Joann Anderson Named "Employee of the Year," I

Vol. 7, No. 10 December 1980 JoAnn Anderson Named "Employee of the Year," I Fourteen Others Honored At Special Ceremony J Fifteen Amtrak employees from all union representatives in dealing with cream of the crop at Amtrak. These over the system and from several de employee drug dependency situations very select people have indicated by a partments were honored by the com that affect work performance and job variety of actions-in some cases con pany for being its top employees for safety. They also work with other tinuing action, in some cases a single the year in ceremonies held at com railroads as well as state and local action-how much they care for the pany headquarters, Washington, on counseling services to provide coun property of Amtrak, the progress of Friday, December 5. seling to employees in remote areas. Amtrak, the people of Amtrak and Honored were an "Employee of After the top winner was an the Year," three recipients of the nounced and escorted to the stage, a President's Achievement Award and damp- eyed Anderson stood 11 Honorable Mentions. alongside Amtrak President Alan Named the "Employee of the Boyd as he told why she had been Year," in this first annual competi selected. " Her program," he said, tion, was JoAnn Anderson, manager, "was established to make sure that employee assistance program, Wash people who have lost their footing ington. have a chance to find it again. Recipients of the President's " She has held out her helping hand Achievement Awards were William to any number of people and brought Bessette, police officer on the Boston them back into productive activity at division; Allen Olin, ticket agent, Amtrak. There is nothing more valu Tacoma; and Charles Pierce, station able that anybody can do and I say, supervisor, Kansas City. JoAnn, thank God for you." Anderson was cited for the top Before presenting the awards, award for developing and promoting Boyd told the crowd in the packed the assistance program which is avail employees' lounge that he was proud able to all employees and members of to be there to hand out the trophies. their families who help in dealing "The people who were nominated A beaming President Boyd presents the with either alcoholism or drug-related and chosen for these very high "Employee of the Year" award to JoAnn problems. awards," he said, "represent the Anderson The program was specifically identified by Congress during Am trak's 1979 legislative authorization process as a "model program" in the railroad industry. In recent legisla tion, the Federal Railroad Adminis tration has provided funds to expand the Amtrak model to other railroads. The program provide counseling to individual employees and their fam ilies , dealing with all of each indi vidual's needs-medical, physical, emotional, psychological-and, when necessary, making referrals for pro fessional help, including hospitaliza tion or outpatient care. Anderson's staff also operates Headquarters employees filled the employees' lounge to witness the colorful ceremony . Fifteen workshops for supervisors and local employees from all over the system were honored

1 their fellow man. The 15 finalists for the awards were cerned. He followed her as she moved "I have an enormous sense of pride selected from a field of nearly 250 toward the head end of the train. in being able to acknowledge to these nominees which were submitted by When the train began to move, she folks what a contribution they make department heads over the past year. jumped in front of the engine. Olin to the family . . . the system ... The awards committee spent many saw this, shouted a warning to the en that we call Amtrak because they rep hours evaluating the nominations be gine crew who couldn't see the resent an ideal to which we can all fore making their final selections. woman, then jumped in front of the aspire. Members of the committee in moving locomotive to pull the woman "Amtrak, like any other business, cluded Ed Courtemanch, planning into the clear. or government agency, is good, bad department; Sandy Spence, govern William R. Bessette-Police Of or indifferent because of its people, ment affairs; Fred Wiederhold, pas ficer Bessette exposed himself to pos purely and simply. And here at Am senger services; John Baesch, oper sible death when he boarded a train in trak, I'm happy to say, we've got ations; Steve Felder, accounting; New London, Connecticut, to investi some pretty fine people." Leon McLaurin, passenger services; gate a report that an armed passenger The eleven honorable mentions in and Bill Thornton, personnel. had killed a passenger and wounded a the year-long competition were intro All of the winners, except for Bes train crew member. duced first. They included: sette who is recuperating from Just prior to the train's arrival, he Dominic Assetta, electrician, wounds suffered in an encounter with had arranged for local police and Boston; Enrique Castillo, chief file a gunman, plus their spouses or mem paramedical help and then attempted clerk, NECIP, Philadelphia; W. bers of their families, were brought to to clear the platform of passengers. Shannon Davis, ticket clerk, Parkers Washington for the headquarters After being told the location of the burg; Joan Gosenski, reservations ceremony and a day-long array of ac gunman, he and a New London and information clerk, Chicago; tivi ties. police officer boarded the coach from John T. Koberlein, gang maintainer, President's Achievement opposite ends. communications and signals, New Awards As he proceeded throught he York; Tommy Lee, sleeping car at Charles O. Pierce- Pierce was the coach, he was suddenly shot in the tendant, New York; Jim Michel, first Amtrak representative on the chest. Although severely wounded, he manager, engineering design, Wash scene of the derailment of the South subdued the gunman, who had al ington; Jack L. Pearson, foreman, west Limited at Lawrence, Kansas, ready shot one passenger, with the Houston; Robert H .-E-oo r--,-f.o reman CYn-ottolYerr,r979. He ImmeOiately help of the New London police of communications and signals, New took charge in helping the injured, ficer. The prisoner was handcuffed York; Norman Trapp, police sending them to the hospital and ar and taken to jail. Bessette was trans sergeant, Philadelphia and Orrin C. ranging transportation from the ported to the hospital for medical at Woods, electronics engineer, Wil Lawrence Community Center to Kan tention. mington. sas City for those who were not in Honorable Mentions jured. He later visited passengers who Dominic Assetta-When repairs to had been admitted to the hospital and the 14-foot-diameter clock in offered any assistance that was neces Boston's South Station were pro sary. This was all done after he had posed, bids were received for $6,000, been up all night working his regular $21,000 and $39,500. Assetta balked 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. shift as station at the costs and devised his own supervisor at Kansas City Union Sta method for repairing the clock after tion. having two needed parts manufac His devotion to the passengers in tured. End result was that the job was this emergency situation kept him on done for $400. duty voluntarily long after he normal Enrique Castillo-Using consider ly should have been relieved. able initiative, Castillo designed and Allen J. Olin-At the risk of his implemented a system for the storage own life, Olin saved the life of a and retrieval of all documents relat young female mental patient who at ing to the Northeast Corridor Im tempted to commit suicide by lying provement Project. This involved down on the tracks shortly before the microfilming all documents, identify departure of the Mount Rainier. Olin ing each with a control number and had helped load passengers into the the entry of this number, along with lead coach. While doing so he noticed other pertinent information, into the Charles Pierce and Allen Olin display their plaques. Police Officer Bessette was absent the young-and apparently dis data base. This system now enables a because he is recuperating from injuries. traught-woman and became con- complete recall of any or all docu-

2 mentation regarding any subject covered. My Dear Friends at Amtrak: Shannon Davis-In a Hot Line let We don't always remember every moment of every day but we do re ter to President Boyd, Davis sug member precious moments in our daily lives. I experienced a series of gested that connecting Greyhound those on Friday, December 5th. bus service be instituted from Fair Receiving this award is recognition to all employees of this company mont and Morgantown, West Vir who have worked together to touch, effect and influence the lives of ginia, to the Shenandoah at Parkers those people that my staff have been able to help. I believe that this rec burg. He also pointed out that buses ognition is the beginning of a unity to solve even greater problems to which originate or terminate at gether in the future. Clarksburg serve a large student pop Thank you-each and everyone-for your warmth and expressions ulation enroute and should regularly of friendship which are treasures for each of us who have shared in our stop at the Amtrak station in Parkers gmwth. Fondest burg before ending their runs at the wiShesp~ nearby Greyhound terminal. Joan Gosenski-A long-time em ployee of Amtrak, Gosenski was cited both long and short haul trains. pense to Amtrak. The program has for the professional way she operates Tommy Lee-When a fire occurred received consistently high praise from the passenger lounge in Union Sta in an electrical cabinet in the sleeping the many groups that have seen it. tion, Chicago. She takes her job seri car he was working, Lee first moved Jack Pearson-Besides doing his ously, so much so that during the re his passengers to another car, then own job at the maintenance facility at cent fire in the station, she made her fought the fi re . He remained in the Houston, Pearson got personally in husband bring her downtown to car after the blaze was out, holding volved in promoting group travel in make certain that "her" lounge had the vestibule door open to first air out his area. He was responsible for re not been damaged. the car, then proceeded to freshen the cruiting a large group that traveled John Koberlein and Robert car with a room deodorizer before al from Houston to El Paso and return, Poor-The two men supervised com lowing himself to be taken to a hos generating $4,480 in revenue. munications and signal personnel in pital for treatment. Norman J. Trapp-Last July 27 an an I8-month project renovating a James Michel-Michel wrote and adult male, traveling with a I2-year series of interlockings in Sunnyside produced a 20-minute, 400-slide, old girl, was removed from a train at yard, New York, while training C & S multi-projector, audio-visual pro Philadelphia after a ticket alterca personnel in many parts of the Corri gram on Amtrak's standard stations tion. After the pair left the station, dor. The project is now resulting in investing over $900 of his own money Trapp found out that there was an much more efficient and economical fo r supplies and equipment. He did FBI all-points bulletin, issued in New movement of cars in the large yard the project entirely outside of office York, for the two. Later that evening, which is a major hub for making up hours and company facilities at no ex- while enroute to inspect another Am trak facility in town, he noticed two persons who resembled the fugitives standing on a downtown street cor ner. He made a routine stop and search, identified the two as the ones sought by the FBI and arrested them. Orrin C. Woods-Using some GSA-acquired equipment, Woods in itiated and continually expanded "in house" repairs to some electronic control cards. He developed repair and test procedures for the cards and then innovated some test panels to check the cards in groups. His in struction and guidance established Amtrak's ability to repair electronic components on locomotives, self-pro pelled cars and other equipment. Am trak now enjoys increased availability Honorable mention winners were, left to right, bottom row, Jack Pearson, Joan Gosenski, Tommy Lee and Enrique Castillo. In top row are Robert Poor, Shannon Davis, John of more reliable equipment at an an Koberlein, Jim Michel. Orrin Woods, Dominic Assetta and Norman Trapp. nual cost savings of over $200,000.

3 has not been resolved and may re quire modification of trains as well as Hot Line To President Boyd stations. Question: I'm calling from Hart· The design chosen will use new Q: I understand that in the near ford. We just had our first snowfall styles in an easy-care, durable fabric, future we will be getting paid every and when that happens a lot of people in navy, burgundy and an attractive week. Can you tell me exactly when in New England think of going south Amtrak logo print. that will be? to get away from it. The only employees wearing white A: This program first began in We've got good rates to Florida, so jackets will be cooks and chefs. New York's Sunnyside yard and why can't we rent a billboard along The uniforms selected were based Pennsylvania Station this past Sep one of the snow-packed highways on opinions from field personnel. tember. All New York personnel-ex around here encouraging people to Ordering will take place in the near cept those in reservations offices and take the train and telling them what a future and the program will be imple in on-board services-should be get good deal we offer? mented by next May 1. You'll be get ting paid weekly in the near future. Answer: We have considered this ting an illustrated brochure showing Chicago and Los Angeles em medium in selected Northeast Corri the new uniforms in the near future. ployees will be paid weekly beginning dor markets but feel that we must use in early 1981 and the rest of the sys Q: This past summer we built sta our limited advertising dollars on the tem will follow . tions in Windsor and North Haven, most effective media mix to reach the Reservations office and on-board Connecticut, in conjunction with greatest number of potential Amtrak services personnel are scheduled for Conn DOT. Why weren't these plat passengers. Unfortunately, billboard the final stages of the project which forms built to handle handicapped advertising exposure is limited only to should be completed next June. persons? They should have had those who use a particular highway ramps instead of the stairs that are Q: I work at Brighton Park Tur giving us a very limited audience. So, there. bo yard in Chicago and would like to for now, we've been reluctant to use A: Connecticut DOT intends that know why Amtrak orders 12-foot billboard advertising. these stations be unmanned and even wide carpet for cars when it only if ramps had been provided, a handi needs nine feet. And you also don't Q: We'll be celebrating our 10th capped person in a wheelchair anniversary on May 1. Why not have order it according to lengths. couldn't board a train without as Last week I put ill a carpet that a special commemorative stamp is sistance. Therefore, we encourage needed 38 .6 inches and they gave me sued as part of the celebration? handicapped persons to use stations a 53 -foot-long carpet that was 12 feet A: We did indeed ask the U.S. where assistance is available. One Postal Service for a 10th anniversary wide. That's nothing but waste. such station in each metropolitan A: For economy reasons, we buy commemorative stamp earlier this area is considered the present require carpet in standard mill runs of 12 year. However, they informed us that ment for the handicapped and New the approval process for a new com feet. This really creates no waste be memorative stamp takes two years. Haven fills the need. cause the additional three-foot-width The issue of how to equip un And, generally they do not commem is used as runners between seat orate anything less than a 50th anni manned stations for the handicapped tracks. versary. We are, however, thinking of using Wider Coverage For Amtrak News special plates in our postage meters that would carry an anniversary mes Question: I've just received trak News recently had a four sage. my most recent Amtrak News page spread on Beech Grove and and wonder why you don't in this issue has a similar one on Q: I've heard that we're going to clude mechanical or locomotive Eighth Street yard and Redondo change the uniforms of on-board ser people in the publication instead Junction. vices personnel from the present of only on-board services em There will be a redesigned Am white jackets to gold. Please remem ployees. trak News coming out in the near ber that the white jackets can be The mechanical people seem to future and we are seeking corre bleached to remove stains. Ordinary be a forgotten breed. spondents across the system. We detergents can't remove stains from Answer: Not quite true. hope to tighten up the coverage colored fabrics and we won't be able First, there's a huge number of and give people all across the sys to use bleach on them. on-board services people on the tem more recognition. It's pretty A: Employees in commissaries, payroll so they just overwhelm by hard to do that with the extreme on-board service and stations can mere numbers. However, Am- ly small staff we now have. look forward to a new uniform.

4 Carpet is used for power cars, barf lifts. This problem will be rectified in grills, bar / grill cafeteria cars and as all future shipments. The factory will Reagan Train? side runners under the seats. These be shipping lifts through the end of can be heat seamed and there is no April 1981 or until all 134 of those on Question: A recent news arti appreciable waste. order have been delivered. cle noted that President-elect The lifts are weatherproof and Reagan was considering visits to Q: I'm a clerk and would like to need not be stored indoors. However, various cities while enroute to know if there are any statistical re if kept outdoors, they must be se California for the Thanksgiving ports relating to Vietnam era veterans cured to prevent vandalism. holidays. I wonder if Amtrak and their record of promotions to Regarding Clearwater and St. made known to him that it would first line levels of management. Petersburg, arrangements are being be honored to run a special As far as I know, there are no su made to redeliver the units that were whistles top train for that pur pervisors at my location who are first refused at those stations. pose. from the Vietnam era. Do we keep Answer: We had been in con track of such things? Q: I work at the ticket office at tact with the Reagan staff to dis A: Under current federal and Trenton, New Jersey, and have been cuss just such a train but the idea state regulations, corporations are told that the station is being re never came to fruition. not required to keep statistics on the modeled but there has been no con number of Vietnam era veterans hired sideration given to a restroom area sure they have reservations. They give or their progression through the com for women. us a number and we have to take their pany. I think it's very unfair that we have word for it. At present, Amtrak maintains no to use the public restroom. I also feel A: Having just survived the statistics on the number of Vietnam that there should be a lounge area for Thanksgiving weekend with a few ser era veterans hired or their progression employees of the ticket office and ious outages, it's difficult to answer a through the company. baggage room. Hot Line call from a frustrated em A: The Federal Railroad Admin ployee. At this point, the only real so Q: I work at the St. Petersburg istration will be making a number of lution is our replacement system, and station and wonder why we're getting modifications to your station as part I'm happy to say that it should be these wheelchair elevators? We of the Northeast Corridor Improve available before we have to go haven't even been able to unload ment Project. Virtually all of them through another Thanksgiving them from the trucking firm because are to passenger handling facilities crunch. of their weight. The same holds true and we cannot address all improve The bad news, of course, is that we for Clearwater. With their size and ments needed at the station. have the Christmas holidays and the weight they're impossible to unload However, as at all other Northeast longer-lasting travel peak of next from a semi and we don't have any Corridor stations, Amtrak is supple summer to go through. forklifts. menting the FRA program by fund We don't touch the computer sys Since we haven't been able to take ing improvements which are neces tem during holiday periods, other delivery of them, the freight carrier is sary for the comfort and safety of than repair it when it goes down. We now telling us they'll be sold at public employees and passengers. have blackout periods to cover auction. In the meantime, they're ac We know there is a need for a Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday cumulating a storage charge of $2.21 lounge and lavatory for station em periods. Other than emergency fixes, a day. ployees. There is a plan to locate no changes are allowed to the system Can we get something done about these facilities on the lower level, us during those times. this? ing space made available by rear We do have a problem of capacity. A: Amtrak has been mandated by rangement of existing offices. We will When we put too much of a load on the federal government to handle proceed as soon as possible, subject the ARTS computer, it can be likened handicapped passengers on trains and to approval of funding and coordina to a water pipe under too much water this includes certain requirements in tion with NECIP construction. pressure. Eventually, it breaks. stations and on board trains. For the time being, all we can do is The wheelchair lifts, if properly Q: This is the Los Angeles ticket patch and try to keep it in operation. used, will greatly alleviate problems office. Is there any way we can get the We'd like to do better and are work of loading and unloading handicap computers up ... and keep them ing on ways so we can. ped people to and from trains. there? The last two days have been The first shipment of 15 lifts the most miserable we've ever spent. Q: I'm writing to see if you can encountered some problems because We couldn't get into the computer possible straighten out a problem I not all carriers were equipped with and had to hand-ticket people to get am having with my U.S. Savings hydraulic tailgates for unloading the them on a train and we weren't even Bonds. For many years, I've been us-

5 ing the payroll savings plan but the days which caused an unexpected de posedly listed as a "discharge only" last bonds I've received have been lay in issuing the bonds. station. dated July 1980. I've been trying to To add to the problem, the job had However, in the current Amtrak find out what has happened but all to be done in alphabetical order and, employee timetable the train has the I've gotten is a runaround. as you well know, your last name be symbol "S" in front of it, which A: When we combined several gins with the letter "V." means receiving and discharging pas Northeast Corridor payrolls recently, Happily, your back bonds were sengers. Just what is the status of the a computer program problem devel mailed to you on Saturday, Novem train? oped. It took a while to solve the ber 22. A: We are aware of the discrep problem. ancy between the public timetable The bank that handles our bond ac Q: A recent Hot Line question and Amtrak's employee timetable. count was unable to issue back-dated was carried in Amtrak News and The train should receive and dis bonds automatically by computer and noted that the Chesapeake was not charge passengers at Chester and this had to establish a task force to issue supposed to pick up passengers at will be corrected in the February 1 those bonds manually. This task Chester, Pennsylvania. It was sup- public timetables. force was able to work only on Satur-

President's Hot Line I Energy and Environmental Group Formed I U.S.A. 800-424-5191 Herb J. Gall has been appointed ager of energy conservation. assistant chief engineer, energy and As head of the group, Gall will be D.C. only 383-2027 environment, with the creation of a responsible for developing state-of new energy and environmental group the-art, cost-effective programs and that reports to Bob Lawson, vice policies for the prevention and miti Personnel Hot Line president and chief engineer. gation of environmental problems. Gall's staff will consist of Bob The consolidation of the former U.S.A. 800-424-5190 Noonan, manager of environmental energy and environment staffs will D.C. only 383-3636 and pollution control engineering; focus greater attention on conserva Earl Zettlemoyer, manager of field tion of energy resources and control engineering; and Gene Inglett, man- of environmental pollution. Payroll Hot Line U.S.A. 800-424-5067 D.C . .only 383-351 7 Compliments For Rochester, New York From: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and confirmed it was indeed the bat Payroll personnel will answer calls live November 9,1980 tery. He then rounded up a cab driver during day shift hours, Monday through Friday. At all other times calls will be for some jumper cables. handled by an answering machine. Remember that recent Saturday At this point the Amtrak security morning-rain, more rain and nasty? guard took his turn in the drenching I have never spent a more pleasurable rain and jumped my battery from his Jobs Hot Line morning in Rochester. truck, using the cabbie's cables. And I had just put my youngest son on I was headed home for Palmyra be U.S.A. only 800-424-5196 the 5:05 a.m. train (Lake Shore fore 6 a.m., soaking wet but warm by Limited) at the Clinton avenue Am the concern of every person I had en trak station, his first train trip, to see countered in my Amtrak experience. All Hot Lines are in operation his oldest brother play Rugby at Vas Thank you Rochester. Even at 5 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . sar college in Poughkeepsie that a.m., you care! afternoon. Anita Lynch Austin, Returning to my car at 5 :20, I Palmyra, New York Callers to the President's Hot Line can either identify themselves or remain found that the battery was dead-it anonymous. Personnel Hot Line callers, was raining harder than before and (Editor's Note: The railroad person obviously, must identify themselves if the moments-before filled station had nel involved were Jeffrey Bronston, they wish a reply to their Questions. Employees also have the option of writ emptied. Do you know how deserted ticket clerk, Rochester, and Conrail ing instead of calling. Write the specific Rochester looks at 5 :20 on a Saturday Police Office Gerald Kloss, who is as Hot Line you want. c/ o Amtrak, 400 N. morning? signed to Amtrak's station there. A Capitol St., NW , Washington, D.C. 20001. The young man at the Amtrak fine job and a well-deserved pat on ticket counter braved the downpour the back to the pair.)

6 Eighth Street Yard employs a large vari-skilled and multi-talented work force to keep the four long-distance trains and the several San Diegans it is responsible for operating efficiently and reliably. Los Angeles Eighth Street Yard I Keeps The Cars Moving

Los Angeles' Eighth Street yard, flowing here in a man-made concrete include air brake, battery, uphols which is responsible for maintaining trough. tery, paint, sheet metal, machine and four long-distance trains-the Coast The complex is actually a succes electrical shops as well as the glass Starlight, Southwest Limited, Sunset sion of smaller yards, beginning at house. Limited and Desert Wind-as well as the north end with "Old Mexico" Eighth Street's machine shop is the consists that make up the seven yard, a string of five tracks used also responsible for repairing and ser San Diegans, is without question the strictly for storage. Next comes vicing approximately 85 highway busiest yard west of Chicago. "North Yard," with four running vehicles and support equipment such With approximately 325 people as tracks for turnaround inspections and as tractors, fork lifts and mobile signed to its personnel roster, the repair of equipment, plus a separate cranes. These are assigned to the yard yard normally dispatches about 1,500 wash track that leads to the yard's car itself, Redondo Junction engine cars a month. In peak season, how washer. house, the material control depart ever, that number often reaches Following comes "South Yard," ment, the commissary, Union Station 2,200. four tracks wide, where defective cars and the police department. Work done at the yard includes are repaired and periodic mainten Because of its gentle climate, Los regular turnaround and layover in ance performed. Next is "Ninth Angeles was also involved as one of spections, servicing and running re Street," consisting of a storage yard. the system yards that repaired freeze pairs to the 10 daily and one tri-week Also in the immediate area is the damaged cars during previous ly train, as well as the periodic 15-, wheel truing machine and the wheel winters. 30-, 120- and 360-day car inspections. pit where car wheels can be Amtrak took over the shop and The yard is also responsible for "dropped" or, more properly, yard complex from the Santa Fe on heavy repairs to cars requiring paint lowered from cars for repair or re January 13, 1977. Managing Eighth ing, upholstering, glass replacement, placement. Street yard is Jerry Mescall, facility air conditioning repairs, truck and South of this entire complex is manager, who came to Amtrak in running gear repairs or any other Redondo Junction, the roundhouse May 1975 from the Penn Central and major defects that require the care to area where locomotives are service took over the Los Angeles facility on be taken out of service. and maintained. December 1, 1977. The yard is about two miles south Located between North and South He refers to the transition from the of Los Angeles Union Station and yards, on the east side, is the main Santa Fe to Amtrak as going quite stretches along the Santa Fe's San yard office building, while directly well. Says he, "Normally, whenever Diego mainline. On the eastern edge across the tracks is the complex of one company takes over another of the area is the Los Angeles river, shops that support the facility. These one's property, there's a period of

7 slight disruption 'and confusion as considering the situation. This yard subject to more and more failures. changes are being made. Here, the now services two of the last four That makes it tough on the men who transition went very smooth. There steam-heated trains on the system and have to maintain them. was no real morale problem at any those old cars just break down too "But, they've been doing a good time and the changes we instituted often. And, please remember, until job. It's rough and tough but this will were made gradually and one at a very recently they even had a third all soon end. There is light at the end time. steam train to worry about too. The of the tunnel. It won't be too long "There was a good working rela Southwest Limited was converted on before we'll be servicing an all tionship here before Amtrak took ly recently. " electric fleet. " over, but we now seem to have an Los Angeles' fate was to be respon Work at the yard is done around even better team effort. The sible for the last large fleet of steam the-clock but the major work is done employee attitude is good and the heated cars as the system was being by the first trick, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., people are willing to help one converted to all-electric operation. and the third trick, from midnight tc another." "Of course, you've got to have a 8 a.m. That's when yard personnel Division Superintendent Dave high bad order ratio under those cir work over the Coast Starlight, pre Michaels is high in praise for the cumstances," says Mescall. "Ninety paring it for its next day's run to Seat facility. "Eighth Street has received percent of our bad order cars are the tle, as well as the Desert Wind, and some undue criticism in the past," he steam cars. As I'm talking, there are the last inbound San Diegan from the says, "but in reality deserves a big pat 50 cars set aside for repairs ... one night before. All are made ready for on the back. Amfleet car, one Superliner and 48 their next morning's departures. "It's one of the last major Amtrak steam cars. The first trick works the Southwest facilities with the old conventional "As the best cars get shipped to Limited, as well as concentrating on steam equipment coming in but I Beech Grove for conversion to head all of the major heavy repair work. think the car failure rate is acceptable end-power, the ones that are left are Second trick is 4 p.m. to midnight (Left) Edward Moraga, upholsterer, sews sections of a new seat cover together. (Below) Robin Barbee, car clerk, keeps in contact with various offices to check the status of cars being held for repairs.

(Above) Craig AI/en, coach cleaner, flushes out condenser coils of an air conditioning unit beneath a coach: (Left) Ronald Tevis, car man, inspects the trucks of an inbound Southwest Limited car to insure its acceptance for further service. and whose primary function is to There, it first pulls the cars through spected for plumbing, electrical and keep the two San Diegans moving in the washer and then spots them on a mechanical defects. Minor repairs are and out of Los Angeles Union Sta track in North yard for servicing, made right on the site, but if major tion. The second shift also dispatches maintenance and food stocking. repairs are needed the cars will be the Southwest Limited, adding the Once the cars are spotted, a "blue switched out and replaced. baggage cars and locomotives to the flag," a blue metal flag-shaped sign, Coach cleaners scour through the consist and giving it a final inspection or blue lantern, is placed on each end train cleaning upholstery, floors and before departure. The inbound Coast of the train. The "blue flags" denote windows; replacing head rest covers Starlight is inspected on arrival to that the train cannot be moved until and turning seats where necessary. assist the third shift. The second shift they are removed and the only person Commissary personnel restock the also inspects and dispatches the who can do that is the one who put food service cars. Sunset Limited on the days it them in place. This prevents accidents After all work is done, the train is operates. to yard personnel moving alongside, turned over to the yardmaster so he When a train arrives in Los Angeles under or between the cars. can switch any cars in or out of the Union Station, the first thing that At the same time switches are lock consist. happens to it is that the locomotives ed in a diverting direction or derail The train's air brake system is then are cut off and sent to Redondo Junc devices installed to prevent a cut of tested and the train is ready for its tion for servicing. When all passen cars being inadvertently sent into the next trip. gers and crew have been detrained, track. The blue flag is removed, the the cars are ready to be taken to the Car inspectors move along the train switch crew couples on and moves the yard. A Santa Fe switch crew-which checking it out to make sure that it is consist to Union Station. switches the station and yards using in good mechanical condition for its The locomotives, in the meantime, Amtrak locomotives-couples on and next trip. Inside, the cars are serviced, have been similarly inspected, re moves the consist to Eighth Street. cleaned, repaired, watered and in- paired if needed, fueled, watered and (Left) Mark Dandridge, coach cleaner, scrubs the floor of a car destined for the Sunset Limited. (Below) Albert Burney, pipefitte r/sheet metal worker, pressure tests a car 's air conditioning system .

(Above) Claudio Rodriguez, carman, lubricates roller bearing journal boxes in North yard.

(Below) Roman Robles and Richard Walton, carmen, replace a pane of glass in a full-length dome car. (Right) Claudio Puglisi, lead tractor operator, operates a fork lift as he delivers parts in the yard. sanded. They are moved to Union took over Redondo Junction, it had dispatch the steam-equipped SDP40F Station by a hostler who couples them to staff and outfit the entire roun locomotives to steam-heated trains to the cars just prior to departure. dhouse complex. Now, some 133 per and the F40PHs onto Amfleet, Baggage and mail cars are also added sons work there under L.L. Kirk Superliner and HEP consists. Also, at the station. patrick, facility manager, and trains operating over the Santa Fe Train personnel-both Amtrak on Charles Arnett, assistant facility must always be equipped with a lead board service employees and railroad manager. Both, along with Mescall, unit that has automatic train signal trainmen-report to their trains at the report to Jack Bergstrom, superin equipment for 89-mile-per-hour station and not in the yards. tendent of maintenance. operation. Redondo Junction, under the San Shifts at Redondo Junction are The future seems to bode well for ta Fe, was not a major maintenance pretty well balanced in number of the Los Angeles facility. Union Sta point for the railroad but merely a working personnel during the day. tion seems destined to be the focal fueling, watering and sanding loca The locomotive facility is responsible point for the city's future transporta tion. Santa Fe's major facility is in for two GP7 switch engines, plus a tion effort. Besides trains already ser nearby Barstow. fleet of SDP40Fs and F40PHs. ving the station, there is talk of addi Because of that, when Amtrak Care must be taken, however, to tional trains, both medium-distance as well as commuter operations. The city also plans to install a people mover that will terminate at the sta tion and serve people throughout the downtown area. And, the station also serves Trailways as its major downtown facility, as well as pro viding Greyhound connections to the San Joaquin at Barstow and a com muter run to Anaheim. Several Los Angeles city transit routes run direct ly in front of the station while others operate out of the parking area at the north end of the terminal complex. A study is currently progressing through the company, and covering all concerned departments, on the Efraim Villasenor, sheet metal worker, moves his welding wagon to a car that needs some repairs. practicality of developing Eighth Street yard and making major im provements to the facility. What could ensue is a multi-phase, four-to-five year program-similar to what is happening in Chicago-that would result in a new locomotive maintenance facility, a new car ser vicing yard and new car maintenance and preventive car maintenance areas. If the plans come to fruition, a CAR could be sent to Amtrak's board of directors for approval of the first phase of the project in the near future. Already approved, with work scheduled to begin very soon, is an 1,lOO-foot-long Superliner inspection (Above) Ed Mitchell, machinist appren tice, and Kapriel Topikian, machinist, pit. remove a supercharger jrom locomotive With the passenger count climbing 203 at Redondo Junction. (Right) Glenn and rail transport the wave of the Coffey, tractor operator, fuels future, Eighth Street yard has no locomotive 518 prior to its departure on place to go but up. the Southwest Limited. Chicago Yards_----, Guest Editorial I Become All Electric I The Republican Victory And You Chicago's passenger coach yaros The electoral landslide victory of Ronald Reagan and the many new are now handling only all-electric cars faces entering Congress have special significance for Amtrak, partic since the departure of the last steam ularly those of us in the passenger services department. It poses a new heated Southwest Limited on Sun challenge which we have never been better prepared to meet. day, November 30. The yards now Political analysts tell us that President-elect Reagan's victory can be service only Superliners, Amfleet attributed in large part to the public's growing dissatisfaction with the equipment, refurbished head-end economy, inflation and government services. Though we do not know powered cars and Turboliners. All precisely how the new Administration will attack these problems, one heat and cooling equipment on those may assume that it will take a close look at all government spending and cars are electrically oeprated. the value that the taxpayer is getting for his or her dollar. Only four long-distance trains on Amtrak, as a recipient of tax dollars, will be scrutinized as always. the system remain steam-heated. Are our trains filling a basic need as measured by ridership? Are we op These are the Coast Starlight, which erating economically and efficiently as measured by our costs in rela is scheduled for Superliners early next tion to our revenues? And, finally, are we giving value for the tax and year; the Sunset Limited; the Silver passenger dollars spent on our services? Star and the Silver Meteor. All should That last question is where passenger service really makes a dif be converted to head-end operation ference because each and every employee-from redcap to steward, by the end of next year. from commissary worker to coach cleaner-has the ability to make a product of true value. The cleanliness of the stations and cars, and the service provided by each station or on-board service employee will St. Louis Leads make the diffe rence between a satisfied customer who feels that he or For the month of November, St. she received their money's worth and will decide to travel with us again, Louis led the divisions in the Presi or one who is so dissatisfied that he or she spreads the word to friends dent's Safety Contest with a 2.4 ratio, and elected representatives that Amtrak does not deserve their followed by the Western, with 3.3, patronage or tax dollars. and the Empire, with 4.4 With more and more new equipment entering service, our physical In the shops category, Wilmington handicaps are quickly disappearing. Now, more than ever before, led the other three with a 2.9 ratio, you-on-board service employees-have the power to make Amtrak a while ten mechanical facilities true success . Redondo Junction, 8th Street, Min We have never been better prepared to be scrutinized. I am confident neapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, Kansas Ci that all of us can measure up. ty, St. Louis, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Niagara Falls and Jack sonville-went through the month with no injuries receiving zero ratios. Rima Z. Parkhurst, For the year to date, St. Louis leads Vice President, Passenger Services the divisions with 4.2; Wilmington (The preceding editorial appeared in the November issue of "p.s., " the the shops with 8.7; and three mechan newsletter that is distributed to all passenger service department em ical facilities-Minneapolis-St. Paul, ployees. It is reprinted here because of the import of the message. Dallas-Fort Worth and Niagara Falls-continue with their injury-free record holding on to their zero ratios. went through the month without any the statistics for all off-corridor divi St. Louis also led the eight other injuries, thus earning the coveted zero sions, the major shops and the system divisions in the safety contest for the ratio. The ten were Redondo Junc as a whole are all up. On the North month of October with a 3.6 injury tion, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, east Corridor, only Boston and New ratio. The Southern and Empire divi Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas-Fort York have shown improvement in the sions were close behind with ratios of Worth, Houston, New Orieans, injury ratio from October 1979. 4.1 and 4.3, respectively. Niagara Falls and Jacksonville. The safety ratio is a figure that Albany-Rensselaer led the four ma Joe Bonelli, director, rules and denotes the number of injuries per jor shops with a relatively high 12.1 safety, cautions, however, that the 200,000 man-hours. Any injury or figure, followed by Wilmington with overall picture is not as bright as it job-related illness that requires more 12.8. seems at first glance. than first aid is counted in the Ten other mechanical facilities Compared to October of last year, statistics.

11 Boyd Addresses Union Officials, I Tells Amtrak's Goals And Objectives President Alan S. Boyd, plus other of service and to increase fares to and will honor all current contracts. Amtrak officials, hosted 41 leaders of meet inflationary trends. Whatever the contracts call for, we the various crafts representing Am The group was also told of support will honor. trak employees at an orientation requirements, which are affected by meeting in Washington on December union people, which are needed in Q. When are the next proposed 4. The meeting was called to inform order to achieve these goals. fare increases? them of Amtrak's objectives and After completion of the slide Q. Another fare increase is goals for the next several years. presentation, Boyd addressed the scheduled for April. We must get our George Daniels, vice president, group stating his hopes for an im fares up above ,costs, I mean above labor relations, opened the meeting proved railroad in 1981 as well as for inflation. If not, we can't reach our by introducing Robert T. Eckenrode, productive bargaining with the goal. group vice president, finance and ad unions. He asked for questions from ministration, who made a few wel the floor Some examples follow . "We are doing everything we can coming remarks to the group and think of to improve this railroad," said Boyd. "Any positive suggestions then introduced Bill Gallagher, senior Q. What about the lost ridership in director, route and service planning. the Northeast Corridor? that you can make we can always use. Gallagher, with the assistance of Ed A. We'll get that traffic back and Amtrak could not and would not ex Trainor, director, capitol budgets and more, once the Northeast Corridor ist without labor. " programs, delivered a slide presenta Improvement Project nears comple Boyd continued, "We are serious tion that visually showed Amtrak's tion and the public begins to see its ef about living up to our agreements, present position and future goals. fects . but we are also serious about going Congressional goals for Amtrak in after some changes in the new bar gaining year. " clude increasing the revenue-to-cost Q. How much of this work will be ratio to 50 percent, improving on done by our unions? Labor Relations Vice President George Daniels added his thoughts. time-performance and ridership, in A. We are committed to provide a "We have 20,000 employees creasing the average system-wide stable work force. We will probably represented by labor unions directly speed to 50 miles per hour and adding contract some work out. This can't be employed by Amtrak. Another to and improving state supported ser helped when it is in the corporation's 18,000 are employed in passenger ser vices. best interest. vice by other railroads. Labor costs To achieve these goals Amtrak 58 percent of our budget and some plans to phase out existing steam Q. Does this mean you will or changes have to be made. heated equipment as quickly as possi won't honor current contracts? "We are not talking about taking ble, to increase frequencies of pro A. We're operating on top of the anyone's job. What we are talking fitable trains to improve the quality table, we are operating in good faith about is changing the old way of do ing business with you." Boyd then continued. "We need good, rational communications. We want to create a rail passenger organization where employees are happy, where they're good workers and are as well paid as any in the country. But, where indefensible practices or work rules are not per formed, we will not shoulder the burden of trying to defend them. That will mean some changes and those changes must come soon." Unions represented at the meeting included: American Railway and Air ~ way Supervisors Association, a divi Bob Eckenrode, group vice president, finance and administration, addresses the group of union officials that met in Washington to hear President Alan Boyd state Amtrak's objec sion of BRAC; Amtrak Service tives and goals for the next several years. Workers Council; American Train

12 Dispatchers Association; Brother hood of Locomotive Engineers; Costanzo, Hallam Named Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way I Outstanding Amtrak Apprentices Employes; Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Steamship Clerks, Freight Two Amtrak employees-Stephen in 1978, and is anticipating gradua Handlers, Express and Station Costanzo, Sunnyside Yard, New tion to full journeyman's status in Employes; Brotherhood of Railroad York, and David Hallam, Jr., Beech early 1981. Signalmen; International Association Grove-were honored at the National During his apprenticeship training, of Machinists and Aerospace Transportation and Training Confer he was instrumental in leading his Workers; International Brotherhood ence in Chicago in mid-October as peer group in restructuring a passen of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, outstanding apprentices. ger coach into a classroom which now Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers; The two were selected for their high travels the system providing journey International Brotherhood of Elec scholastic achievement, willingness, man training classes. trical Workers; Joint Council of Car to work above and beyond what is ex Hallam was also picked to par men, Helpers, Coach Cleaners and pected of them and for their leader ticipate in a special program at Apprentices; Police Benevolent Asso ship qualities. Each received high re Pullman Standard as an electrical in ciation; Sheet Metal Workers Inter commendations from his home facili spector on the new Superliners. With national Association; and United ty, his union representatives and the this experience, he is now parti Transportation Union. staff at the Beech Grove technical cipating, along with a team of jour training center. neymen and training personnel, in a I RetirementTax Risesl Costanzo was honored jointly by special study of Superliner perform the Transportation Workers Union ance. Beginning January 1, the railroad and Amtrak for his work at Sunny This coming spring, Hallam plans retirement tax rate for Amtrak em side Yard. After completing his train to enter a local university to begin ployees will increase from 6. 13 to ing at the technical training center in work toward a bachelor of science 6.65 percent. At the same time, the Beech Grove in 1978, he returned to degree in electrical engineering. maximum amount of pay that is sub New York where he was given a varie ject to taxation will increase from ty of training assignments including $2,158.33 to $2,475 a month. the restructuring of a standard pas Error Corrected The employee's rate for railroad re senger car and helping in refurbishing Amtrak News has received infor tirement is the same as the social se two Jersey Arrows. Throughout his mation that the retirement poem orig curity rate and both the rate and the apprenticeship, he was rated as above inally credited in last month's issue to amount of earnings subject to taxa average or outstanding in the quality Illinois Central Gulf Conductor tion increase whenever social security and quantity of his work, initiative, Harold McGraw, was in reality a taxes rise. safety practices, attitude toward song authored by Folk Singer Pete The end result is that all railroaders supervision and the ability to work Seeger. If this is indeed, true, Amtrak will pay higher retirement taxes in with his peers . News regrets the error and apoligizes 1981. Hallam, honored as an outstanding to Pete Seeger, as well as to any other A railroad employee earning electrician apprentice, is from Beech persons, who might have been of $1,000 per month will now pay $66.50 Grove. He finished his training there fended by the inadvertent oversight. a month, or $5.20 more a month than he or she did in 1980. Employees earning at least $2,475 a month-the maximum amount tax able in 1981-will pay $164.59 a month, or $32.28 more than they did in 1980. Under current law, Amtrak matches the taxes that employees pay, then pays an additional 9.5 percent retirement tax on each employee's earnings up to $1,850 a month. Additionally, Amtrak pays rail road unemployment-sickness taxes (eight percent on the first $400 each employee earns each month) and sup The outstanding apprentices show off their awards. Left to right are Gary Tomey, plemental railroad retirement annuity manager, technical training; Steve Costanzo, carman apprentice; David Hallam, Jr ., electri· taxes (14 Y21): per employee-hour). cian apprentice; and Steve Van Treese, general supervisor, apprentice training.

13 began in mid-November with a com Keeping Track Of Amtrak pletion date for the station targeted for November 1982. Swanson On Amtrak other large crowd. After speaking to Gloria Swanson, who rose to the them, she was whisked off to a round Mules Begin Runs heights of the movie world as a silent of radio, television and newspaper in Amtrak's newest trains, the Kansas screen star, traveled to Chicago on terviews. City Mule, westbound, and the St. the Broadway Limited leaving New Louis Mule, eastbound, went into York on November 9. The journey, in Station Groundbreaking service between their namesake cities conjunction with a promotional tour Ground breaking ceremonies for on Sunday, October 26, with the fall for her new book Swanson on Swan Amtrak's new station at suburban timetable changes. son, was also a nostalgic trip into the New Carrollton, Maryland, were held The 403(b) trains, supported by the past when she had made the same trip on Monday, November 3. state of Missouri, complement an promoting one of her latest movies. other train that operates over the Dignitaries present for the event in Swanson, who was born in Chicago route, the extended Ann Rutledge cluded Senator Charles McC. Mathias to Polish-Swedish parents, went on to from Chicago. (R-Md), Senator Paul Sarbanes (D fame as one of the greatest silent The four trains now provide twice screen stars. Md), Prince Georges County Ex daily service in each direction, over When she and her party arrived in ecutive Larry Hogan, New Carrollton the Missouri Pacific railroad, be Mayor Jordan Harding, Lou Thomp New York's Pennsylvania Station, tween St. Louis and Kansas City, they were surprised with a large bou son, director, Northeast Corridor Im with stops at Warrensburg, Sedalia, quet of flowers, provided by Random provement Project, FRA, and Larry Jefferson City and Kirkwood. House, her publisher, and a singing Gilson, Amtrak's vice president, gov The Mules operate with F40PH telegram. ernment affairs. locomotives and Amfleet equipment. Swanson's presence in the station The new station will be erected ad Among guests riding the inaugural was announced over the public ad jacent to an already existing station Kansas City Mule were Missouri Gov dress system so that anyone in the sta of the Washington, D.C., subway ernor Joseph P . Teasedale and feder tion could come to the station services system providing easy access from al and state officials. Short ceremon office to meet her. Several hundred one mode of transport to the other. ies were held at station stops. people did gather outside the office The new inter modal facility will be "Guests" even included a live mule at much to her delight. jointly operated by Amtrak and the both Kansas City and Kirkwood. As she prepared to board the train, Washington Metropolitan Area she told the crowd that she enjoyed Transportation Authority. Corridors Endorsed traveling on Amtrak and was par The new station will replace the Meeting at its annual convention in ticularly gratified by the senior citi Capital Beltway station, built in 1969 Atlanta, November 30-December 3, zen's discount fare. as a temporary structure, at Lanham, the National League of Cities passed On arrival the next morning in Chi one-half mile south of the new site. a resolution endorsing Amtrak's cago, Swanson was greeted by an- Track and platform construction emerging corridor concept. The concept had previously been endorsed by both the National Gov ernor's Association and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Said the League, "The corridor concept would provide frequent high speed rail passenger service to im prove and meet the needs of our trav eling citizens. Energy savings from the introduction of such corridors would be substantial. " The resolution also directed the League's staff to work with Amtrak and the Department of Transporta tion in the development of the Emerg ing Corridor Report. Virtually all cities in the United Former silent screen star Gloria Swanson is greeted by reporters and well wishers on her ar rival on the Broadway Limited at Chicago. Swanson was highly complimentary about Am States belong to the League, which is trak service. headquartered in Washington, D.C.

14 Educational Assistance Program Liberalized, _-----, More Consistent Benefits Now Available

Amtrak's employee educational 100 percent of the first $500 incurred The school offering the corres assistance program has been revised during an academic year (September pondence study also must meet accre with a liberalization of courses 1 through August 31). Further ex ditation requirements. covered and a more consistent level of penses will be shared 50-50 between Full-time, permanent employees benefits provided to employees. the company and the employee. who have completed 90 days of con The program will now reimburse Reimbursement requests for fall tinued service are eligible for the pro employees for any course (1) directly 1980 courses will follow the new gram. Employees must also be active related to an employee's present posi policy. To qualify for reimburse ly employed at both the beginning tion, (2) affecting future positions in ment, each course must be completed and end of a course. The only excep line with an employees's career direc with a passing grade. Previously, a tion to this rule is if an employee tions, or (3) required towards comple minimum grade of "C" was neces might be involved in an involuntary tion of a college degree in a job sary for reimbursement. reduction of forces. He or she would related curriculum. Participation in the educational then be paid when the course was This means that an employee will assistance program is strictly optional completed. now be compensated for a course that and does not guarantee promotion, Courses not acceptable for finan might not be directly applicable to his transfer or continued employment. cial assistance include those that fall or her job, but that is needed to get a The policy covers attendance at into recreational, hobby or other degree related to the job. The new colleges, universities, or technical non-work, or self-i mprovement policy also provides a consistent level schools which have been accredited areas, such as painting, ceramics, of benefits. Some employees pre by the appropriate regional associa dancing or such. viously had received greater amounts tion of colleges or secondary schools. Allowable expenses include tuition, of aid than others because costs of The new policy also approves cor as well as matriculation, registration schooling would vary from place to respondence study if an appropriate and laboratory fees . place. school is not available in an em Employees who are interested in Employees can now take a full ployee's location, or if an employee's participating in the assistance pro range of courses and be equally reim frequent business travel makes it im gram should get an application from bursed. possible to attend regularly-scheduled their nearest personnel office or from Reimbursement will be made for classes. the corporate benefits plans office in Washington. Detailed information on Letters the program is also listed in the com pany procedures manual, section PA To the Editor: lS. This letter is a little late but I thought Amtrak employees would en AMTRAK NEWS joy this picture. Published once a month for em There is so much enjoyment to my ployees of the National Railroad job as a service attendant and this pic Passenger Corporation and those ture shows one reason why. It was a of participating railroads engaged hot and humid day when our crew in rail passenger service. boarded the train on our way to Los STAFF Angeles. We were told we had to Editor serve 40 senior citizens a chicken din it and that working at Amtrak isn't Ed Wojtas ner before we even left the station. just any job, it's the best! Circulation The air conditioning wasn't func Lou Ann Vandaveer, Marguerite Broyhill tioning properly so this was not exact On-Board Service Attendant, 400 N. Capitol St., NW, ly what we wanted to hear. Los Angeles. Washington, D.C. 20001 We proceeded, however, and it P .S. The steward on the car was Roy turned out to be a lot of fun. They Sutton; the chef, Michael Scott; the were so pleased with the dinners and second cook, Eddie Simpson; the - Amtra k News is a member o f the Associa tion o f Ra ilroad Edit o rs. so cute with their hats (compliments third cook, Richard Garnet; and the lSI Ma teria l in Amtra k News is no t copyrighted . of Amtrak). As I took the picture I waiters, Gail Cannon, Renee de Readers m ay use wha t they wish with pro per at realized that, hot or not, if we could Robertis, Rick Bell and myself. tributio n to Amtra k News.

15 Calendar For 1981 Features I Los Angeles Union Station

Amtrak's 1981 calendar is off the press and ready for mailing. Unlike previous editions which portrayed a traditional railroad scene, this year's calendar is a montage-like rendering of Los Angeles Union Passenger Ter minal and is a double salute to inter modal rail-bus transportation and to the City of Los Angeles on its 200th birthday. Dominating the scene is the classic 1939-built Los Angeles station. Posed in front of the tan stucco structure are two Amtrak trains-an Amfleet equipped consist symbolizing the San Diego corridor service, and a Super liner-equipped long-distance train. Between the two trains are Trailways, Amtrak's 1981 calendar is a double salute . . . to intermodal rail-bus transportation and to Los Angeles Rapid Transit District the City of Los Angeles which was founded 200 years ago as EI Pueblo de Nu estra Senora and Greyhound buses. All serve the la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula. station in one way or another, with Calendars are being distributed to " Amtrak Calendar" and sent to Am Trailways using the facility as its all Amtrak offices. If one does not ar trak Calendar, Dept. AN, Western main downtown station. rive in the near future, check with Folder, P.O. Box 311, Addison, Il Running across the bottom of the your supervisor. All departments linois 60101. picture-and painted in a delicate have been allotted enough copies to Copies of the last three calendars sepia tone-is a panoramic view of filter down through each departmen are still available for collectors at the the Mexican area directly across Ala tal pipeline to the farthest office. same price. These include 1980 meda street, where the city of Los Employees who would like extra (Trains meeting on the Susquehanna Angeles was founded in 1781. copies, as well as the general public, river bridge at Perryville-Havre de The painting was done, as in past can purchase copies of the calendar at Grace, Maryland), 1979 (National years, by Gil Reid, the well known $5 per copy, postpaid. Checks or Limited on Horseshoe Curve) and railroad artist from Milwaukee. money orders should be made out to 1978 (Superliners in the mountains).

Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit 1911 Merrifield, VA

Passenger Corporation 400 N. Capitol St.. NW Washington. D.C. 20001

This Issue:

Top Employees Honored Page 1 Hot Line Questions, Answers ...... Page 4 What Happens At Eighth Street? ...... Page 7 Boyd Talks To Union Officials ...... Page 12 Educational Aid Liberalized ...... Page 15