Sorry, but obviously a reading comprehension problem here: sad never came into my assessment; and no, I don't stare out the windows - though I do enjoy the views: they are one reason I fly Amtrak vs one of the flying cattlecar services - but I do interact (face-to-face) with the people around me (generally on trains referred to as friends that one hasn't met yet) vs living in an insular world unaware of the world immediately around oneself. My sympathies go out to you. And yes, texting or talking is better than no contact, but is miles short of real human interactions and real human contact... that must be a deep and profound relationship you must have with your "girlfriend." Sad. And no, I won't judge you, but will feel sorry for you - how about turning of the box and try some real interactions with real people... think about it - in the meantime I'm off to a Saturday morning breakfast with friends [just think about it: a group of eight or nine real human beings, sitting around a table, sharing each other's company, interacting with each other, while sharing a protracted breakfast and mutual interests in history, gardening, classical music (the oboe is my nemesis) and the outdoors].
Sarah - my hat's off to you, and yes I find others with their Kindles - I'm always happy to see people stretching their brains [and from your previous posts I would expect nothing less from you]... who I feel sorry for are those that for most of the daylight hours are building up their thumb muscles to and beyond Olympic levels, never venturing out of their shells to at minimum observe that there are real human beings around them, and just maybe interacting with them - even if at a trivial level of saying good morning. ... the talking group around where I was sitting on the CZ last week were amazed at the one "gent" that day or night was either killing them angry birds, hunting the wumpus, or occasionally texting - would take a quick glance out the window once an hour (presume to see if he was still on planet earth), but otherwise face glued to the screen, thumbs in overdrive.
As you found out, it was actually the 1950s where the last service disappeared. Same is true in most of upstate NY -- there was a comprehensive passenger rail network still going until the mid-50s, although it was being run with more and more dilapidated equipment.
Wow, just wow. If moderators would allow it I would just reply to this with a four letter word starting with F.
But that's me!Camping, cycling and train... just might be. ;-)
Have to agree that the interstate highway system did throw a monkey wrench into the works - where the operative change was: with a car and good roads, one could set their own schedule and route - hard for a train, bus or even airline to do that. Additionally the car added a change to the transportation model, ie, with a train, the train ride was part of the vacation; whereas with the car, it was a means to get to the vacation. So... two competing models, two different models.
The real bodyblow was the US routes becoming viable interstate routes. Its not like they built the interstates then waited for everyone to get cars. They already had the cars. I mean, the PA Turnpike went live in 1940. The demand for a limited access highspeed road was already there by the mid 30s.
Ditto. I wish there were a train to my parents' town, even if it took a bit longer than driving. I much prefer to let Amtrak "drive". I'd probably visit more often if I could take the train, especially in the winter. I hate being stuck in the car for longer than an hour.
An erudite response, as always. ... as someone that lives in the technology world: when technology improves lives "YAY GADGETS," but when it interferes, then at least myself, I find the need to question the appropriateness/usage. Though I do worry about a world where a seemingly large percentage of the population has lost or never developed the ability to interact directly with other members of the society - or at least I worry about where such a society is heading (and how easy such a society might be manipulatable/mislead)... but that's a different topic.
Yeah, I'm annoyed at all this lack of advertising. Maybe Amtrak thinks that demand is already too high for capacity to cope with, so they won't advertise until they get more cars, but they should still give it a try. I'm sick and tired of Greyhound's lack of advertising, Southwest and Megabus are always advertising to scream for passengers and we don't do respond with anything about it.
Why's it so slow? You would have to drive on US Highways to get to ABQ and you can't drive very fast on those. Unless you're talking about the detour route through St. Louis and Oklahoma City.
Well if you're not ganna take a train, at least don't ride Megabus. Take Greyhound, drive a car, fly in a plane, just don't take Megabus!
I grew up in butler and my memory is somewhat foggy after so many years. But though my Dad usually drove us to Pittsburgh, I remember at least one time taking the train from Butler to Pittsburgh and then on to Cincinnati to catch either the Ponce De Leon or the Royal Palm to head to Ga.. We lived on the South Side and could easily walk to the station which was on Center Ave, below the viaduct. Very, very few passenger trains came through that station even in the early 50's.
Nick, on the money...just imagine how much better on time performance, and routes, there would be if we double tracked important rail routes like we did major highways?
St. Louis - OKC is the main route for driving, not a detour route. It takes 17.5 hours at an average speed of 75 mph. Compared to 17.5 hours, 26 hours is long, especially when you're snaking through the Raton Pass at 20 mph.
