Vol. 8, No.1 January 1981 Panama Limited Is Renamed, I New City Of New Orleans Rides The Rails The City of New Orleans, the famed train of yesteryear that is now extolled in the Arlo Guthrie song, rolls over the rails of the Illinois Cen­ tral Gulf railroad once again beginn­ ing February 1. The "new" train is really the for­ mer Panama Limited renamed. "Actually, renaming the train makes a lot of sense," says Bill Nor­ man, Amtrak's vice president, mar­ keting. "The new name tells exactly where the train goes, it ties in with the Guthrie song for a natural promo­ As of February I, the Panama Limited will be renamed the City of New Orleans and will tion, and it gives us a golden opportu­ be outfitted with a new dinette-lounge car, a new menu f eaturing New Orleans dishes and a nity to promote both the train and the new drink, the "Cafe Mardi Gras. " Crescent City." left Chicago and New Orleans in early The Panama was an overnight all­ Along with the name change, Am­ morning and arrived at each end of Pullman train patronized by more af­ trak will introduce a new dinette­ the route near midnight. fluent travelers. lounge car to the train, a regionalized menu and a new drink. The dinette-lounge, outfitted in Stiner Heads Corporate Communications New Orleans decor, will have a full James E. Stiner, formerly director leading manufacturer of plumbing lounge section in one end of the car of corporate public affairs for the products, Stiner oversaw all public and a dining area, with booths, in the Kohler Com­ affairs activities including employee other. pany, Sheboy­ communications, . community rela­ The menu will feature such dishes gan, Wisconsin, tions and government affairs. as "Crepes Bayou," stuffed with has been ap­ Prior to that, he was director of shrimp, scallops and crab meat and pointed vice public and consumer information for served with red rice, and "Chicken president of cor­ Commodity Futures Trading Com­ Louisiana" topped with Creole sauce porate commun­ mission, a federal regulatory agency and served with brown spiced rice, ications for Am­ overseeing commodity market trad­ for dinner, and an "Omelette Loui­ trak. ing, from 1976 to 1978. siana," featuring sausage links and In his new potato puffs, all topped with Creole position, Stiner Stiner also has served as vice presi­ James E. Stiner sauce for breakfast. will report to dent of media relations at Daniel J. The new drink is "Cafe Mardi Clark Tyler, group vice president, Edelman, Inc., and as director of in­ Gras," a Creole version of Irish Cof­ passenger services and communica­ formation with the Republican Gov­ fee , laced with vodka and rum instead tions, and be responsible for all inter­ ernors Association. of the traditional whiskey. The new nal and external communications In addition to his six year's ex­ drink is an exclusive on the City of functions. perience as a broadcast journalist, New Orleans. The newly-renamed department Stiner, 35, also brings to Amtrak a The Illinois Central operated both also has absorbed all functions Capitol Hill background having a City of New Orleans and a Panama previously performed by the public served as an administrative assistant Limited at one time. The City of New affairs department. to Representative William Harsha (R­ Orleans was an all-coach train that While at the Kohler Company, a Ohio). Big Band Sounds Ring Out ______----, I In Philadelphia's 30th Street Station

The musical sounds of the '40s and dication. first public appearance, however, '50s rang out through the spacious Thurn is quick to give credit to the that task went to Louise Gilbert, a concourse at Amtrak's 30th Street people who made it all possible. non-Amtrak employee. Station, Philadelphia, on Friday, "First of all," he said, "we At present the band consists of 18 December 12, to the delight of several couldn't get all band positions filled players, but Thurn hopes to up that to thousand train travelers who passed by Amtrak employees, so we recruit­ 28 in the near future. through the landmark building. ed three Conrail employees and six Besides Thurn, who plays the The occasion was the debut of Am­ others from outside the railroad in­ drums, and Clark, who plays trak's "Big Band" playing the many dustry. trumpet, other Amtrak bandsmen are tunes of yesteryear made famous by "Our bandstand was built by the Bill Riggio, B&B department, Mike Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Tommy B&B department and they did a very Burak, engineering, Rich Copeland, Dorsey, Benny Goodman and others. good job. marketing, and Bill Russel, train For a full two hours, the band, "The red jackets, which were dispatcher, saxaphones; Helena resplendent in red jackets and black crucial to the Amtrak image we Pempkowski, engineering, and Dan ties, entertained the passing crowds wanted to project, were obtained Berdell, procurement, trumpets; Greg with such familiar tunes as " Sen­ through people talking to people, a DiSabatino, block operator, drums; timental Journey," "Night Train, " lot of phone calls and sheer per­ and Gene Cratin, movement director, "Disc Jockey Jump" and "How severance. And none of this could string bass. High The Moon." have happened without the total co­ Conrail employees include John The event was recorded by ABC operation of management. Hinnedan, saxaphone; and Bill Affiliate WPVI-TV, Channel 6, "So many people helped us, I'm Brooks and Paul Grant, trumpets. which did a live telecast from the con­ afraid to name names because I'm Rounding out the band, from the out­ course. Other local media also sure I'll forget somebody. Let's just side, are Bill Newman, Joe Berthe covered the event as well as Joe sa it was a first class team effort." and Bob Stutmann trombones· and Hackenbracht, safety manager, who During the premier concert, Marcia Bob Ester and Chuck Kramer, videotaped the performance for com­ Higgins, office manager, mainte­ rhythm. pany records. nance of way equipment department Thurn, of course, hopes the band Bill Thurn, engineering depart­ and a member of the vocal section, will be able to travel and be seen and ment, noted how the band had acted as master of ceremonies. She heard in other Amtrak locations started. and Bill Anderson, rental control besides Philadelphia. "We'd like to "The idea began sometime in early supervisor, will share vocal duties in swing at special company events all 1980," he said, "when Milt Clark future engagements. For the band's over the system," he said. and I got to talking about reviving what many people will say was the best musical rhythm and sound. On-Board Magazine Makes Debut "Unlike many ideas which don't Express, Amtrak's new on-board lisher of similar magazines for the air­ progress beyond the talking stage, we magazine, made its debut this month line industry. did assemble a nucleus of semi- pro­ with the first issue of the 72-page According to Jeffrey S. Butler, fessional and amateur musicians and magazine being distributed on trains president and publisher of East/ began rehearsing. Additional players plying the Northeast Corridor be­ West, the magazine will hav-e a were recruited by word of mouth, tween Washington and Boston. monthly circulation of 100,000 to recommendations from those who · start. Altho.ugh confined to the Cor­ The premier issue features a styl­ were already in the band and by ridor at the present, by mid-1981 cir­ ized cover depicting a skiing scene posting notices in offices throughout culation will increase to include other with an Amtrak train making its way the Philadelphia area. Amtrak markets originating from over the snow-covered countryside in "We grew slowly, obtained a per­ Chicago and Los Angeles for com­ the background. manent rehearsal room at 30th Street plete national distribution. Station and began to believe we were The general interest magazine con­ Included in the first issue are three going to make it. " tains articles and features on busi­ full-page Amtrak ads, a page of train The band has indeed "made it," ness, sports, arts, finance, cities and travel information, the system map and very well at that, if audience reac­ lifestyles and is published by East/ and a message from Amtrak Presi­ tion at its first performance is an in- West Network, Inc., the largest pub- dent Alan Boyd.

2 Home For The Holidays Keeping Track Of Amtrak Amtrak once again operated spe­ Ridership Stays High The new schedule, that goes into cial Christmas trains for servicemen effect on February 1, will also pro­ returning home for the holidays. Amtrak's long- and short-distance For the third year in a row, a spe­ trains continued to carry more pas­ vide a more convenient connection to the Pennsylvanian at Philadelphia cial train operated from Fort Jack­ sengers in November 1980 than they from the southbound Montrealer. son, South Carolina, to New York. did during the same month a year To accommodate its 900 passengers, earlier. Schenectady's Sixth Train the train consisted of nine Am­ During November 1980, short-dis­ Amtrak will begin a sixth daily coaches, three food service cars and a tance trains carried 381,505 passen­ round-trip service between Schenec­ baggage car. The train followed the gers compared to 344,954 riders in tady and New York City as of Feb­ route of the Silver Star and made November 1979, an increase of 10.6 ruary 1. stops at Raleigh, Richmond, Wash­ percent. Leading ridership gains was The sixth daily train was made pos­ ington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, the San Joaquin service, which added sible by extending the present Wash­ Trenton and Newark. Departure was a daylight frequency in February ington Irving, which terminated in direct from the fort grounds on De­ 1980. Its gain in November was 98.5 Albany, to Schenectady. cember 18. Return to the fort, which percent over the same period in 1979. The train's new schedule calls for is about 25 miles from Columbia, will The long-distance ridership total the southbound Washington Irving to be on January 6. for November 1980 showed a 4.2 per­ leave Schenectady at 7:50 a.m. and The second holiday train left Fort cent increase over the previous Nov­ arrive in New York's Grand Central Leonard Wood, Missouri, on Decem­ ember. Sration at 10:55 a.m. Returning, the ber 19, over the Frisco Railway to St. In the long-distance category, the train will leave New York at 4:35 Louis, from where it followed the Crescent showed a 111.9 percent p.m. and arrive in Schenectady at route of the former National Limited ridership increase last November over 7:35 p.m. to New York's Pennsylvania Station. November 1979. The extension of the train to Return to the fort, which is about 150 Increasing ridership on most long­ Schenectady is expected to attract miles southwest of St. Louis, will be distance trains is attributable to im­ some 10,500 additional riders per on January 3, from New York. proved on-time performance, intro­ year and generate some $150,000 in The Fort Leonard Wood special duction of new and rebuilt passenger increased revenue. consisted of six Amcoaches, two Am­ equipment-including bi-Ievel Amtrak also has announced that it cafes and a baggage car and carried Superliners and head-end-powered is studying the possibility of extend­ 600 servicemen. cars-and accompanying improve­ ing the Niagara Rainbow to Toronto, Both trains were sold out. ments in passenger services. Canada. Negotiations on that possi­ Zephyr Honored The drop in systemwide ridership bility are currently under way be­ The Pioneer Zephyr, the world's in November may be attributable to a tween Amtrak and Canada's VIA. 10.3 percent drop in the Northeast first diesel-powered, stainless steel, Corridor where extensive track im­ LRC Goes To Florida streamlined train, was designated a provement projects have been under The LRC train which has been in "National Historic Mechanical En­ way throughout the work season. revenue service in the Northeast gineering Landmark" by the Ameri­ However, the fiscal year to date operating as the Shoreliner, between can Society of Mechanical Engineers total, covering both October and Boston and New York, and as the at ceremonies on November 18 at November, shows a slight increase Beacon Hill, between Boston and Chicago's Museum of Science and In­ over the same period in 1979. New Haven, was moved to Jackson­ dustry. ville, Florida, on Wednesday, Jan­ The Zephyr was placed in service Philadelphian At Ardmore uary 14, for participation there in between Lincoln, Nebraska, and Amtrak's daily Philadelphia-Pitts­ Family Days. Kansas City on November 11, 1934 burgh train, the Pennsylvanian, will The train operated as the Palmetto, by the Chicago, Burlington and Quin­ begin making regular stops at Ard­ from Washington to Savannah, then cy railroad-now merged into the more, Pennsylvania, in both direc­ "dead headed" the rest of the way to Burlington Northern system-and re­ tions, as of February 1. Jacksonville. The two-Iocomotive­ tired in 1960. Ardmore is also served by one daily eight-car consist will return from Before going into service, the train Harrisburg-New York train and by Florida, "dead heading" from Miami was on exhibition at the Chicago several Harrisburg-Philadelphia to Savannah from where it will return World's Fair where millions had a trains. Addition of Ardmore as a stop to New York City, leaving on Thurs­ chance to inspect the equipment. is expected to increase ridership on day, January 29, as the northbound After retirement, the three-car train the Pennsylvanian. Palmetto. was donated to the museum.

3 enter and leave equipment rooms Hot Line To President Boyd without the help of a portable ladder. Our engineering department is check­ Question: Why don't you send greatly affect completion of the ing the possibility of adding a car­ Dominic Assetta, who just won a Northeast Corridor Improvement mounted aid to the equipment room President's Achievement Award for Project. We cannot complete electri­ access. fixing the clock in South Station, fication, for example, until their pro­ Until such time, a ladder should be Boston, to Indianapolis to see if he ject is finished. Without doubt, it also used for entry and exit to Superliner can do anything about the clock there will have a bearing on signals and equipment rooms. at Union Station? It's been stopped at communications projects. 7:40 for years. Until their project is completed, we Q: I live about one mile from the Answer: Not a bad idea, but the will have to continue to operate over Richmond station and wonder why clock in Indianapolis station is not a the Dorchester branch and that oper­ we have no bus service to the station. part of the station used by Amtrak ation would be done by using diesel We might be losing a lot of business and is owned by a private developer. locomotives to pull the electrified because of that fact. equipment from Route 128 to South On my way to work every morning Station. Q: Are the LRC trains going to be I see a bus sitting at a turnaround put back on the Beacon Hill? point for about a half hour each day. Q: I work in 21st Street yard, Chi­ I don't understand why they can't ter­ A: For several weeks now, the cago, and we have a safety problem minate him at our station and have Beacon Hill has been operating with here that should be brought up. him sit here for the same half hour. LRC equipment but Amfleet is sub­ On the new Superliners, there Why doesn't somebody get in stituted at times when there are design aren't any steps or hand rails that one touch with the Greater Richmond problems with the prototype LRC can grab in the event he or she is slip­ Transit Authority and see if we can't equipment. ping. I think that in the future they get bus service to our station? After the train gets back from the should put steps or hand rails on Florida Family Days, it will be put these cars. A: We have contacted them sever­ back on the Beacon Hill. A: Superliners are in full compli­ al times and the problem is very sim­ ance with the safety appliance re­ ple. Our station is located in Henrico : How will the MBT A 's ou h­ -quirements- o.f the FederaL-Rai.lxoad county but the transit authority is not authorized - to operate beyond"" the west Corridor Project affect comple­ Administration's Office of Safety. tion of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor I assume your concern is with Richmond city limits. Improvement Project in 1984? equipment room access. A: The MBT A's project could We recognize that it is difficult to Q: Why didn't Amtrak put on ex­ tra cars during the Christmas holiday rush? More Superliners Go Into Service A: The answer is that we did do just that. We leased 26 Jersey Arrow As of January 29, Amtrak had the Coast Starlight. cars for December 19,28 and January received a total of 12 Superliner The next train to receive Superliner 4. We also used all available equip­ lounge/cafes, 29 diners, 28 sleeping equipment will be the Sunset Limited, ment on our other trains. We even cars, 102 coaches and 48 baggage­ which will receive its first consist on operated extra sections to Florida and coaches. More lounge/cafes, diners February 20. Three sets are needed on the Coast Starlight during that and sleepers are yet to come but all for the tri-weekly Sunset and the third period. Much of this information was coaches and baggage-coaches have consist should be in service on fully detailed in Dateline: Amtrak, been delivered by Pullman Standard. February 27. the bi-weekly ARTS transmission. The fourth, and final, set of After the Sunset is converted, there Superliners went into service on the will be only two long-distance trains Coast Starlight on Thursday, January in Amtrak's fleet that will still Q: I'm a coach attendant on the 29, completing conversion of that operate with the old steam-heated Empire Builder and after seeing pic­ train to the new bi-level cars. cars; the Silver Meteor and the Silver tures of the new uniforms I don't Three lounge/cafes, which had Star. think they'll be adequate for this run, been accepted earlier, have been in These two are scheduled for single­ especially in winter. Gad, just a vest, operation on the San Francisco level, head-end-powered equipment shirt and tie? Zephyr, but the latest acquisition of being converted by the Beech Grove Coach attendants on these trains nine will now permit placing the shops and the new Amfleet II cars need a heavy coat to wear even inside lounge/cafes into the remaining two now being built at the Budd Com­ the cars. consists of the Zephyr as well as on pany in Philadelphia. A: A great deal of thought and at-

4 tention was devoted to the new uni­ for hiring ET personnel. trak . . . . maybe even on board one form program to provide employees of the new Superliner trains. with comfortable, attractive and Q: I'm an Amtrak employee and Let's bring him up-to-date on what quality garments. carry a building pass, an Amtrak per­ modern rail passenger service really Employees can purchase optional sonal pass, an Amtrak business pass, is. sweater vests and cardigan sweaters a head-end pass, a train inspection A: We have already requested time for additional warmth. pass and an ID card. on the Phil Donahue show to discuss I think the crews on the Empire Why haven't we developed a single Amtrak's accomplishments and its Builder as well as all other passenger photo ID for employees that would future. services employees will be pleased be universally identifiable and would If, and when, we are invited as with the results. contain all of these authorizations? Donahue's guest we will do our ut­ most to dispel any misconceptions he Q: I'm a ticket agent in Richmond. A: We are studying possible imple­ may hold about Amtrak. I wonder if there isn't some way our mentation of a Pass Identification computer system could be set so we Card program that would serve as an employee photo identification card Q: I think there's some definite could eliminate an OS (operational discrimination here at Redondo Junc­ status report) that is entered in error. and personal pass. Consideration was also given to in­ tion about using safety glasses. Many times when you go into the We have to wear safety glasses, but computer, you find a crazy OS. There corporating business travel authoriza­ tions on this card to replace the Busi­ Santa Fe employees-even when should be some sort of a system so they're on our property-don't have that the person who entered a wrong ness Travel Cards. That idea was dis­ missed because there are certain re- to. If they won't wear glasses, then OS could correct it if he or she discov- Amtrak employees should be doing ers that it is wrong. quirements for BTCs that can not be satisfied with the Pass Identification those jobs. A: It's true, that at the present Card concept. The same holds true of A: We can't hostle our own loco­ time, there is no way to eliminate an other company business travel motives at Redondo Junction because OS report once it's been entered. authorizations. of our contract with the Santa Fe However, an OS entry may be Our pass program will be converted whose labor agreement with their changed by entering the correct infor- to more sophisticated computer firemen and enginemen does not in­ mation. This will override and replace . equipment next year. The target date clude wearing hard hats and safety the mcorre~t entry. -- - --f-o-r-tha:r-corrversimr - tra:s ot- been glasses. If there IS no correct data to be en- d ·d d eCI e . Please note that our required use of tered, a note may be inserted in the safety equipment is for the em­ remarks section of the OS report indi­ Q: Last week on the Phil Donahue ployees' own protection. cating that the entry is incorrect. show, he made some very bad re­ If an employee does not know how marks about Amtrak. Q: About three weeks ago, an em­ to do this, he or she should consult I think he's very much out of tune ployee at my work location wrote a his supervisor or call directly to mar­ with the current status of Amtrak ser­ Hot Line letter complaining about keting system control at head­ vice and I'd like to suggest that we in­ some working conditions here. quarters, 202-383-3184, or ATS vite him to do a show featuring Am- Now they have retaliated against 8-733-3184.

Q: Will the new catenary for the New Haven to Boston line be con­ Drug Problems? Call Amtrak Police! tracted out or will bids be posted for Question: Drug traffic needs sons on our property. electrical traction departments to fill to be controlled, or at least Of major importance, how­ the positions. And when completed, looked into, especially at my ever, is the cooperation of con­ how will the ET department be hired work location. Supervisory and cerned employees who have for service? other employees are heavily in­ knowledge of these activities but A: The New Haven-Boston volved. Can you please check this are not familiar with the report­ catenary is planned to be a Federal out? ing procedures or who, for other Railroad Administration installation Answer: Our police and se­ reasons, are hesitant to report contract. Amtrak will establish an ET curity forces throughout the these matters. force and assume maintenance of the country have an on-going pro­ The full cooperation of all em­ facilities once they are completed and gram, in conjunction with local ployees is needed in reporting in service. police agencies, to stop drug traf­ these matters immediately to our The maintenance force will be ficking and illicit drug use by police and security department so handled by our labor relations de­ employees as well as by other per- proper action can be taken. partment as to craft and procedures

5 this person and abolished his job. Q: I want to commend the station­ A: We've thought of using motor­ This is one of the reasons we are master at Flagstaff. We recently cycles but our surveys have always afraid to use the Hot Line or to sign made a trip to the Grand Canyon and shown that would be impractical be­ our names. Something should be when we were ready to leave we cause of the dangers of operation. done about such conditions. found out that we had a four hour de­ Motorcycles have little value dur­ A: We've checked out the situa­ lay because of problems in the Chica­ ing inclement weather and our of­ tion you describe very carefully. The go yards. ficers would have to develop a certain position was abolished strictly as a re­ The stationmaster was very polite expertise to operate them. sult of readjustment of forces . and went to a great deal of trouble to Marked police vehicles are much Those moves were planned well be­ insure our connection in Los Angeles. more visible to the general public and fore this person ever used the Hot He was a delightful young man. thus act as a better deterrent vehicle. Line. The change in the work position A: The gentleman in question is We've thought about using various was handled strictly on a seniority Richard Gill and we have extended vehicles, including sedans, jeeps, basis and was not a punitive action your thanks-and ours-for a job vans, blazers and even Cushman against the employee. well done. motor carts. Motorcycles, however, would create a great safety hazard for Q: Can you please do something our officers. about the smoking situation at my President's Hot Line work location? The present policy has Q: I keep hearing about a new on­ board magazine that we are supposed U.S.A. 800-424-5191 created much dissension among the employees here, so much so that some to have soon. Every time I hear about D.C. only 383-2027 have even quit talking to each other. it though, I hear that it's only going I'm in the majority who feel we to be distributed in the Northeast should have a non-smoking work Corridor. Personnel Hot Line area. We've been patient now for five I think this is a bad idea because years, but we feel we've been on people there don't need a magazine to U.S.A. 800-424-5190 "hold" far too long. Why should a keep them occupied. D.C. only 383-3636 few smokers have the right to jeopar­ Where you need reading material is dize our health? on the long distance trains like the _Buyuiway 1 im;ted or the Florida A: A committee on smoking po ley trains. I think the trial run for these Payroll Hot Line was formed at your location so that it magazines should be reassessed. might address both sides of the issue. U.S.A. 800-424-5067 A: Revenue to support a publica­ The committee agreed on an inter­ tion distributed free to the public D.C. only 383-3517 im policy which will designate defin­ comes from advertisers, and before ite non-smoking areas which will be Payroll personnel will answer calls live they will support a publication- es­ strictly enforced by the managers during day shift hours, Monday through pecially a new one-they want to be Friday. At all other times calls will be there. handled by an answering machine. sure of high circulation and con­ A more permanent solution is trolled distribution. clearly needed. The problem of sig­ Over half of our ridership is in the Jobs Hot Line nificant ventilation improvement is Northeast Corridor. Here we can being investigated right now. In addi­ guarantee advertisers the circulation U.S.A. only 800-424-5196 tion, various types of clean air/ smoke they need for their support. That's eating machinery are also being why the corridor was picked as our checked out. test market. All Hot Lines are in operation Hopefully, continued patience and Once the advertising support has 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . understanding between all parties will been established and the magazine a be exercised until additional smoke success, it will be distributed to other abatement measures can be taken. routes. Callers to the President's Hot Line can either identify themselves or remain Q: I'm an Amtrak police officer Q: Why in the heck can't the oper­ anonymous. Personnel Hot Line callers, and want to suggest that we organize ational bulletins that come over our obviously, must identify themselves if a motorcycle squad. It could cover they wish a reply to their questions. printers be speeded up? Our printer Employees also have the option of writ­ the railroad better and save a lot of has now been tied up for over 30 min­ ing instead of calling. Write the specific wear and tear on the automobiles. utes with, first, the CTY NEWS bul­ Hot Line you want. c/ o Amtrak, 400 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, D.C. The liability insurance costs might letin and now with management job 2000J. be higher but we'd get a lot more cov­ bulletins. I've been unable to sell any erage of the territory. ARTS tickets for the evening train.

6 A: CTY NEWS bulletins and the train, all they get is a canned recor­ are always on. job posting notices are transmitted at ding. A: This has been discussed with 11 p.m., eastern standard time, so They can't ever reach the station it­ our regional director, passenger ser­ that they do not tie up printers during self. Then they call us and by that vices, at Detroit. He is going to renew prime activity hours. time, they're upset and angry. instructions to his station personnel Unfortunately, 11 p.m., eastern What can we do to keep the sta­ regarding proper use of the telephone time, doesn't completely eliminate tions from running those recordings? answering devices. He will also mon­ our problems because trains operate They claim they only do it when itor the stations at regular intervals to at all times of the day and night. they're busy, but it seems that they assure compliance. However, we do believe we are servic­ ing the majority of our locations by Wander Joins Real Estate Department printing the bulletins after 11 p.m. As our older teletypes are replaced Elyse Wander, corporate secretary, ty will be property acquisition and ac­ by the new Data Speed 40 printers, has been appointed senior director, counting; review and reduction of tax the printing speed will be increased. real estate, effective February 1. assessments; mapping, valuating and However, this will not eliminate the The appointment is part of Am­ documenting of interests; administra­ need to schedule the transmission of trak's continuing effort to system­ tion of tenant account agreements; operational bulletins. atize and upgrade all phases of its real and preparation and negotiation of estate operations, including the contracts needed for all real estate Q: I'm a ticket seller on the Phil­ gathering of revenue by marketing, transactions. adelphia division. We are not permit­ development and management of all Reporting to Wander will be Dave ted to cash our own checks at ticket Amtrak-owned or controlled proper­ Campbell, director, corporate real offices. Our checks often contain ty. estate, and Roslyn Hagler, director, overtime, which makes them over In her new assignment, Wander contracts and administration. $250 each, and a lot of banks and will report to Kurt Weis sheimer, as­ Wander joined Amtrak in I973.as a stores will not cash them for us. sistant vice president, real estate, and counsel in the law department and What can we do? be responsible for meeting company subsequently was appointed full-time real estate requirements and for real corporate secretary in 1979. She holds A: Our check acceptance policy re­ estate contracting a~~ ministra­ a bachelor's degree in business ad­ quires all ch ecks to b e made out- ta tion. ministration and a doctor of law de­ either Amtrak or the National Rail­ Included in her area of responsibili- gree, both from American University. road Passenger Corporation. Since payroll checks are made out to the employee, they are not accep­ Reno.Fun Trains Operate Again table. Payroll checks were also ex­ The Reno Fun Trains will operate drinks and entertainment in Reno, cluded from cashing at ticket offices again this winter for the 17th con­ and dancing on board the train in because of dilution of needed work­ secutive year. both direcitons. ing cash. Sponsored by the Reno Chamber Banks will normally cash payroll of Commerce and operated by Amer­ AMTRAK NEWS checks if you have an account with ican Rail Tours, the special Amtrak Published once a month for em­ them. Amtrak has also made payroll trains will leave the Bay area on Fri­ ployees of the National Railroad check cashing arrangements at vari­ day evenings, beginning January 23, Passenger Corporation and those ous banks around the country for the of participating railroads engaged and return the following Sunday af­ convenience of employees. in rail passenger service. ternoons. In your particular area, the In­ STAFF dustrial Valley Bank, and all of its The train will operate for 13 Editor branches, will cash your payroll weekends--except for February 13- Ed Wojtas check provided you also present your I5--through April 26. Editorial Assistant Amtrak identification card and your Leaving Oakland each Friday at and Circulation Rail Travel Privilege Card. 6:45 p.m., the train will stop at Rich­ Marguerite Broyhill mond, Martinez and Sacramento and 400 N. Capitol St., N.W. Q: I'm an agent at the Chicago res­ arrive at Reno after midnight. Return Washington, D.C. 20001 ervations office. Many of the stations from Reno will be at noon on Sun­ 202-383-3865 on the Chicago-Detroit and Chicago­ day. : ATS-8-733-7865 Port Huron lines keep recordings on The all-inclusive fare of $125, per Amtrak News is a member o f the their telephones all of the time. When person, includes round-trip rail fare, Associati on of Railroad Editors. MaterialiI in Amtr ak News is not copyrighted. passengers try to contact the station two nights in a hotel on a share-the­ Readers may use what they wish with proper at­ directly to find out the status of a room basis, a coupon book for meals, tribution to Amtrak News.

7 It's Not Amtrak, But .... - ______----, Riders Also Enjoy Big Thunder Line

The top new tourist attraction in Reduced admissions to Wall Dis­ Florida this year is a train -Walt ney World are just one of the benefits Disney World's "Big Thunder Moun­ of being a member of the Magic King­ tain Railroad." dom Club. The free membership also Simulating a runaway narrow­ entitles Amtrak employees to reduced gauge mining operation, the five-car admissions to Disneyland, in Cali­ train plunges down steep grades, fornia, and Cypress Gardens, in Flor­ careens around curves over gaping dia. chasms, travels through earthquakes, Other benefits include a 10 per cent avalanches and flash floods as well as discount for overnight lodgings at 400 through caverns, past waterfalls, participating Howard Johnson Motor alongside canyons, and through a na­ Lodges, package vacations at both ~ tural arch, over a trestle and into gey­ Disney theme parks, special vacation :!! o ser country. All of this is done in tours and cruises and a 30 percent dis- g three minutes, 28 seconds, through count on National car rentals. ~ a. and around Florida's highest (and Amtrak employees who want to re- >­ '"c man made) mountain, elevation 200 ceive their free membership cards Ci'" feet. should write Angie Pritchett, c/ o ~ The new ride, which took 10 years Benefits Department, Amtrak, 5th @ IL~~"-.:..-::ti~~_....::z to plan and two to build, is part of Floor, 400 N. Capitol St., NW, Walt Disney World's Big Thunder Moun­ Frontierland, a stop on the Walt Dis­ Washington, D.C. 20001. tain railroad careens down some steep ney World steam railroad which en­ grades during its three-minute-28-second Literature detailing all club bene­ tours. Amtrak employees can get disco unts circles the Magic Kingom. fits will accompany the card. to attend the Disney theme park.

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

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

This Issue:

Panama Limited Renamed ...... Page 1 Big Band Swings In Philly ...... Page 2 Keeping Track ...... Page 3 President's Hot Line. .. Page 4 Reno Fun Trains ...... Page 7