Original/Old Amtrak Network Map(s)?

[Cal]

Amtrak has discontinued many services over the years, does anyone have a map of when their network was at it's largest? Or the first network map in 1971? It would be neat to see how much has changed and how many routes used to exist but no longer do.

 

[Crowbar_k]

Here: The Museum of Railway Timetables (timetables.org)

 

[Eric S]

Hmm, so you're looking for maximum route-miles (as opposed to train-miles). Just guessing, but late 1970s?

 

[Cal]

Here: The Museum of Railway Timetables (timetables.org)

Thank you!

 

[jis]

Amtrak has discontinued many services over the years, does anyone have a map of when their network was at it's largest? Or the first network map in 1971? It would be neat to see how much has changed and how many routes used to exist but no longer do.

You'll actually find that Amtrak has also started many services, and many services that we miss today, also did not exist in the beginnings of Amtrak and were started by Amtrak. One particular remaining example is the Lake Shore Limited, the Cardinal (complex history) and the Portland section of the Empire Builder. Examples what Amtrak started that have since been discontinued are the North Coast Hiawatha, Pioneer, Desert Wind, Sunset East. The most significant trains missed that were there when Amtrak started - The Lone Star, the Broadway Limited, the National Limited, the Montrealer and perhaps a few more.

 

[bms]

I would guess that the maximum Amtrak service was in 1977 or 1978, before the Carter Cuts.

 

[tgstubbs1]

I found several magazine articles with some maps. This one shows the switch from private rail to Amtrak in 1971.

 

[BlackDiamond]

The most significant trains missed that were there when Amtrak started - The Lone Star, the Broadway Limited, the National Limited, the Montrealer and perhaps a few more.

The Montrealer was actually not in the original April 1971 system but was added in September 1972. The private railroads had discontinued it in 1968.

 

[jis]

The Montrealer was actually not in the original April 1971 system but was added in September 1972. The private railroads had discontinued it in 1968.

Yeah, I suppose all service to Canada was discontinued for a bit.

The service through Cumberland was an odd one from Newport News. Connectivity to Chicago from Washington was via Philly on the Broadway Limited Washington section, and to St. Louis on the National Limited Washington section.

 

[joelkfla]

There are maps here for every ten years from 1971-2001:
https://history.amtrak.com/archives/@@archives?q=system+map
You need to open the document and then click the Download link to get the full-size image.