Vol. 5, No. 12 December 1978 Amtrak's Board Issues Mission Statement, __----, I Proposes Operating "Contract" With Congress
Amtrak's board of directors has and financing." lems and works under daily handi proposed that Amtrak make a "con Essential to Amtrak's proposed caps that make its future uncertain tract" with Congress to run the new relationship with Congress and unless changes are made. nation's intercity passenger rail the Executive Branch must be a gen "If the present situation persists system. Congress should decide the eral understanding that Amtrak is a without substantial improvement, basic level of service the nation needs "public servive" rather than a "for there is no reason to believe that Am and Amtrak would agree to run the profit" enterprise, Boyd and Jacobs trak will survive for much longer in trains at a specified cost. stressed. its present form," the board members The recommendation was part of a " Once this fact is recognized, and said in their statement. new Amtrak "Statement of Mission" once some serious political judgments The board rejected the possibility which was made public at a press con a re made with respect to the nature of that the intercity rail passenger sys ference held in Washington on Wed the service to be provided to the tem would peris h completely, but nesday, December 13 , by Amtrak American public, then funding levels added, "It is more likely that Amtrak President Alan S. Boyd and Dr. can be realistically establi shed." will be 'nationalized' if it is unable to Donald P . Jacobs, chairman of Am In the mission statement, Amtrak's improve on existing operations. trak's board. Boyd is also a member board members cited their strong be " But there is no reason to believe of the board. lief that Amtrak can make a signifi that Amtrak wi ll run better under the If the board's recommendations cant contribution to the nation's weight of another federal bu are adopted, Amtrak "will function transportation needs, but they em rea ucracy. " essentially as an operating entity with phasized that the seven-year-old T he I2-page mission statement is Congress establishing basic structure quasi-public corporation faces prob- (Continued on page 11) Amtrak To Take Over Southern Crescent Amtrak and the Southern Railway "We recognize that the Crescent is trains. " have reached agreement that Amtrak an institution in the area it serves," Boyd said that initial changes to the take over operation of the Southern said Amtrak President Alan S. Boyd, Crescent 's operation and staffing Crescent beginning February I. "and we intend to see that it remains would be minimal and that the train The agreement is contingent on one of America's finest long-distance (Continued on page 10) Southern's being relieved, by the In terstate Commerce Commission, of it s obligation to provide the passenger service. Final agreement came on Wednes day, December 13 , when Amtrak's board of directors, at it s regular monthly meeting, approved a con tract with the Southern for the Cres cent's takeover. Both companies' management teams had agreed earlier on the terms which had been worked 0:: out over months of negotiations. The Southern Crescenr operates daily between Washington and At lanta, with tri-weekly service on to New Orleans. SR '5 Southern Crescent is the last o vernight train to be operated by a private railroad. Chicago Yard Work Continues, [ Significant Results Highlight Year
As 1978 comes to a close, work The seven servicing tracks, on the The building will have three run done this past summer during Chi east side of the yard and stretching through tracks in the repair section cago's multi-million dollar yard up south from Roosevelt Road, each will and be able to do most of the heavy grading program has produced some accommodate approximately 16 cars. repair work needed by Amtrak's significant results. As trains come into Chicago, their diesel locomotives. What has happened in Chicago is: cars are switched to the new coach The building is served by three • A portion of the new coach yard yard for cleaning and servicing. Small overhead cranes. One is rated at 35- consisting of seven servicing tracks repairs are made on the spot, al ton capacity, the other two at 15 tons has been completed and is in use. though cars with major troubles are each. • Work is about 90 per cent com switched to another portion of the The shop is also equipped with a plete on the diesel locomotive repair facility. drop table to facilitate changing of facility. The cars are accessible to work per locomotive truck assemblies. • Work has begun on construction sonnel via new concrete platforms be The new building is directly east of of the car shop building. tween the tracks. These can be used the new refueling facility, opened • The old engine house-the orig by motorized vehicles. earlier this year. inal structure in what will now be a Each platform has electrical and Also, the original engine house was three structure complex-was water cabinets providing 110 and 220 reroofed during this past summer. reroofed. volt a.c., compressed air for testing The old arch type roof was removed Bids will soon be asked for the car brake systems and potable water. and replaced with one that matches washer, the wheel truing machine and There are separate electrical stations that on the new structures. for th e warehouse-commissary for the 480 volt current used as At the same time, new lighting and building. standby power for Amfleet cars and, a new heating system were installed Says Ted Jordan, resident engineer later, the new Superliners. which include heat recovery units. on the project, "We've been pretty About all that remains-to- be~dune i hese, as part ofThe ventilaTion syS busy here in Chicago during the past in this area is completion of the main tem, capture a portion of the heat few months and the results of our ef north-south drive just east of the from diesel exhausts and recycle it to forts are beginning to show." tracks. T his is being held up because help heat the builidng. of ci ty work on a local flood control Another facet of the project is the program. construction of a new pollution con [ Disco To Montreal [ Work began in August on the new trol building. Work on this was begun 140-by-320-foot car repair shop. This in July and should be completed by Some 200 New Yorkers climbed building will be a multi-story struc the end of the year. When finished, aboard Amtrak's Man/realer in early ture with a portion of it one story the building will process drainage October to "disco" their way to high while the rest rises three stories. from the car and diesel shop areas as Montreal. Locker rooms and shower facilities well as waste from the car washer. Added to the normal consist of the for personnel, as well as offices, will Additional funding will be made train were three Amcoaches, a sleeper be located in the elevated portion of available in fi scal years 1979 and 1980 plus an Amlounge to accommodate the building, as well as the operating for the completion of the project, tar the dance fans. tower for the entire yard. geted for June 1981. The Amlounge was rigged with The masonry and metal building At that time, all of Amtrak's Chi professional disco audio equipment will have three through tracks, one cago car and diesel repair and main and the all-night party was hosted by stub track, accommodate nine cars tenance work-for trains using the three professional disc jockeys. and handle all major car repairs in south side of Union Station-will be Amlounge attendants were Paula Chicago. The facility will also have centered in the upgraded 12th and Hornbaker and Larry Cullop. Ac two drop tables for use in changing 16th street area. companying the dance fans were wheel sets. Amtrak maintenance of way em Sherman Hill, sales representative, The 80-by-250-foot diesel repair fa ployees have constructed all of the and Sam Johnston, district sales man cility should be open for use by Janu new tracks and have made the neces ager, New York. a ry. Work has been slightly delayed sary modifications to various facili The tour was arranged by Yvon on this project because of a shortage ties to keep the yard in operation dur Maye Travel, of New York City. of concrete in the Chicago area. ing the reconstruction period.
2 A porrion of rhe new coach yard, srrerching sourh of Roosevelr Road and consisring of seven rracks, has been completed and put inro use .
•
The new diesel repair building will do mosr of rhe heavy repair work on Amrrak 's diesel fleer.
Mobile unirs use concrere ramps berween rracks ro reach cars for servicing. Roy Simmons works on an Amfleer car.
The car repair shop, only rhe west wall sranding here, will ac commodare nine cars and handle all major repairs in Chicago. A drop rable will facilirare changing of locomorive rruck assemblies Mickey Mouse Picks Amtrak I To Celebrate 50th Birthday
Amtrak's most famous passenger The following day, Mickey con In picking the Southwest Limited in November was, without doubt, tinued his journey to New York for the first leg of his journey, Mickey Mouse who rode the rails all aboard the Minute Man, waving to Mickey used both good taste and the way from Los Angeles to New crowds at Aberdeen, Baltimore, tradition. York to celebrate his 50th birthday. Philadelphia, Trenton and Newark This is the train of Hollywood Mickey left Los Angeles on Mon before arrival at Pennsylvania stars. Many have traveled on this day, November 13, aboard the South Station. train over the years as well as on its west Limited after a rousing party in In New York he was greeted by a predecessors, the Chief and Super Union Station attended by several fife and drum corps, the Piscataway Chief. hundred friends and media per High School band and a crowd of Ever since 1892, when the Santa Fe sonnel. about 4,000 persons. Although no put the California Limited, called Union Station was only a sample of formal ceremony was planned, "the King of Limiteds," into opera what was to come because at every Mickey walked through the crowd tion, there have been luxury trains be station along the line-including shaking hands with his fans. tween Southern California and the stops in the wee hours of the morn On arrival in Chicago , the scene re Midwest. ing-crowds came out to see Mickey. sembled near chaos. Members of the Amtrak's Southwest Limited re Because Mickey was using regular press met Mickey at trackside, then mains one of America's fi nest trains. Amtrak service, the stops had to be accompanied him to the ceremonies Its mini-cruise atmosphere, as it limited to normal station time. in the large waiting room of Union makes its way through the colorful Crowds out west were typical of Station. The crowd cheered and southwest deserts paralleling, at those all along the entire trip. waved while media people stumbled times, the old Santa Fe trail, makes it Some 800 persons showed up at over one another to get the best angle a highly popular train throughout the Winslow, 2,000 at Albuquerque, over for just another picture. year. 3,000 at Las Vegas, and between Dnrothy Collin, wr-iting-in+he Ghi-- _ -.T.ray..eling_wjth...Micke-)L.Was...one-Gf 1,500 and 2,000 at both Raton and La cago Tribune, said, "I don't believe his own creators, Ward Kimball, of Junta. this. Reporters and public relations San Gabriel, California. Kimball Over 40 showed up at Needles, at men were swept along. Later the joined Disney in 1934 straight out of 2:05 a.m., and nearly 20 at Kingman, scene would begin to take on art school. Now retired, Kimball is a at4:19a.m. legendary qualities. It was named The rail buff of long standing and even The same held true in Kansas with Battle of Union Station." owns a small railroad he operates on nearly 600 at Garden City, 200 at In Chicago, at a reception in his the grounds of his home. He calls it Hutchinson and another 200 or so at honor, Mickey made his way through the first full-size backyard railroad Emporia. the crowd holding on to Mayor museum in the country. The crowds crammed alongside the Michael Bilandic's hand. After wel- Kimball appeared with Mickey at tracks to catch a glimpse of the coming Mickey to the city and pre all stops on the trip clad in a vintage famous mouse as he waved to them senting him with an "I Love You conductor's uniform, large pocket from the train. Where station stops Chicago" T-shirt, the mayor led the watch in hand and an old lantern were long enough-Albuquerque, crowd in singing "Happy Birthday." hanging from his arm. Cincinnati and some others-Mickey Mickey, in turn, began to dance, with Mickey, it might be noted, was got off the train and mingled with the the mayor quickly joining him. conceived on a train traveling from people. Mickey rode across the country- New York to Los Angeles. From Chicago, Mickey traveled 18 states, 57 cities-in style. He occu Walt Disney, Mickey's creator, had aboard the Cardinal to Washington pied the Marguerite del Oro, the been in New York talking to some where welcoming ceremonies, hosted private car of West Coast Travel financial backers who wrested con by Amtrak President Alan Boyd, Agent "Tad" Findlay on the South trol from him of his first cartoon were held in Union Station. west Limited, and car "Ten character, a rabbit named Oswald. Those completed Mickey sped off Thousand" on the Cardinal and the Disney, then 26, and with an active to the White House for a birthday Minute Man . Car "Ten Thousand," cartoon studio going in Hollywood, party hosted by Amy Carter and at it should be noted, was used by ex quickly needed another character to tended by her dad, President Jimmy President Gerald Ford during the star in his productions. Carter. 1976 Presidential campaign. (Please turn to page 6)
4 ---Mickey's Amtrak Journey'--
to trainside.
Galesburg/ Crowd sings Happy Birthday to the mouse.
Chicago / Tom Gambrel, station supervisor, lejt, helps Mickey through station crowd. Lou Maxberry, train manager, is directly behind Mickey.
Peru / Mickey greets his friends from rear of car "Ten Thousand." Washin gton / Amtrak's President, Alan Boyd accepts a gift Mickey on his arrival. Disney recalled later, "Mrs. Disney and I were coming back on the train and I just had to have something. So, I had this mouse in the back of my h.ead because a mouse is sort of a sympathetic character in spite of the fact that everybody's frightened of one." Disney spent the return ride con juring up a little mouse in red velvet pants and named him Mortimer. By the time the train reached Los An geles the dream mouse had been re christened. Walt's wife, Lillian, thought the name Mortimer was too pompous and suggested the name Mickey. A star was thus conceived. Mickey's birthday, however, is credited to the day that Steamboat Willie, the first synchronized sound cartoon, opened in New York at the Colony theater on November 18, 1928. One of Mickey's chores in 1978 was to dedicate a plaque at the ex-Colony theater, now the Broadway, where 50 years ago to the day he was " born." Among other major events tied in with Mickey'S cross-country train tri p were a special tribute to the lit tle guy at the Chicago International Film Festival, an exhibition of Mickey service meet per picture, Southwest Li mited dining car attendants and Steward Tom Ryan pose Mouse memorabilia at the Library of with the famous mouse. In lower, photo, the Cardinal's crew, along with John Wool- Congress in Washington and a retro ridge, supervisor. get acquainted with Mickey. Also in photos is Bruce Heard, spective at the Museum of Modern manager, on-board services, Washington. Art in New York. cessful theme parks in California and Disney was fond of pointing out, Winner of the "Travel With Florida, television's Mickey Mouse "I hope we never lose sight of one Mickey" sweepstakes that was con Club, and a host of other mer fact .. . that this was all started by a ducted prior to the trip was a 13-year chandising successes. mouse. " old Altadena, California, boy, Ed ward Gholar, Jr., an eighth grader at Elliott School there. Kansas City Sleepers Back On National Gholar was unable to accompany Mickey on the trip because of school Amtrak restored sleeping car serv section of the National Limited on a and his dad's work schedule. He will ice on the full route of the National daily basis from Kansas City to make the Los Angeles-Chicago trip, Limited on Sunday, November 12. Washington, D.C. along with three members of his The sleeping cars had been running family, at a later date. only on the New York-Indianapolis Although Mickey hasn't made a portion of the route until more cars Minority Business movie in 25 years-he did make 118 were rebuilt to be compatible with Roland Jones has been named of them- he still is the major Disney Amfleet by Amtrak's Beech Grove manager of minority business de symbol. shops. velopment succeeding Susan Straus From that first primitive cartoon Other improvements were also who recently was named director of evolved the present-day Disney em made in the cars, such as upholstery affirmative action programs. pire with its stable of prize-winning and painting work. J ones reports to J. Ken Lyons, feature cartoons, live movies, suc- Amtrak recently began operating a managing director, procurement.
6 Cooperative Effort Results ______In Kirkwood Station Refurbishment
Amtrak's Kirkwood, Missouri, sta former stagecoach stop. The original Commuter service linking Kirk tion was refurbished this year with building was made of wood and was wood with St. Louis was the Pacific money supplied by Amtrak and the replaced by the current stone struc Railroad's first source of income. city of Kirkwood's federal revenue ture 40 years later. That service reached its peak in the sharing budget. Other changes over the years in 1880s when the station had more than The old station's historical signifi cluded removal of a canopy on the 20 trains arriving and departing daily. cance had saved it once before. When southeast corner of the station, con MoPac continued its commuter trains the Missouri Pacific railroad an version of separate men's and until the I 960s when expressways and nounced plans to tear down the sta women's waiting rooms into one automobiles drew away the tion in the mid-1940s, Kirkwood resi main room, and installation of a cen patronage. dents protested vehemently. tral heating system in 1940 to replace Today, Kirkwood is served by The 19th century depot was re an antique coal stove. Amtrak's National Limited. modeled instead and no one has men tioned a need for a "modern" station since. Restoration of the station with its 18-inch thick, grey stone walls was necessary again this year. The sta tion's 1978 facelift included repaint ing, refurnishing and relandscaping with $33,000 from Amtrak and $65,000 from Kirkwood. Inside, the station was repainted while benches and cei ling beams were revarnished. New carpeting and quar ry tiles, new light fixtures and new furniture completed the interior re decoration. Outside, an elevated planter was (Above) Kirkwood's built and filled with flowers and 36 station sits on the site new trees were planted on the adja of a former stagecoach cent lawn. stop. (Left) Curtis In keeping with the old-time spirit Weingartner. ticket of the 1893 station, concrete walks clerk. describes Amtrak service to potential cus were replaced with brick, matching tomer. (Below) The old the color of the exterior brick. station was repainted C.]. Weingartner, ticket agent, has inside and all benches worked in the station for 20 years. and ceiling beams re varnished. Says he, "There's a nostalgia for the old-fashioned, and that means people are interested in this ancient station." Kirkwood's birth, in 1853, was due to the construction of the Missouri Pacific, originally called the Pacific Railroad. The town was named after ] ames P. Kirkwood, the line's chief civil engineer. Historic documents show that the station still occupies the same three acres acquired by the Pacific Railroad in 1853 and which were the site of a tie track in Maryland will permit Am trak and Federal Railroad Adminis Keeping Track Of Amtrak tration officials to observe the effect of heavy rail traffic, including freight Safety Statistics their zero ratios. trains, on concrete ties before begin The safety ratio indicates the num ning the 200-mile-long tie program Dallas-Fort Worth and Kansas City ber of injuries per 200,000 man that is planned for the southern por continued their injury-free record hours. All injuries or job-related ill tion of the Corridor. into October in the mechanical facili nesses that require more than mere Concrete ties were chosen over ties category of the President's Safety first aid are counted. wooden ones for the high-speed Contest. This record now spans 10 tracks because it is believed that the months. More Concrete Ties greater weight of concrete ties, plus Other mechanical facilities that Amtrak crews began laying an 8.9- the rigid fastener and support struc were injury-free for the month of Oc mile-long concrete tie test track on ture of the resultant track, results in tober include Brighton Park, New the Corridor mainline near Aberdeen, better stability and a smoother ride Orleans, Houston, St. Louis, Minne Maryland, on Monday, November for passengers. In addition, the serv apolis, Detroit, Jacksonville and 13 . Crews worked with the automated ice life of concrete ties is estimated to Buffalo. track-laying machine that is being be 50 years, about twice as long as Beech Grove led the shops in Octo used for the first time in this country that for wood. ber with a 7.4 safety ratio, while St. on the Northeast Corridor Improve Louis led the divisions with a zero ment Project. Need A Winter Coat? ratio, indicating an injury-free The P -811 track laying machine, month. built by the Canron Rail Group, had All female Amtrak employees now For the year to date, St. Louis leads been working since June in Rhode Is have the opportunity to purchase an the divisions with a 2.6 ratio, Beech land where it has laid 35 .1 miles of attractive winter storm coat. Grove leads the shops with a 12.5 and concrete ties and 26.2 miles of contin Employees whose work takes them Dallas-Fort Worth and Kansas City uous welded rail. outdoors can purchase the coat at lead the mechanical facilities with The nearly nine miles of concrete half price, with the company paying Dallas Station Now A Tourist Attraction If you travel to Dallas these days, trak's Lone Star and the Inter brochures and manned by travel chances are you 'll visit Union Term American. Amtrak's facilities in the counselors from 8:30 a .m . to 5 p.m., inal, whether or not you make the trip station are in process of being refur daily except Sunday. Terminal res by rail. bished. taurants are open from 6:30 a.m. to 3 Amtrak's station, along with the The Visitor Information Center, a.m. Foods range from lobster flown adjoining 50-story Reunion Tower operated by the Dallas Chamber of in daily to Texas barbecue and fresh and Hyatt Regency hotel, is part of Commerce, is stocked with maps and fruit milkshakes. Big D's newest major tourist attrac tion, the 53-acre Reunion complex which also includes a park complete with waterfalls and fountains. The hotel and station are connected by an underground, carpeted corridor. Union Terminal, used by Amtrak trains serving Dallas, is a beaux arts structure built in 1914 and now listed on the National Register of Historical Places. As developed by the Wood bine Corporation, an affiliate of Hunt Investments, it is also the city's official Visitor Information Center and home of eight lively restaurants, night clubs and bars. Dallas, which for a time was the country's largest city without rail pas Dallas Terminal"s second floor is crammed with a variety of restaurants. Amtrak senger service, now is served by Am- facilities on the lower level will be completed soon.
8 / On-Board Attendant Feted by NARP
Charles Ford, veteran dining and that. he thought best-the Atchison, sleeping car employee, was honored Topeka and Santa Fe-and before at the annual meeting of the board of long he did. He was hired to be a directors of the National Association waiter on the Super Chief, the queen of Railroad Passengers in late Oc of the Santa Fe. tober. "He waited tables on that train, Ford, who attended the luncheon and his superiors recognized his skill. with his wife, Helen, received a He was promoted from waiter to plaque that called attention to his' '42 valet, then to bartender. Soon he was years of service through 1978 as promoted again, this time to the first waiter, bartender extraordinaire, class section of the train. It was the serving travelers from Mickey Mouse epitome of accomplishment for a to Diana Ross." man like Ford." The plaque continued, "Let your Ford's wife wrote George Falcon, a past be a beacon of better things to NARP board member from Cali come. " fornia and the driving force behind Ford has been spotlighted earlier in Ford's award. Said she, "Thank you a column by the Chicago Tribune's fo r the high honor you paid to Bob Greene, who is also syndicated C harles. We are extremely proud to nationally. have this beautiful plaque. Wrote Greene, "He was good at "He does love the railroad and has his job. He liked to serve people. It spent his life in excellent service. Bob ;..r. was almost an outmoded calling in Greene and you are responsible for b ~·~ the 20th century, but it is what he did. making this big step in our lives a Joyce Costa. analyst. manuals and pro He yearned to work for the railroad most glorious event." cedures. models the winter storm coal.
the remaining 50 per cent. All other employees can purchase the storm October On-Board Winners Picked coat at its regular price of $65, plus applicable sales tax. Winners in the on-board services Amaral, Ramon Colley, Guy Han Made of 100 per cent woven poly recognition contest have been chosen cock, John Merritt, Michael Monroe ester, the coat is tailored in the popu for October. and Walter Woolf, Jr. lar double breasted model. It features Winners in Category I, on-board Winners in Category I I, employees set -in sleeves, slash pockets and employees dealing directly with the not dealing directly with the public, leather-like buttons. public, are: are: There is also a high-pile plush col Boston: Linda Duffaney. New York: Eddie Evans. lar as well as a stitched plush pile New York: Michael Zega. Washington: Homer Coney. body interior with flannel-backed Washington: Calvin Pierce. Jacksonville: A tie between Harvey satin lining in the sleeves. Jacksonville: A tie between James Gilford and Carl Green, Jr. The coat is rain and stain repellent, Howard and Vincent Williams. Miami: Wesley Thompson. comes in navy blue and is available in Miami: A tie between Cassandra Chicago: Allen Prioleau. even-numbered sizes from 4 through Hewitt, James Joseph, Arthur Rem St. Paul: William Campbell. 18. Manufacturer is the Best Coat bert, Milton L. Smith, Odell Town New Orleans: A tie between Louis Company, Boston. send, Richard Walczak, Edgar Han Cotton, Anthony Thomas, James Instructions for ordering the coat son and Willie Watson. Peoples and Claude Evans. have been posted in all crew bases and Chicago: Richard E. Morris. Los Angeles: A tie between Frank stations as well as with division man St. Paul: A tie between Thomas Ruth and Herman Burton. agers. Further information, as well as Braddock and Robert Creighton. Oakland: A tie between Ulysses actual ordering, can also be done New Orleans: John Broussard. Harper, Milton Nelson, Cornelius through either Sue Gaede or Charlie Los Angeles: A tie between Wil McDowell, Delmar Woods , Sutter, at corporate headquarters in liam Bradley and Tollie Newsome. Lawrence Bishop and John E. Washington, extension 2318 or 2368. Oakland: A tie between Michael Johnson.
9 SOUTHERN CRESCENT variety of cars in Amtrak's fleet from (Continued from page 1) the various ones inherited from the would continue to operate with Book Review railroads at Amtrak's inception to the Southern locomotives, cars and em latest Amfleet equipment. Amtrak Car Diagrams: By Robert ployees. Excluded are Metroliners, Turbo Wayner, 92 pages, 8-1 14-by-1O-112 L. Stanley Crane, Southern's presi liners and ROCs because Wayner felt inches, horizontal format, soft cover, dent, added, "We are pleased that the they were in the motive power cate negotIatIOns have culminated in $5.75 postpaid, available from Way gory rather than being cars per se. ner Publications, Box 871, Ansonia agreement so that the Southern A short history accompanies the il Station, New York, New York 10023. Crescent can continue to operate. The lustrations of each particular car train has been our ' flagship' for many grouping. years and we have taken great pride in This is a book with no plot, no pic On the minus side, the book does maintaining it as a quality train. tures and no lengthy narrative. It is not have the cars in either numerical "While we deeply regret that a way simply a collection of seating and order or grouped in types of cars could not be found to continue the room diagrams of various Amtrak making it difficult to find a particular train under Southern's auspices, Am cars as well as broadside drawings. It car. trak can count on our full coopera is well detailed and reproduced with However, despite this shortcoming, tion to keep it one of America's finest good quality printing. the book is a valuable addition to any long-distance trains. " What the book does do is give a railroader's library of passenger Under the agreement, Southern comprehensive sample of a large rolling stock. will pay Amtrak $6,674,81 2 to be di to operate the service. mate the Crescent's operating costs vided into eight monthly install ments. Under the approved contract, Am will be about $1 1 million, in cluding The payments will begin in February trak's statutory right of access for ad equipment rental, local taxes and and continue through September ditional service on the Southern Rail in surance. 1979. way-subject to ICC approval-is pre Revenues for the same period are Basic operating costs to be assumed served. It also establis hes a procedure estimated at about $5 million, leaving by Amtrak are similar to costing fo r compensating Southern for such a deficit of approximately $6 million . arrangements Amtrak has with other services, although no such additional The Southern's contribution of railroads that operate its trains. service or new routes are contem nearly $6. 7 million is expected to Equipment requirements wi ll be plated at this time. cover the operating deficit for fi scal covered by a lease arrangement for For the remainder of fiscal year year 1979, which ends next September locomotives and a lease-purchase 1979, Amtrak and the United States 30. program for cars required by Amtrak Department of Transportation esti- The Southern Crescent, one of America 's most historic trains, was Crescent, Predecessors Are Historic the only overnight lUXury train in the Today's Southern Crescent is Crescent Limited in 1925 but that nation that was not discontinued or the descendant of the Washing name vanished from the ti me ta ken over by Amtrak when it began ton and Southwestern Vestibuled table during the depression al operations on May 1, 1971 . Limited, inaugurated in January though the train continued in The train runs over a I, 154-mile 1891 by the Richmond and Dan operation. route that includes intermediate stops ville Railroad. This Washington In 1934, it was officially dis at such cities as Charlottesville, Vir Atlanta train was soon nick continued but resurrected in ginia; Greensboro and Charlotte, named the Vestibule because it 1938. North Carolina; Greenville, South was the first all-year train operat In 1949, the train was re Carolina; Atlanta; Birmingham; and ing in the South with vestibuled equipped with new stainless steel Meridian, Mississippi. equipment. equipment but the post-war It includes a transcontinental sleep Operation of the Vestibule years, with their erosion of rail in g car three days a week between continued after the Southern traffic to auto and air, had ar New York and Los Angeles and also Railway Company was in rived . carries through cars between New corporated in 1894 by the pur In 1956, the Crescent and York and New Orleans. chasers of the R&D and when Augusta Special were consoli The Southern had petitioned the vestibules became common on dated. Then, In 1970, the Interstate Commerce Commission other trains, it s name was short Crescent was consolidated with last April to discontinue the train 's ened to the Washingtqn and the Southerner, renumbered as operation. However, the ICC had Southwestern Limited. trains I and 2, and renamed the ordered continued operation at least The train was renamed the Southern Crescent. through August 4, 1979.
10 MISSION STATEMENT said in its statement. most of the country, the board noted, (Continued/rom page 1) The board proposed turning to "In many circumstances, poor service Congress for the establishment of is directly traceable to the contracting the work of Boyd, who took office on Amtrak's "basic" system based on railroads." The board called on the June I, and a 13-member board criteria already in law which consider nation's railroads for a greater par which has five members who began social as well as cost benefits. ticipation in Amtrak's development. their service only this past summer. In Amtrak should have the leeway to With all of Amtrak's problems and recent months, Boyd and his fellow add service if no additional federal resultant shortcomings, the board, board members have turned their at funds are involved or to come back to veterans and newly-appointed mem tention increasingly to what they be Congress if a promising new service bers alike, concluded that Amtrak is lieve are the root causes of Amtrak's would require additional funding. In needed by this country and that "real failure to meet its full potential. any case, the board felt it has a re and substantial public benefits accrue The board statement, and the re sponsibility to advise Congress as to from the operation of Amtrak." search and discussion which went into the optimum basic network. In its statement, the board cited it, has helped to focus the attention of Other policy problems, which the several contributions Amtrak is mak the new Amtrak team on the basic board felt must be attacked soon, in ing or could make with expanded elements of the task before it and will cluded the rail passenger company's public use. Among these were energy guide the board and Amtrak's man present limited ability to control its savings, particularly petroleum; some agement in future discussions with own efficiency and productivity. relief from air and highway con Congress and the Executive Branch. Amtrak needs more control in the gestion and the need for continued The mission statement was pre operations of its trains and in negoti ex pansion of these modes ; the factor sented in three parts: ation of labor agreements which af of safety and the long-term value of a I-Policy problems with recom fect its operations, the board said. rail passenger system as a national re mended solutions, The board also noted that "poor source on both a continuing basis and 2-Major obstacles to Amtrak's service is often attributable to poor in times of national emergency. success, and track" and that although the di The board cautioned, however, 3-Reasons why board members rectors understood the difficulties of that " no intercity rail passenger sys believe Amtrak merits continued funding improvements for track con tem will ever fully capture the poten public support. trolled by railroads ". . . such up tial market in this country until we Among the major policy issues grading is a necessity if Amtrak is to cure the problems of poor track, ob which the board cited as being of the provide effective service. " solete equipment, inadequate funding "highest priority" were selection of and the like. routes, financing, control o f produc Another major policy problem, the "If and when funding is fixed to tivity, track improvement, replace board felt, was the need for new achieve a realistic service goal, then ment of equipment and the entire equipment and the question of where and only then will Amtrak be able to area of Amtrak's relationships with to get it. chart a meaningful course for the Congress and federal agencies. " A major problem is the lack of a future." Charging that Amtrak cannot be strong United States railroad pas managed rationally as long as its senger equipment supply industry. management is chronically unsure of Amtrak's equipment situation would AMTRAK NEWS each year's funding level, or even of be appreciably improved if ... the Published once a month for em the route system which it will be re government gave better support to ployees of the National Railroad quired to operate, the board asked the development of new (passenger) Passenger Corporation and those for a new "contractual relationship technology ... or if Amtrak was not of participating railroads engaged with Congress." constrained to buy only from an in rail passenger service. "Under such an arrangement, the American supplier," the board said. STAFF board would operate the mandated On the subject of commuter serv Editor basic system for an agreed-upon ices, the board felt that "the provi Ed Wojtas grant of funds," the board proposed. sion of commuter service will degrade Circulation It emphasized that funds approved by Amtrak's basic service." But, if the Marguerite Broyhill Congress would be based on the cost policy decision is that Amtrak shall Reporter Debbie Marciniak of providing a "quality product" by carry commuters, the board felt that an "efficient management." commuter costs must be covered fully and not siphon funds away from "This new form of contractual re I_In Amtra k News is a member o f the lationship would provide clear effi intercity passenger service. liJi1 Associa tion o f Ra ilroad Edito rs. ciency incentives to Amtrak and clear In underlining the real partnership Materi a l in Amtra k News is not copyri ghted. indications of management's per which exists between Amtrak and the Readers may use wha t they wi sh with proper at tributio n to Amtrak News. formance to Congress," the board railroads over which it operates 10
I I ....------A Bit Of Christmas Whimsy------.
Twas the night before Christmas, And down at the depot, Three feet of fresh snow, Were hampering people. Baggage was lined, On the platform with care, In hopes that the Limited, Would soon arrive there. Suddenly, an old gent, Walked in from the storm, With his white beard and red suit, He must have been warm.
He said, It is foggy, Rudolph has a cold in his nose, The highways are blocked, And the airport did close. Ten family plan tickets, For my elves and for me. The nation awaits, All my presents, you see. Said the agent, I'm sorry, We have Holiday peaks, The train that you want, Has been sold out for weeks.
I'll ride in the diner, Or even the club car, I've got some nice gifts, For near and for far, The clerk called his super, Who called operations, We need a nice train, To take gifts to our stations. They assembled a train, Within half an hour, But the train could not move, For there was no power.
Said Santa, I've a dark secret, But I'll give it away, I have a new loco, Hid away in my sleigh. So, off to Alt oona, Topeka and Denver, The presents must get there, By the end of December. So, the story is told, Again and again, How Santa was grounded, And thus rode the train.
Suhmill('d By TIHIl Pap First Class Mail U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit 1911 Merrifield. VA Passenger Corporation 400 N. Capitol St .• NW Washington. D.C. 20001 FIRST CLASS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED