Name That Station!
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Notelvis
Conductor
This is the nicely restored former Southern Railway Station in Danville, VA. Aside from the architecture, the green and white striped awnings are the give-away.
I knew that without cheating from having stopped by last fall on my way to Roanoke to ride an excursion sponsored by the NRHS Chapter. Also rode through Danville by daylight in 2011 on an excursion sponsored by the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer.
The last regularly scheduled passenger trains to call on Danville in the daylight were Southern Railway's #5 & 6 (then named the 'Piedmont') which were discontinued in November 1976. Originally a Washington-Atlanta day train when Southern stayed out of Amtrak in 1971, they had in 1975 already been discontinued south of Charlotte.
I knew that without cheating from having stopped by last fall on my way to Roanoke to ride an excursion sponsored by the NRHS Chapter. Also rode through Danville by daylight in 2011 on an excursion sponsored by the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer.
The last regularly scheduled passenger trains to call on Danville in the daylight were Southern Railway's #5 & 6 (then named the 'Piedmont') which were discontinued in November 1976. Originally a Washington-Atlanta day train when Southern stayed out of Amtrak in 1971, they had in 1975 already been discontinued south of Charlotte.
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Ryan
Court Jester
Correct, sir!
Notelvis
Conductor
Let's try this one -
This photo dates from 1981 and this platform area has been modernized a bit in the past 30 years. For one thing, new platforms have been constructed and the outside platform is further away to accomodate two tracks between the platforms. However, Amtrak trains still stop here and they still sweep into the station off a little s-curve as this train is doing. One hint, this train still operates and it carries an even number in the Amtrak timetable.
Can anyone name the station?
This photo dates from 1981 and this platform area has been modernized a bit in the past 30 years. For one thing, new platforms have been constructed and the outside platform is further away to accomodate two tracks between the platforms. However, Amtrak trains still stop here and they still sweep into the station off a little s-curve as this train is doing. One hint, this train still operates and it carries an even number in the Amtrak timetable.
Can anyone name the station?
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Swadian Hardcore
Engineer
I see a very rare SDP40F in the later days of its life. Even rarer, it is in Phase II livery. Train is composed of only Heritage cars, no then-new Amfleets or Superliners.
With the trees and overall scene, I think this is somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic or Southeast regoins. Slim chance of California.
Again, this is just what I see now, I don't know exaclty where this is.
With the trees and overall scene, I think this is somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic or Southeast regoins. Slim chance of California.
Again, this is just what I see now, I don't know exaclty where this is.
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Notelvis
Conductor
You are barking up the right tree Swadian.......
I will say that this is not California. It is in one of the other regions you suggest. Look at the detail on that little platform roof. It is similar to that on a number of stations built by the same railroad and still in use today.
Oh..... and another hint - this station is busier now than it was in 1981 - not that Amtrak had anything to do with that.
I will say that this is not California. It is in one of the other regions you suggest. Look at the detail on that little platform roof. It is similar to that on a number of stations built by the same railroad and still in use today.
Oh..... and another hint - this station is busier now than it was in 1981 - not that Amtrak had anything to do with that.
Swadian Hardcore
Engineer
This is getting interesting. So the station is busier, but it's not because of Amtrak trains. Then it must be either commuter rail or something major built inside in the station.
Now that roofing looks like, maybe ex-Southern Railway.
Now that roofing looks like, maybe ex-Southern Railway.
Tampa
Aloha
Aloha
Notelvis
Conductor
Not Southern - I'm not aware of Southern ever using powder blue. Perhaps Amtrak would have slapped some powder blue paint up in the early 70's but they wouldn't have been doing that to any Southern Railway stations.
Tampa is not correct but you are getting.......um...... warmer ...... with that guess.
Tampa is not correct but you are getting.......um...... warmer ...... with that guess.
Notelvis
Conductor
Not Winter Haven either....... but getting warmer still.
Notelvis
Conductor
Not Hollywood....... but close.
Ocala Mike
Lead Service Attendant
I haven't played in a while; I'll go with Ft. Lauderdale.
It looks familiar to me, but cannot place it. Platform looks like ORL buy background does not.
Notelvis
Conductor
Ft. Lauderdale is warmer (closer) than Hollywood. Warmest yet actually.
Orlando is not.
Orlando is not.
Notelvis
Conductor
Winner.
This is West Palm Beach circa March 1981.
Feel free to post or open the floor.
Swadian Hardcore
Engineer
So what train is that? Didn't you take the Silver Star sometime around that?
Notelvis
Conductor
Oh yes - this is the northbound Silver Star in March 1981........
I was a freshman in college at the time and had gone to Florida with the girl I was dating (she was a native) for a few days over spring break. I was headed back a few days earlier and was catching the Silver Star to Hamlet, NC where I would walk two blocks to the Trailways Bus station to catch a bus the rest of the way to Asheville.
Not possible to do this any longer as Trailways is a non-entity in North Carolina and Greyhound (nor Southern Stages either) does not serve Hamlet.
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Swadian Hardcore
Engineer
Nice, I finally guessed something right! You told me that bus story a long time ago somewhere. Where did you go to college at the time? Looks like the Florida trains were among the last holdout of the SDP40F.
Notelvis
Conductor
Mars Hill College just north of Asheville, NC.
Swadian Hardcore
Engineer
I remember seeing Mars Hill on my extensive road maps. Aren't you from Mars Hill originally, that's your home town?
Notelvis
Conductor
That's correct - Mars Hill is home.
