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Home , Arrowhead (train), Floridian (train), Hilltopper (train), Panama Limited

Vol. 5, No.1 January 15, 1978 Track Work, New Contracts ______----, I Result In Faster Times For the second time in less than westbound train remains on former utes were removed from westbound three months, has placed schedule. schedule and 15 minutes from east­ more than two dozen on Amtrak had previously announced bound. speedier schedules as a result of com­ it would continue to operate the Na­ In , the Limited now has pleted track improvement projects or tional between Columbus and In­ connections in both directions with new contracts with railroads that dianapolis, via Dayton and Rich­ the . operate Amtrak trains. mond, until at least March 1, pending / in New A total of 27 trains began operating completion of the DOT study on Am­ York State now operate as much as 30 on the faster schedules on Sunday, trak's national system. minutes faster because of track January 8, as part of Amtrak's effort Limited/ Train speeded improvements, some by Conrail and to become more competitive with up on section where 20 min- (Continued on page 7) automobile travel times. Amtrak had previously reduced travel times on 26 trains last October. New Electric Locomotives On The Way Accelerated schedules allow better connections between trains in Amtrak has signed a contract with Washington. Chicago, one of Amtrak's key ter­ Electro-Motive Division of General The first order is for eight loco­ minals. Travel time reductions vary Motors for the first series of a fleet of motives at a cost of $22 million. Am­ from one hour on several long­ high-speed lightweight electric loco­ trak's total program ultimately calls distance trains to 10 or 15 minutes on motives for the . for 30 units at a cost of $77 .9 million. many short-distance trains. The new locomotives, capable of Funding for the entire program is "Some of the latest speedups may speeds of 120 miles per hour, will be not available in fiscal year 1978. Am­ appear modest," concedes Amtrak used to haul trains of up to eight cars trak will request the additional $55.8 President Paul Reistrup, "but they between Boston, and (Continued on page 8) are quite important when added to the earlier speedups. For example, the will be one and one-half hours faster this month than / when it began operating two years ago. " Further improvements are possi­ ble on virtually every Amtrak route in the nation if more track work is undertaken," says Reistrup. "We will monitor projects carried out by the railroads as well as seek funding, as stated in our five-year plan, to carry out selective track projects on our own. " Some specifics: '"c National Limited/ One hour faster . ~ eastbound as a result of Conrail track Ci improvements and continued opera- f tion over the more direct Dayton :;; 0. rou~. ~ Train times changed at all points Amtrak's new four-axle electric locomotil'(' \ViII pull trains at up to 120 from Terre Haute to New York, while miles per hour. Old Kalamazoo Rail Station ______I Becomes New Intermodal Facility

Officials of the State of Michigan and the City of Kalamazoo joined with Amtrak representatives and those of three motor bus firms on December 21 to dedicate a "new" Kalamazoo intermodal station. The $905,800 project preserves the beautiful exterior of the old station built in 1887 to serve the Michigan Centrail railroad and, later, the New York Central and Penn Central. In addition to eight Amtrak trains which use the station daily, it now also serves buses of Greyhound, In­ dian Trails and Indiana Motor bus (Above) Passengers get lines. Additionally, the station houses ;:::::~.... ready to board an A mtrak - train at Kalamazoo's new a car rental agency, a charter bus ser­ intermodal facility. Eight vice, a travel agency, a restaurant A mtrak trains, three bus called the "Timetable" and news lines, and car rental and travel agencies also use the stand. It is located just three blocks facility. (Left) Kalamazoo from the new Kalamazoo Center con­ Mayor Francis Hamilton vention-hotel complex. tries on his Amtrak engi­ neer 's cap after being pre­ City buses also stop at the station sented it by Doug Deaton, providing access into town. sales representative,JJattle The City of Kalamazoo paid Creek. $115,800 for the station and the State of. Michigan supplied $790,000 for the renovation. dreamed in an editorial that the new the city. Today it is, in a sense, just Representing Amtrak at the dedica­ station become a "union depot" that, providing service - not to five tion were Rich Tower, superinten­ where passengers could board trains railroads but - to various forms of dent, Great Lakes district; Doug from all five railroads then serving transport. Deaton, sales representative, Battle Creek; and Bob Casey, director, public affairs, Chicago. Two Arrowheads Run On Fridays The Kalamazoo intermodal station is one of 17 being planned by the Amtrak's , between the The schedule allows persons to go Michigan Department of Highways Twin Cities and Duluth, will be mak­ to Duluth on Friday morning, spend and Transportation. On December ing two round trips each Friday until the day on the area's ski slopes, and 20, a $67,500 facility was dedicated at March 24. return that evening. Dowagiac. The extra train service is being pro­ Persons who want to spend the Plans for the Kalamazoo inter­ vided during the winter to accom­ weekend in Duluth now can leave at modal station began more than two modate Twin Cities skiers who want 5:30 p.m., after working hours, and years ago and the facility was to have to visit the Duluth area. return on Sunday. been ready for dedication by last ·On Fridays, the Arrowhead leaves Tied into the new train service is a summer. But the plans also called for the Twin Cities at 8:05 a.m., arriving $13 one-day round trip ski fare. preservation of the unusual old sta­ in Duluth 11 :25. It then leaves Duluth The special Friday extra ski train tion's architecture and extra care was at 12:45, arriving in the Twin Cities at service is made possible through the required by construction workers 4:05 . cooperation of the De­ causing some delays. It begins its second trip at 5:30 partment of Transportation, the The building is on the list of na­ p.m., arriving in Duluth at 8:50, and Duluth Transit Authority, the Duluth tional historic buildings. then leaves Duluth at 10:10 p.m., ar­ Hotel and Motel Association and In 1886, the Kalamazoo Telegraph riving in the Twin Cities at 1:30 a.m. Spirit Mountain resort.

2 1977, Year Of Contrasts; ______Progress Mixes With Problems

As the year ended, Amtrak could Denver. The last of the suspended of internal cost-cutting measures look back on some significant succes­ trains finally went back into service which included reduced station ser­ ses - new cars and locomotives, on March 2. vice personnel in the Northeast Cor­ faster schedules, new stations being ridor. built and both ridership and revenues Speeds Restricted Next, train frequency reductions higher than last year. But there were At the same time Amtrak was bat­ and even suspension or restructuring still vivid memories of "the deep tling cold and snow, a new and com­ of entire routes were planned. freeze," equipment problems and a pletely unexpected problem arose. The situation continued until the long period when it appeared there Amtrak's principal main-line final weeks of the year when the woul,d not be enough money to keep locomotive, the six-axle SDP40F, was House of Representatives approved all the trains running. suspected of contributing to a num­ $18 million and mandated that the First, it was winter. One of the ber of derailments. Until the theory cost-cutting measures be deferred un­ worst in memory, it froze up older could be tested, a rigid speed restric­ til it could review the major examina­ steam-heated passenger cars and tion was imposed on the locomotives tion of Amtrak's entire route struc­ knocked out auxiliary steam genera­ causing long-distance schedules to be ture that is being conducted by the tors in locomotives that pull them. lengthened by as much as five hours. Department of Transportation. The Maintenance of cars and locomotives A rigorous program was under­ Senate postponed action until Jan­ often had to be done in snow and taken to try to pin-point what part, if uary. wind in archaic servicing yards where any, the locomotive had in the derail­ the cold cracked water mains that ments. But, it wasn't until fall , with The National System Study covered tracks with inches of ice. In the arrival of new and modified loco­ Congress said it wanted a "zero Buffalo, entire trains - passenger motives and substantial track im­ base" analysis to provide "an op­ and freight - were blocked and provements, that Amtrak trains re­ timal national railroad passenger sys­ covered by mountains of snow that covered, and in some cases even im­ tem based on current and future mar­ took the National Guard to dig away. proved, schedules on many of the ket and population requirements." worst-affected routes. The study is to be ready by March 1 in Trains Suspended time for Congressional budget and On January 19, for the first time in Fiscal Crisis policy hearings for fiscal year 1979. Amtrak history, service was suspend­ The final crisis-and potentially As 1977 ended Amtrak, relieved of ed indefinitely on eight routes out of the most demoralizing one - came the almost impossible directive to Chicago. The drastic move was taken during the last half of the year as "save itself into prosperity," as com­ to shift all-electric cars and Congress and the Executive branch of pany President Paul Reistrup put it, turbine-powered trains to the busiest the federal government sought to could look forward to a new year in routes to provide as much transporta­ determine Amtrak's total operating which both policy making branches tion as possible during the crisis. budget. of the government were ready to par­ Amfleet cars, for example, were Amtrak had originally requested ticipate fully in Amtrak's national re­ substituted for conventional equip­ $534.1 million for its operating bud­ structuring with a commitment to ment on the and get for fiscal year 1978, which runs give the passenger system the support the James Whitcomb Riley (now Car­ from October 1, 1977 to September necessary for success, whatever its dina£), temporarily ending sleeping 30, 1978. final design. car service on these overnight trains The Carter administration recom­ until late in the year. mended only $500 million, and Con­ Forward Momentum Restoration of some of the sus­ gress finally approved only $488.5 The final Congressional debate pended routes began almost at once million. that staved off imminent route reduc­ but on January 28 a followup blast of Amtrak subsequently asked for a tions (the was scheduled for cold and snow cancelled the depar­ $56 .5 million supplemental appropri­ suspension on January 19) centered ture of 28 trains over the system. ation, which included the missing on two points: First, that a national Most of the stalled trains were in the $45 .6 million, plus an additional $11 rail passenger system must be pre­ Midwest, but nothing did move west million for inflation. served for an energy-scarce future, of Buffalo on that day and the trans­ A Senate-House conference com­ and second, that despite disappoint­ continental San Francisco Zephyr did mittee then approved only $8 million ments and delays, the long fight to not operate between Chicago and and Amtrak embarked upon a series make Amtrak work is being won.

3 Progress was definitely visible several also voted to buy 10 additional new Superliners Delayed Congressmen noted. F40PHs, adding to the original fleet Major introduction of new passen­ Amtrak's ridership for fiscal 1977, of 30 of these reliable units. ger equipment had been planned for which ended September 30, climbed During the year Amtrak had asked 1977 - this time on long-distance, to a record 19.2 million passengers, for bids on the first eight of a series of over-night routes. Amtrak's new or over a million more than the pre­ 30 new high-speed electric locomo­ double-decker cars had vious year. Total passenger miles tives that will be able to haul Amfleet been scheduled to enter service during reached 4.3 billion, up 4.7 per cent, trains in the Northeast Corridor at the summer on routes between Chica­ and revenues for fiscal 1977 were the 120 mile-an-hour speeds made go and Seattle. However, a lengthy $311.3 million, up more than 12 per possible when the Corridor improve­ strike at Pullman Standard's plant cent. ment program is complete. delayed delivery. Early in 1977 Amtrak's directors Cars and Locomotives Rebuilding Metroliners voted to lease two advanced LRC One of Amtrak's major problems Late in the year General Electric trains from Canada. The trains, during 1977 was the speed restriction company won a $20 million contract which have a unique cradle suspen­ imposed on its SDP40F locomotives. to upgrade and refurbish 16 Metro­ sion system, will be used in fast cor­ The restriction remained in effect liner cars which provide premium ser­ ridor-type service between Van­ while the company waited for results vice in the Northeast Corridor. The couver, Seattle and Portland some­ of tests by the Association of Ameri­ program, aimed at improving ride time in late 1978 or early 1979. Ap­ can Railroads and the Federal Rail­ quality and reliability, will eventuaIIy proval was also given to evaluate the road Administration to see if the cover as many as 57 Metroliners if world's rail technology to be able to locomotives were indeed derailment­ fu nds become available. choose the design for a " prone. Although the test results When winter forced Amtrak to use II," a high-speed, electricaIIy­ found no major fault in the locomo­ Amfleet equipment on some of its powered train that would operate on tives by year's end, a program to con­ overnight trains, service the improved Northeast Corridor of vert SDP40Fs to much shorter and was suspended because older conven­ the 1980s. lighter, four-axle locomotives did get tional equipment could not be operat­ underway with a total of 72 conver­ ed along with Amfleet cars. During Stations sions approved in 1977. The conver­ the year, 25 of the best conventional During 1977 Amtrak opened a new sions were done when-locomotives re­ sleeping cars were approvectfor'clm­ $750,000 stati'on in e l'ev~lan-d ana turned to the manufacturer for their version to electric heat and air condi­ began construction of new stations in 500,000-mile overhaul. This also in­ tioning. By year's end the converted , Rochester, -St cluded installation of electric genera­ sleepers had been restored to the Car­ Paul and Canton, Ohio. Major im­ tors to power Amtrak's new electric dinal, the Panama Limited and the provements were approved for sta­ cars. Amtrak's board of directors . Other Amfleet trains were tions at Detroit, Omaha and Charles­ to get converted sleepers as they ton, West . Over $500,000 become available. was spent in Oregon, Idaho and Utah for the 13 stations on the new 's route between Seattle and Amfleet Arrives Salt Lake City. The last of 492 cars in the Amfleet Agreement was reached with New series arrived during summer 1977 York State for a new downtown sta­ but the stainless steel cars were a fix­ tion in Schenectady. Amtrak wiII ture of Amtrak service over many build the station, the city will donate parts of the nation long before that. the land and the state will pay nearly Amfleet trains now operate from $4 million for track connections. A Boston to Savannah; from Washing­ similar agreement was reached with ton to Chicago; from Chicago to New Michigan for construction of a , as well as many cities in the station at Dearborn. Work on a new Midwest; from Chicago to Laredo; station at St. Louis, which had been from Los Angeles to San Diego; and scheduled to begin in 1977 was de­ from Seattle to Portland, Salt Lake layed because of disputes with the City and Vancouver, British Colum­ local developer. bia. Three-fourths of Amtrak passen­ gers, who travel in day service, now ride in new passenger equipment, Maintenance Facilities Crowds j ammed stations to visit Pi oneer on either Amfleet or the equally-modern On December I, Amtrak began its inaugural run. Turboliners. maintaining its seven Turboliners as-

4 Suspension Lifted Congressional action eliminated the suspension threat from the Flori­ dian in December and the company announced plans to reroute the train through Chattanooga and Atlanta, perhaps as early as next spring. The Panama Limited not only re­ ceived an all-electric sleeping car but also saw the restoration, on Decem­ ber 9, of dining service complete with table cloths, fresh flowers and waiters and waitresses. Train schedules, which had im­ proved in 1976, worsened in spring 1977, mostly because of track condi­ tions and locomotive speed restric­ tions. By fall, however, it was possi­ ble to shorten the travel time for 26 News reporters question Amtrak and DOT officials at start oj work on the Northeast Corridor• Improvement Project. trains including reductions of as much as six hours on trains between signed to New York State service, as increased frequency, along with all Chicago and Seattle. well as diesel locomotives, in a new Amfleet trains, triggered a ridership $15 million maintenance facility at surge. Passengers totaled 70 per cent Rensselaer. Designed and engineered higher for many months in 1977 com­ Northeast Corridor by Amtrak personnel, this is the sec­ pared to 1976. On March 31, Secretary of Trans­ ond maintenance facility Amtrak has Older conventional equipment on portation Brock Adams and Amtrak built from scratch. (The other is at the was replaced with a President Paul Reistrup officially Brighton Park, .) Rensselaer modern in March and kicked off the $1.7 billion Northeast has joined a growing list of Amtrak­ Amfleet coaches replaced older cars Corridor Improvement Program. owned-and-operated maintenance or on the Inter-American in August. The 1977 work program centered repair facilities. on rebuilding the track structure and Amtrak's major car overhaul and roadbed. In addition, rehabilitation Wooing The Passenger repair plant is at Beech Grove, In­ and painting of 25 bridges was start­ National and local advertising, diana, and modernization and expan­ ed, while survey and planning work along with such encouragements as sion of this former Penn Central fa­ continued for major projects sched­ special fares for round-trip, family or uled to begin in 1978 or later. cility continued through 1977. group travel, and - that super bar­ Improvements by year's end in­ Spurred by lessons learned during gain - the U.S.A. Rail Pass helped cluded approximately 60 track miles the winter of 1976-77, Amtrak bring passengers to the trains. of continuous welded rail laid; 350 pushed the modernization of the 12th Street car yards and the 16th Street Special round-trip coach excursion track miles surfaced; 230,000 ties fares were offered, some just a few locomotive shop in Chicago. A $38 laid; 39 track miles cleaned by under­ dollars more than regular one-way million modernization program, to be cutting; 112 track miles of shoulder completed by 1981, is now underway fares . There were also tie-ins with ballast cleaned; 3,600 joints eliminat­ at the Chicago facilities. Nearly $22 theaters, hotels and sports events. ed or renewed; and seven turnouts, million was authorized for this proj­ In some test cities children could 5,700 switch timbers and 10,000 ties ride free by presenting a special ect during 1977. renewed at 26 interlockings. coupon. Travelers arriving or depart­ A year-long $5.5 million right-of­ New Services ing late at night in certain cities got a way clean-up program began in Sep­ Amtrak inaugurated two new break with lower "Night Owl" fares. tember resulting in over 350 acres be­ trains in 1977: the Pioneer, an all­ And, on the two big shopping week­ ing cleaned. By completion of the Amfleet train from Salt Lake City to ends just before Christmas, special program next year, 2,000 acres of Seattle, and the , also Am­ Santa Claus fares were offered in right-of-way, from Boston to Wash­ fleet, between Washington and Tri­ many areas giving riders a reduced ington, will have been cleaned of State station at Catlettsburg, Ken­ round-trip fare to the nearest big city. underbrush, garbage, abandoned tucky. All of this was part of a nationwide household appliances, automobiles A fifth round-trip was added to the promotional campaign to convince and other refuse dumped on railroad San Diego-Los Angeles corridor. This people that' 'tracks are back." property.

5 received cigars, while kids and ladies were presented candy by Munger and Keeping Track Of Amtrak his daughter who was dressed as one of Santa's elves. At departure time, Munger climbed Railroad Retirement Up tributes to each employee's account. into the cab and headed the train Last year this was 15.35 per cent west, beard flying in the wind. All Amtrak employees will find but has been raised to 15.55 per cent. their 1978 paychecks slightly smaller So, for each employee who makes Safety Standings because of the increase in Railroad the maximum wage under the system, Retirement tax payments. Amtrak now contributes $2,752.35 a and Twin Cities tied for Beginning January 1, both the per­ year into Railroad Retirement. first place in the district category fo r centage rate and the salary base were November in the President's Safety increased resulting in larger con­ Santa Pilots Lake Shore Contest. The two had no injuries at tributions to the system by both em­ all for the month and a resultant zero ployees and Amtrak. Santa Claus may have used rein­ injury ratio. Each employee's contribution was deers and a sleigh on Christmas Eve, In the shop category, Rensselaer raised from 5.85 per cent to 6.05 per but on December 23 he was piloting maintenance facility also turned in a cent while the salary base was in­ Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited be­ zero ratio with no injuries for the creased from $16,500 to $17,700. tween Boston and Albany. month. Thus, an employee earning the Santa was, in fact, Conrail En­ Western and Central tied in the maximum of $17,700 a year will now gineer George C. Munger who don­ regional category with a 6.7 ratio for be paying an additional $105 .60 a ned the red and white costume to November. year into the system. greet boarding passengers in Boston For the year to date, Piedmont Amtrak, as the employer, also con- with a bagful of gifts. Gentlemen leads the districts with a 1.75 ratio, Kellogg, Amtrak Join To Promote Kiddy Rides

Amtrak and the Kellogg Company jor food producer with free trans­ country round-trip. The offer is good have entered into a promotional pro­ portation offered as a promotional through January 1979. gram featuring coupons redeemable item. Discounted Amtrak fares such as for free Amtrak tickets for children. Beginning January 1, the "Free U.S.A. Rail, family plan, excursion The program is the first known co­ Kiddy Ride" coupons began appear­ or any other special fares do not operative effort between a national ing nationally on 64 million fami ly­ qualify. Tickets are for use on any transportation corporation and a ma- size cereal boxes of Kellogg's Raisin Amtrak train, including the pre­ Bran, Corn Flakes and Frosted mium-fare Metroliners, except during Flakes. The coupons are redeemable certain specified holiday and other - when presented with three box peak travel times. tops from any of these cereals - for a Tickets may be purchased to Cana­ fre~ Amtrak train ticket for a child dian points served by Amtrak, but under 12 years of age traveling any­ will not be sold in Canada or else­ where in the country accompanied by where outside the . an adult purchasing a full-fare, non­ Space in sleeping cars or other pre­ discount ticket. mium accommodations may be re­ Savings under the promotional served, but these extra accommoda­ program can be substantial. A family tion charges must be paid for in full of two adults and two children under for all family members. twelve, for example, would save $ I 72 Kellogg is advertising the "Free traveling round-trip between New Kiddy Ride" program nationally, York and Miami. showing Tony the Tiger at the con­ As many as 500,000 additional trols of an Amtrak locomotive. De­ riders could use Amtrak in 1978 as a tails of the plan are printed on the result of the special transportation of­ cereal packages, and will also be fer. The "Free Kiddy Ride" coupons available from Amtrak ticket and Tony the Tiger engineers Amtrak 's new will be good for trips as short as Chi­ travel agents as well as Amtrak's toll­ Kellogg promotion. cago-Milwaukee or as long as a cross- free information numbers.

6 with Twin Cities, at 2.2, and St. require more than first aid are Washington and Cincinnati. Louis, with 2.8, closely behind. counted. The new times, which should prove Central leads the regions with a 6.2 convenient for one-day business or ratio, with Western, with a 6.5, close­ Overnight Shenandoah shopping trips, also allow direct con­ ly behind. nections in Cincinnati to Chicago and Rensselaer leads the shops with a The Shenandoah, linking Indiana points and in Washington to 5.1 ratio, while Beech Grove, at 6.5, Washington with Cincinnati, has the Carolinas, Florida and the Nor­ and Brighton Park, with 7.0, follow been placed on an overnight schedule, theast. at its heels . beginning January 8, in an effort to The Shenandoah also began serv­ The injury ratio is a figure that boost ridership on the route. ing Gaithersburg, , to tap denotes the number of injuries per The train now arrives in the morn­ more of Washington's growing 200,000 man-hours. All injuries that ing and departs in the evening.in both suburban market.

FASTER TRAINS from Panama Limited to transfer to well spaced through the day-in the (Continued from page 1) westbound Sunset. Richmond-Washington mlnl­ corridor. some paid for by the state. Speeds Floridian/Major change was a re­ All operate north of Washington to were raised from 70 to 79 miles per versed schedule making the train a New York with two of the trains con­ hour on many segments of track. two-night, one-day trip from Chicago tinuing to New Haven, Providence Service between New York and to Florida, instead of a two-day, one­ and Boston. Albany speeded up by 10 minutes on night trip. By April, a sixth train will be added each of 11 daily trains. Higher speeds Benefi ts of the new schedule in­ to the mini-corridor when the Cham­ save 20 minutes in each direction on clude availability of train connections pion, another Florida train, resumes Salt City Express and Empire State at Chicago, more attractive mid-day operation. Express (formerly Water Level Ex­ hour service at major Florida points, press) between New York and and daytime service in Birmingham Panama Limited/ Now leaves Chi­ Syracuse. And, and Montgomery. cago one hour, 50 minutes earlier, is 30 minutes faster westbound and 25 Chicago departure is at 11 p.m. , with subsequent earlier arrival in New minutes faster eastbound between but train is available for occupancy at Orleans, enabling passengers to make New York and Buffalo. 10p.m. a connection with the there. San Francisco Zephyr/55 minutes cut Floridian continues on same route pending completion of the DOT Northbound Panama continues on from both directions as result of a former schedule. new contract with the Union Pacific, study. Amtrak's board of directors has decided that train should operate one of the railroads the Zephyr via Atlanta in the future if operating Pioneer/ Train is 40 minutes faster in travels. and capital funds are available. both directions as a result of a new By leaving Chicago later, new con­ contract negotiated with the Union nections became available from Twin Pacific. Cities Hiawatha, Inter-American and Hilltopper/ Major change was to ex­ Saint Clair. tend the train from Washington to Zephyr's earlier arrival in Chicago Boston, in both directions, offering, AMTRAK NEWS allows connections to Broadway for the first time, through coach ser­ Published twice a month for em­ Limited, Lake Shore Limited, Blue vice from the to the North­ ployees of the National Railroad Water Limited, Illini and . east Corridor cities. Passenger Corporation and those A new connection was also The Hilltopper now leaves of participating railroads engaged established between Zephyr and Washington for the Virginias in the in rail passenger service. Pioneer in Ogden to allow travel be­ morning while the return run arrives tween Salt Lake City and Reno/ San in Washington at night. STAFF Francisco. Westbound Zephyr con­ Major benefit of this change is Editor tinues its connection with north­ morning eastbound and evening west­ Ed Wojtas bound Pioneer. bound service in in­ Writer stead of middle-of-the-night service. Barbara Halliday Sunset Limited/Travel time shorten­ It also brings about better schedul­ ed by 15 minutes in both directions ing in the busy Washington-Rich­ Circulation with train times changed at many in­ mond corridor. There now is a new Gayle Fedrowitz termediate points. morning southbound and an evening Material in Amtrak New s is not copyrighted. Readers may use what they wish with proper New connection was created in northbound train between the two attribution to Amtrak News. New Orleans to allow passengers points, making a total of five trains-

7 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES (Continued from page 1) . Technical Specifications million for fiscal year 1979. That Amtrak High Speed, Lightweight Electric Locomotive amount includes money for escala­ tion, spare parts and contingencies. Total Length, over couplers 51 Feet The new locomotives are based on Locomotive Width 10 Feet the Rc4a locomotive built by ASEA, Locomotive Height 12 Feet, 2-1/ 4 Inches Inc., of Sweden, which Amtrak tested Service Weight 199,500 Pounds success fully last winter. Number of Cabs Two, Full Width EMD, licensee in the United States Number of Axles Four for ASEA electric locomotive tech­ Number of Traction Motors Four nology, will build a locomotive Wheel Diameter 50 Inches similar to the ASEA unit ' but with Design Speed 125 Miles Per Hour more power and higher speed. Braking Systems Three The Amtrak locomotives will have (Dynamic, Blended Air I Dynamic , Electro-Pneumatic) a tractive effort of 52,500 pounds short term and 30,500 pounds con­ tinuous, and horsepower at the rail of ductor slip-slide wheel assembly of two hours and 40 minutes between 8,400 short term, 6,100 continuous. developed by ASEA for maximizing New York and Washington, and The locomotives, which will no­ locomotive tractive effort under all three hours and 40 minutes between minally weigh 199,500 pounds each , rail conditions. New York and Boston, each with fi ve will also contain electric generating T he new electrics, along with modi­ intermediate stops. units to provide head-end power for fied Metroliners, will insure that The first new locomotive is sched­ heating, air conditioning and lighting high-speed equipment will be ready uled for delivery in December 1979. throughout the train. when the Northeast Corridor Im­ The new units will replace the old Electric components will be manu­ provement Project is completed in GG 1 units and be capable of operat­ factured by ASEA in Sweden, but 198 1. ing on three different power supply American content will make up the The locomotives, hauling Amfleet systems, including the 25 ,000-volt, majority of the value of the order. cars, will be able to .meet ili~Con­ 60-hertz frequency to be used in the Special features include a P ress- gressionally-mandated 1981 trip times upgraded Northeast Corridor.

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Passenger Corporation 955 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20024

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