Interesting facts and notes in old railroad magazines

[Metra Electric Rider]

Well, there were many on at least one side of the aisle who voted for the Railpax Bill with a nod nod wink wink understanding that the whole thing will fail within five years. So Biagginni was not the only person suffering from that delusion, and it is quite possible that many from that era are still smarting from the fact that their dreams have failed to come to fruition. That is possibly the basis for at least a segment of the completely irrational (in my opinion) opposition to Amtrak today.

I'm reminded of a quote by a Bay Area politician who said he would never have supported BART had he known that voters would actually approve it.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

September 1969 Trains has a long article on Grand Central Station in Chicago.

 

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Trains November 1969 has an article on the ending of Pullman Service and history of the same.

 

[Bob Dylan]

CTRL and + to magnify the page - - - and CTRL and - the same number to restore

Of course you all knew that (didn"t you?)

Takes me back to my Computer Courses back in the Day!

 

[Keith1951]

Takes me back to my Computer Courses back in the Day!

Not I. Thx, will try that when I'm next to my computer.

 

[Palmland]

rains November 1969 has an article on the ending of Pullman Service and history of the same.

Your post prompted me to pull out that article from my archives. Hard to believe Pullman had 9000 employees at its peak. Their attention to detail, training, and supervision resulted in always reliable good service. I wonder if it's possible for Amtrak to achieve that level of consistent service.

"Pullman developed a standard method or regulation for
almost everything that could occur aboard a Pullman car.
Every detail of hospitality to the passenger was covered
in minute detail. Books of instructions and rules also were
issued for (Pullman) conductors, attendants, maids, barbers, and bus
boys. It was little wonder that fbr decades former Pullman
employees were sought for service in the White House and
in the finest metropolitan clubs and hotels."

 

[Bob Dylan]

Your post prompted me to pull out that article from my archives. Hard to believe Pullman had 9000 employees at its peak. Their attention to detail, training, and supervision resulted in always reliable good service. I wonder if it's possible for Amtrak to achieve that level of consistent service.

"Pullman developed a standard method or regulation for
almost everything that could occur aboard a Pullman car.
Every detail of hospitality to the passenger was covered
in minute detail. Books of instructions and rules also were
issued for (Pullman) conductors, attendants, maids, barbers, and bus
boys. It was little wonder that fbr decades former Pullman
employees were sought for service in the White House and
in the finest metropolitan clubs and hotels."

Those of us old enough to have experienced Pullman trained Employees were very fortunate.

Compared to most of todays Service Workers, it's like going from the Penthouse to the Outhouse!

 

[Steve4031]

I read stories about how a porter retrieved someone's dentures after they had closed the sink and sent the dentures down the drain along with the water. There was some basket that caught the dentures.

 

[west point]

The Pullman conductors had a supervisory job overseeing the porters. That IMO is why the service standards were so good. Now doesn't that tell us the Amtrak conductors do not have that same authority? That IMO means there should be an on-board in charge service person who is scheduled to alternate to different routes and crews each trip. That should keep OBS doing their job. Also, might prevent the taking over of tables that are for passengers.

Once more revenue cars are on all trains the costs of a supervisor will spread the costs. After every trip a trip report to the route manager with suggestions and problems. The on-board supervisor will be paid for by just a couple extra passengers attracted by the good service reputation.