travel by Track

By your highlighted letters Jerry, it should be spelled

Amtrtk

I still say it's America Track! (Which is also why many spell it wrong as "Amtrack"!

)

 

[PRR 60]

I believe the correct answer is:

American Travel by Track

This according to the 1991 book "All Aboard Amtrak" by rail historian Mike Schafer. The book, written for Amtrak's 20th aniversary, included an introduction by then Amtrak President W. Graham Claytor, Jr.

 

[CHamilton]

On April 19, 1971, the Railpax name was dropped in favor of Amtrak, an acronym for American Travel by Track.

-- Schafer, Mike, All Aboard Amtrak 1971 - 1991, Railpace, 1991, p. 11. Underlines in original.

PRR 60 beat me to it!

 

[PRR 60]

On April 19, 1971, the Railpax name was dropped in favor of Amtrak, an acronym for American Travel by Track.

-- Schafer, Mike, All Aboard Amtrak 1971 - 1991, Railpace, 1991, p. 11. Underlines in original.

PRR 60 beat me to it!

By a microsecond! Great book, by the way.

 

[CHamilton]

Great book, by the way.

Yes, it is. I've used it when writing rail-related historical pieces like this one.

 

[haolerider]

I distinctly remember talking to somebody who was there from day 1 and they side with Wikipedia.

Welcome back GML..............haven't seen your posts in awhile.

 

[lthanlon]

Railpax, was always a temp name, and didn't "roll off the tongue".

Good thing they didn't use it. Just imagine all the tampon jokes that would have resulted.

 

[oldtimer]

I do have somewhere in my archives an article from the Chicago Sun Times that states that the soon to operate NRPC will use Amtrak (American Travel by Track) in it's logo and not Railpax.

Oldtimer (notice not 2 anymore thanks to the Alan B that is famous and not the infamous one, me)

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Can someone with the book update Wikipedia with explanation and source? It would be much appreciated! ^_^

 

[lthanlon]

Thanks for clarifying the source of the name, everyone. I appreciate it!

 

[rrdude]

Americans Travel by Track

By your highlighted letters Jerry, it should be spelled

Amtrtk

I still say it's America Track! (Which is also why many spell it wrong as "Amtrack"!

)

Thorry, I haff a lithpse

 

[bobnabq]

The Associated Press Stylebook entry for Amtrak insists that the name is an "acronym drawn from the words 'American travel by track,'" but I don't think I've ever seen this officially confirmed anywhere. Did Amtrak mention its origin at some point early on?

I "Googled" it, and most sites I clicked on had a similar response to this one:

"Amtrak stands for American Track.

Amtrak is a government-run corporation. The legal name of the business is the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and the business operates under the Amtrak name."

 

[user 1215]

On April 19, 1971, the Railpax name was dropped in favor of Amtrak, an acronym for American Travel by Track.

-- Schafer, Mike, All Aboard Amtrak 1971 - 1991, Railpace, 1991, p. 11. Underlines in original.

PRR 60 beat me to it!

With all due respect, a book from 1991 can say whatever it wants. I don't know, because I don't have the book, if All Aboard Amtrak cites a 1971 document that refers to American Travel by Track, or if it was just the author's recollection.

 

[Ryan]

According to Amtrak's website:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=WSArticlePage&pagename=WhistleStop%2FWSArticlePage%2FBlank_Template&cid=1248542886769

The name Amtrak is the blending of the words America and track.

Just another data point...

 

[AmtrakBlue]

According to Amtrak's website:

http://www.amtrak.co...d=1248542886769

The name Amtrak is the blending of the words America and track.

Just another data point...

I was also searching Amtrak's website today for it. I thought they should have had it on the website somewhere. Thanks for posting this.

And I'm 99% sure I read it somewhere in the 40th Anniv book also, but do not feel like reading it again.

 

[DivMiler]

What I want to know is why Amtrak's official name is "National Rail Passenger Corporation" instead of the more sensible "National Passenger Rail Corporation".

 

[George Harris]

Because you are either a rail passenger, a bus passenger, or a air passenger. The set up was and is for carrying rail passengers.