Vol. 5, No.9 September 1978 New Excursion Fare Plans ______------, [ Lure Off-Season Travelers

Sweeping new bargain fare in­ distance routes, excursion tickets will offers substantial reductions in fares, centives designed to lure more be honored for 35 days after pur­ the U.S.A. Rail Pass may still be the passengers to rail travel this fall and chase. Excursion travel will be least expensive way to travel for winter went into effect September 6. restricted on these trains November persons taking transcontinental trips A new system-wide excursion plan 22-26, December 21-26, December and for families traveling together. slashing fares by up to 40 per cent for 28-January 2 and April 13-15. Prices of the unlimited-travel round-trip travel became effective U.S.A. Rail Pass will drop from $250 then, along with reductions in the U.S.A. Rail Pass to $169 for 14 days, from $315 to cost of the U.S.A. Rail Pass and a While the new excursion system $21 9 for 21 days and from $385 to less expensive Family Plan. Commissary Worker Finds $175,000 Round-Trip Excursions Under the new excursion systein, to Greg Lynumn, Amtrak commis­ Robinson. be effective through May 25, 1979, sary worker, Chicago, was lauded At the station Jackson alerted the one-way fares remain the same with recently for a superb display of media and Marina Bank President return trips priced at rates dependant honesty in returning a $175,000 check Joel Shiffrin of the check's discovery. on the cost of the going trip. to its owner. An ABC television crew and • If a one-way fare is under $25, Lynumn found the check on reporters from the Chicago Sun­ the round trip will cost only $5 more. August 1 while he was shopping along Times accompanied Lynumn and • If $25 to $49.99, only $10 more. Chicago's South Water street. The Jackson to the bank where the two • If $50 to $74.99, only $15 more. gray piece of paper landed face down men met with the relieved president. • If $75 and up, only $20 more. on the sidewalk in front of the 23- Lynumn handed the check over to The special round-trip excursion year-old who said, "I knew it was a (Continued on page 10) rates apply to trips of at least 250 check as soon as I saw it because of miles one-way on the same train. the stripes on the back." Children under 12 pay one-half the Lynumn's first reaction was a special rate. Existing excursion fares predictable one, astonishment as he offering 25 per cent discounts will saw the amount and realized that the remain in effect for many trips under check was negotiable. Unsure as to 250 miles and in the Northeast what he should do, Lynumn stuffed Corridor where the new rates do not the check into his pocket and, for the apply. The special four-day $33 New moment, continued on his way. York-Montreal rate will continue. Drawn on the Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co., New York, the On Amtrak's long-distance trains, 3i the special excursion rate is good for check was payable to Chicago's E 40 days after purchase of tickets with Marina Bank which is located less ~ no restrictions on coach travel during than one block from the point where ~ peak travel periods. However, there Lynumn made his discovery. ~" may be fewer seats available at the A few blocks away, Lynumn met £ discounted price on these all-reserved Reverend Jesse Jackson, the noted ~ trains ~t holiday times. There are civil rights leader, and explained to ~ ~ some restrictions on first-class travel him what had happened. He ac- ~ at the lower rates during holiday companied Jackson, who was on his 5' periods. way to an interview with ABC eC ommissary Worker Greg Lynumn displays On Amtrak's short and medium- Evening News Anchorman Max the check he found. $259 for a 30-day pass., The Family "Public response to the excursion per cent of all intercity travel by U.S.A. Rail Pass will similarly be plans we tested on several routes private automobile, our major target reduced in price. demonstrated such an offer lures continues to be the auto traveler." Under that plan the head of the passengers to the more energy­ The new Amtrak fare strucmre is household pays full fare while the efficient train," said Al Michaud, also designed to be competitive with accompanying spouse and children, Amtrak's vice president of the sharply reduced airline fares 12 through 21, pay only half fare. marketing. "With an estimated 87 pointed out Michaud. Children between two and 11 pay $50 each, regardless of length of pass. The U.S.A. Rail Pass is good for Riding A Train? Rate It! coach travel on all Amtrak and Beginning September 1, all who is not a member of the national Southern Railway trains, except national operations department operations department, would Amtrak's Metroliners. Passengers employees traveling on business by voluntarily Jom the evaluation may upgrade their tickets for travel rail will complete a simple evaluation program. Forms are available from on Metroliners or on club and form that monitors the level of on the forms control department, sleeping cars on a space available board service they experienced on Washington. basis. each train they ride. The completed reports will be at­ New Bus Link Family Plan tached to the employee's expense Amtrak's regular Family Plan fares report and be submitted to his or her A rail passenger arriving at Boston are also less expensive this fall and supervisor. can make a direct connection at some families may find this offer to Says Bob Herman, vice president Amtrak's South Station to and from be the best travel bargain for trips and general manager, national buses serving nine communities in that do not qualify for the special operations, "We are all aware of the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and excursion. paramount importance that service Maine, as result of a new agreement The ticket cost for spouse and plays in the railroad passenger in­ with Michaud Bus Lines Inc., of children 12 to 21, will be cut from 75 dustry. Service is the single most Salem, Massachusetts. per cent of the full fare to 50 per cent. important commodity that we have to Three Michaud Bus Line round­ Children two to 11 wi ll pay just 25 per offer. nips daily, with two on Sundays ana cent of the full fare instead of 37.5 "If Amtrak is to succeed, it is holidays, now link Amtrak's Boston per cent. imperative that all national station to Danvers and Amesbury, Discounts apply to a spouse and operations employees join forces Massachusetts; Exeter, Newmarket, children traveling with a head of toward the common goal of Durham, Dover and Rochester, New household who pays full fare. providing the best service we can." Hampshire; and Sanford and Family Plan travelers must begin The form is a 5-112-by-8-112 inch, Springvale, Maine; none of which are their trips on days other than Fridays pre-addressed card that can be filled directly served by Amtrak. and Sundays, except on trains that in quickly with a series of check An earlier agreement with operate only tri-weekly. The special marks. It grades the service provided Greyhound Lines provides daily family rates do not apply to ac­ by the conductor and trainmen, by service to and from the station and commodation charges in slumber train and service attendants, quality eight Maine communities-Old coaches, club or sleeping cars, nor do of food and the cleanliness of dining, Orchard Beach, Portland, Brun­ they apply in conjunction with any seating and toilet areas. Space is also swick, Belfast, Lewiston, Augusta, other special fare. Family Plan fares available for commending ex­ Bangor and Bar Harbor; plus Port­ are not good on Metroliners. ceptional employees as well as calling smouth, New Hampshire; and St. attention to those who may need Stephen, New Brunswick, in Canada. New Excursion Is Successful correction. Amtrak ticket and travel agents can The new excursion fares-with Says Rex Holland, assistant vice make reservations and issue tickets fixed return trip costs-were ex­ president, on board services, "We for the entire rail-bus trip. panded systemwide, excluding the want to provide the best service in the Amtrak now has more than 40 Northeast Corridor, after the concept passenger industry. The few minutes intermodal agreements with bus lines proved overwhelmingly success ful in each of us takes to rate our trips and other surface carriers for ex ­ trials on several individual trains. objectively will give us key in­ change of passengers. Patronage on Amtrak's Adirondack formation that will help us ac­ The Michaud family that operates jumped by over 100 per cent when a complish that goal." the bus line is not related to Amtrak's similar excursion plan was im­ Holland hopes that anyone Marketing Vice President Al plemented on that route during 1977. traveling on business or pleasure, Michaud.

2 Service Begins At Dearborn, ______--. I Train Cuts Official Ribbon

Between 150 and 200 persons issue tickets for travel on the and kept that position until coming to showed up at Amtrak's new Dear­ Canadian system. Dearborn. born, Michigan, station to watch the The Michigan Executive will carry Civic officials were happy with the special ribbon cutting that officially passengers into Dearborn in the new station. Said O 'Reilly, " We have opened the facility on Monday, July morning from Jackson, Chelsea, Ann worked diligently to acquire the 31. Arbor and Ypsilanti, and then return services of Amtrak and we hope There was the traditional ribbon in the evening. residents of our area will take ad­ cutting with conventional scissors but The new facility is staffed by Bruce vantage of the trains for both the highlight of· the ceremonies was Farquharson, lead ticket clerk, and business and vacation travel. the cutting of a huge ribbon stretched Jean DeBoe, ticket clerk. "The trains stopping here operate across Conrail's tracks by Amtrak Farquharson began his Amtrak with Amtrak's most up-to-date F40PH locomotive No. 282 at the head career in March 1975 as a baggage­ equipment and they certainly offer an end of the eastbound Saint Clair. man in Detroit. He was later attractive alternative to our congested Inside the cab, helping the engineer promoted to ticket clerk in Detroit, highways. " do the honors, was Dearborn Mayor moved to Ann Arbor in the same Four trains now stop in Dearborn John B. O 'Reilly. capacity and is now lead ticket clerk in each direction daily. They are the Said O 'Reilly, "I heartily applaud at Dearborn. Wolverine, Twilight Limited, Saint the additional transportation service DeBoe started working at Amtrak Clair and the Monday-through­ that Amtrak brings to our residents." in August 1972 as secretary to the Friday Michigan Executive, a Amtrak personnel at the sales manager in Detroit. She later Jackson-Detroit train. All operate ceremonies included Rich Tower, took a job as ticket clerk in Detroit with either Amfleet or Turboliners. acting assistant division manager, Chicago; Bob Runnels, district manager, Detroit; Dave De Vries, district supervisor, Detroit; and Bob Harden, sales representative, Detroit. Platforms have been constructed at Dearborn and a temporary modular station put into operation. The one story structure has a ticket office, public telephones, rest rooms and can accommodate 25 persons. A per­ manent station will be constructed later. The stop is intended to strengthen Amtrak's market in the heavily populated Chicago-Detroit corridor by making it easier for Detroit's western suburbanites to use Amtrak to travel to Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Chicago and other points. Trains will not carry local Dear­ (Above) With Dearborn Mayor John O 'Reilly helping born-Detroit passengers except those the engin eer, Amtrak's Saint ticketed to ride on the Niagara Clair cuts the huge ceremonial which links Detroit with ribbon. (Left) Working at the Rainbow, new station will be Jean Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, ~ DeBoe, ticket clerk, and Bruce Albany and New York City, and ~ Farquharson, lead ticket clerk. those ticketed to connect with VIA Rail's Canadian trains departing from Windsor, Ontario, for Toronto o .co and Montreal. Amtrak stations can 0.. Bensalem Wins Great Train Race,------r I Employees Celebrate At Buffet Lunch

Bensalem Reservations Center was widest margin. Even at that, Ben­ general manager, reservations, at a named winner of the Great Train salem was just .9 of one per cent buffet luncheon on August 2 outside Race with its employees booking ahead of the second place reser­ the center's modern building. more rail travel than any other vations center. Balloons and picnic tables set the Amtrak CRO between March 15 and "It was nip and tuck all the way," decor as employees lunched on grilled June 15. said Ginny Gepner, manager, chicken, hamburgers, potato salad, Designed to promote company Bensalem CRO, "but our people cake and downed soft drinks as they sales, the Great Train Race made use made an extra effort during the last listened to congratulatory comments of employee incentive to turn in­ days to nose ahead as the winning from Amtrak officials. formation calls at the various centers team. " Speaking at the luncheon were into actual reservations. As winner of the race, the Ben­ Gordon, Held, Gepner and Joyce All five of the participants in the salem office received an award of Greene, who along with Vince competition-Los Angeles, New excellence plaque signed by Al Begley, both of the marketing York, Chicago, Jacksonville and Michaud, vice president, marketing, department, created and organized Bensalem-attempted to top sales and Jack Gordon, director of sales. It the Great Train Race competition. goals which were computed by is now displayed in the general A surprise guest was George reservations and marketing ad­ operations area where, according to McGinnis, then a forward for the ministration specifically for each Gepner, "It can be seen and enjoyed Philadelphia 76 'ers basketball team. office. by those who really earned it." Consenting to dozens of autographs Each of the five topped their In addition to the award, Bensalem and photos, McGinnis, who now quotas but Bensalem did so by the employees were guests of Phil Held, plays for the Denver Nuggets, (L eft) Ginny Gepner, manager, Bensalem, models the Great Train Race T·shirt that was awarded all employees at the reservations center. (Below) Passing around and admiring the plaque won by the center are, left to right, Wilma Engel, Roberta Kelly and Lisa Sweeney, a// R& f clerks.

(Right) George McGin­ nis visits with Coleen Culkin, R&f super- visor, and Penny Ka//as, R&f clerk. (Far Right) Ready f or lunch are, left to right, Bon- nie Beck, Denise La­ bencki, Darwin Wheat and Carol Jones, a// R&f clerks. congratulated the Bensalem team for Labencki, R & I clerks; and to Coleen In appreciatIOn of those efforts, its remarkable salesmanship. Later, Culkin, R & I supervisor. Hertz provided the cake for the he drew names for door prizes. Each employee at the center reservations center's victory lunch. Reservations and Information received aT-shirt which designates Representatives of the car rental Clerks Prince McDaniel and Mary him or her as a winner in the Great company also distributed special Leary each won a weekend trip to Train Race. thank you notes, discount iden­ New York including sight-seeing, Bensalem also reserved more Hertz tification cards and Hertz #1 pins to while Barbara Landler and Lillian rental cars than any other CRO the employees. Basanavage, also R & I clerks, won a during June, the first month of the Said Gepner, "I'm really proud of day off with pay. Amtrak also gave new joint program. Under this all our people. Their hard work and away pairs of tickets to the Broadway Amtrak-Hertz agreement, customers enthusiasm really paid off. They've play On the Twentieth Century to can reserve rental cars at the same consistently shown . the kind of Bob McNamee, Eileen Guard, Denise time they make train reservations. winning spirit that made this possible. Amtrak Joins Mickey's Birthday Promotion When Mickey Mouse celebrates his being planned to bring the train to the at the Biltmore hotel, tour and lunch 50th birthday later this year, he plans public's attention. The Amblitz at the Disney studios and visit to do it in style. begins in early October and continues Disneyland. Cars will be provided by Mickey will ride aboard Amtrak into November. Hertz. from Los Angeles to the East Coast A separate sweepstakes will be Second Prize: Fifteen pairs of 14- for a series of parties and public conducted in conjunction with the day U.S.A. Rail Passes. appearances. Amblitz. Third Prize: Fifty Mickey Mouse Amtrak will hold two other Grand Prize: Four families of four talking alarm clocks. promotions tied in with the birthday will win a trip to Hollywood via Fourth Prize: 3,000 Amtrak travel celebration. Amtrak. They will have three nights bags. Beginning September 5, Amtrak began a six-week-long sweepstakes along the route of the San Diegans. Affirmative Action Director Named To enter the sweepstakes, persons will fill out a coupon and mail it to Susan K. Straus has been named A native of Washington, Straus Amtrak. Coupons are available at director, a ffirmative action received her bachelor's degree from Amtrak stations along the San programs, for the company, effective Washington University, St. Louis, Diegan route, at Amtrak-appointed August 1. and has done graduate study in travel agencies between Los Angeles She will have the responsibility for vocational guidance at the University and San Diego and in newspaper ads development and maintenance of an of Denver. in the area. affirmative action plan for internal Winners will be determined by a employment opportunities at Am­ drawing conducted after the trak. sweepstakes' closing date. Straus leaves the position of Grand Prize: A family of four will manager, minority business travel with Mickey to Chicago aboard development, in operations support, the Southwest Limited. In Chicago to take on the new assignment. they will enjoy a two-night stay in a Before coming to Amtrak, in June Holiday Inn before returning to Los 1977, she was associate director for Angeles. program development and technical Second Prize: Fifty families of four services for the Minority Contractors will attend Mickey's birthday party at Resource Center, Inc. , In Disneyland on November 18. Washington. Third Prize: 1,000 Amtrak travel Straus has an extensive background bags. in developing and implementing af­ In addition to the San Diego firmative action programs, man­ sweepstakes, Amtrak will also power training and development, and contract compliance. She has worked conduct a Southwest Limited Am­ Susan Straus, Amtrak's director, af­ blitz. in the area of minority development firmative action programs, discusses Various promotional activities are for the past 12 years. challenges of new position.

5 Excess Property Program ______--. I Results In Costs Savings

The Beech Grove maintenance Sidney Landsman, Amtrak's feder­ ted $3 million in materials and equip­ facility some time ago acquired a new al procurement administrator, acts as ment, ranging from hand tools to switch locomotive, valued at the link between Amtrak, various forklifts. $130,000 for which Amtrak only paid federal agencies and the General Ser­ The Northeast Corridor has been a about $3,000 to cover shipping. vices Administration (GSA) to match major beneficiary of Amtrak's This bargain and many others like corporate procurement needs with participation in the federal excess it are a result of Amtrak's participa­ property that has been declared ex­ program. The task of setting up the tion in a federal program which cess by the federal government. Philadelphia offices was ac­ allows the company, because of its The procurement department complished almost exclusively with status as a quasi-governmental screens requisitions to determine whe­ excess property and during the past corporation, to acquire excess federal ther property being sought is avail­ several months over 2,000 items such property, under the Federal Property able through the excess program. If it as desks, typewriters, file cabinets Management Regulations, at minimal is, the requisition is sent to Landsman and other office supplies were fur­ cost, mostly to cover packing, crating who reviews the periodically-issued nished to field office locations and shipping charges. government excess property lists and throughout the corridor, resulting in 1.K. Lyons, as managing director, tries to meet as many procurement an overall savings to Amtrak .procurement, is responsible for Am­ needs as possible. estimated at more than $1 million. trak's participation in the federal ex­ Amtrak is also eligible through the Under the program, Amtrak pro­ cess property program. Lyons esti­ program to receive discounted gov­ curement was able to acquire a mates that in fisc al 1977 Amtrak ac­ ernment rates from federal con­ number of railroad ambulance and quired federal property with a current tractors for services such as shipping, kitchen cars built for the government market value of approximately $12 equipment rehabilitation and the pro­ during the early 1950s. The Defense million for under $500,000. The list curement of new equipment from department ultimately put the cars on of Amtrak acquisitions through utili­ manufacturers . the excess list, Amtrak acquired them zation of the excess property program Employees charged with requisi­ and, after making some modifica­ included 30 forklift trucks, four in­ tioning materials in support of their tions, now uses them as baggage cars, dustrial tractors, 17 mobile homes departments' efforts may direct in­ club cars and commissary cars. and 8,329 wardrobe and clothing quiries about the excess property pro­ lockers, just to name a few of the When the Boston Navy Yard closed gram to Landsman at corporate head­ multitude of items. in 1975 , Amtrak received an estima- quarters. (Left) Operating the "bargain" switch engin e at Beech Grove are Crandell C Smith, crane engineer, in cab, and George Hayes, fork lift operator. (Below) Surplus truck sees good dUlY at Chicago's locomotive and car shops. ~ ' -

(Right) Mobile crane received under excess property program works at Beech Grove. (Far Right) Federal Procurement Adminis· trator Landsman makes his headquarters in Washington. Leaders For July Picked ______-----,-- Category II Leaders in the nondirect contact I In On -Board Services Contest group for July jnclude: New York: Connie Tolen Miami: Hugo Umlauf Letters continue to come into on the basis of the letters, while Jacksonville: Jack Bell, George Amtrak's on-board services persons in the second category are Dennis, Maxie Harris and Russell department commending employees rated by stewards or employees in Hines for superior service. charge of dining cars. Chicago: Charles Nicholson Each such letter is, in effect, a vote St. Paul: Edward Franz Category I for that employee in the department's New Orleans: Louis Cotton year-long contest to find the best on­ Leaders in the direct contact Oakland: Cornelius McDowell board services employees on the category for July were: Letters of commendation from system. New York: Michael Zega passengers should be directed to The contest is divided into two Chicago: Leo Fisher Amtrak's Office of Consumer distinct groups: employees who have St. Paul: Richard Morris Relations, P .O. Box 2709, direct contact with passengers, such New Orleans: Jay Fountian Washington, D.C. 20013. as waiters and attendants, and em­ Los Angeles: Peter Jones Amtrak employees, except for ployees who do not have direct At the other bases-Boston, those in the on-board services contact, such as chefs, food Washington, Jacksonville, Miami, department, are also welcome to specialists and pantrymen. Oakland and Seattle-there was no write regarding exceptional service Judging in the first category is done . clear leader fo r the month. they received. IAccelerate Lake Shore, Broadway Car Conversion I Amtrak's board of directors, at its needed if new single-level cars were to then operate with much higher August 30 meeting, approved a pro­ be purchased for the Florida trains. reliability and comfort and are gram to permit the "earliest possible T o convert existing equipment, compatible with Amfleet cars. conversion" to electric heating and air Amtrak would hire about 200 addi­ The old cars will also be given other conditioning of equipment operating tional people for the Beech Grove mechanical attention, if needed. This_ on the Lake Shore Limited and shops as well as acquire a greater could include new wheels, springs and Broadway Limited. inventory of material for the project. plumbing, as well as a thorough At the same time, the board T he conversion process involves re­ cleaning, new paint and refurbished directed management to ''proceed moving steam heat lines and outdated interior. with a request for funds in fiscal year electrical equipment from an old car Amtrak expects the first full­ 1980 to purchase new low level, long and substituting an all-electric system converted Lake Shore Limited to distance cars, or to convert to head using completely new parts. The cars begin service in mid-1979. end power sufficient cars for at least two Florida trains. " Rainbow's Canadian Run Cancelled The action authorized management to employ personnel and acquire The Niagara Rainbow, operating one-fourth of the train's operating material at Beech Grove to do the between New York City and Detroit, losses on the Buffalo-Detroit portion of work at the rate of three cars a week. Michigan, via Canada, will be discon­ the route. The train has been funded Conversion work for the Lake Shore tinued west of Buffalo, effective jointly on this route since October 31, Limited has already been budgeted for October 1, due to a decision by the 1974. $11.9 million. The Broadway's cars state of Michigan to end its portion of The projected cost in fiscal year are projected to cost approximately $9 the funding when that state's contract 1979 for the two states was to be million to upgrade. with Amtrak expires at the end of $562,000 each. A total of 136 cars would be con­ September. verted under the program if the cars The Rainbow will continue operat­ San Diegan Riders I were used exclusively on the Lake ing on its current schedule between The San Diegans recorded a 15 per Shore and Broadway. New York and Buffalo. Service will cent increase in ridership in July of Another 162 cars would be con­ be extended to Niagara Falls on this year compared to July 1977. verted for the two Florida trains if October 29 as planned. Some 82,782 passengers rode the new car funding was not available. Under the present agreement, both six daily trains compared to 71,793 in Approximately 150 cars would be Michigan and New York each pay for July 1977, an increase of 10,989.

7 .----Amtrak People------

Peggy Lyon and John Dobihal, Jr., began more than just a train trip when they boarded the Northstar at Min­ neapolis/ St. Paul on Saturday, July I. The couple had intended to ride the train to Duluth where they were to get married, then honeymoon in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. On the spur of the moment, however, Lyon suggested that they be married on the train. Dobihal agreed, noting, "It was something different, something new. We wanted to change the everyday routine that everyone else goes through and this was certainly a good way to do it. " Ramsey (Minnesota) County Judge John Kirby officiated at the Amcoach ceremony, while Nancy and Russell Kruse were maid of honor and best man. Amtrak presented the happy couple with a wedding cake, two bo((les of champagne and four excursion boat tickets.

Since Los Angeles' Sandy Sloot was featured in June's Amtrak News with her "Sloot S" license plate, other owners of novel plates have surfaced. Two of special interest to Amtrak employees are those owned by David Warner, top, and Doug Deaton. Deaton, Amtrak's sales representative, Ba((le Creek, of course, has a vested interest in the company. Warner, of Bethesda, Maryland, on the other hand, has no company af­ filiation, but says he likes trains so well he had to have an "Amtrak" plate. (P.S. Enough license plates already.)

When the National Limited made its inaugural run with Amfleet equipment on August 13, helping serve passengers were, left to right, Renee James, Charles Bland and Linda Elkins. They and Eddie Wood, Benny McNeal, Cleo Smith, George Sligh, Thornton Brown and Preston Brown received plaudits from the riders for a job well done. As a ma((er of record, over 100 com­ pliments were wri((en to the crew on meal checks by patrons.

8 on June 9. Exhibits were on display in Keeping Track Of Amtrak the Suburban Station offices of Corridor headquarters, Philadelphia. Safety Standings seven months, with a zero ratio. The show, which was the idea of Al The ratio denotes the number of Cyrus, draftsman, attracted 28 en­ With the elimination of the three injuries per 200,000 man-hours. All trants. Art ranged from painting and regions, the President's Safety injuries or job-related illnesses that needlework to model railroad Contest has been changed to put the require more than mere first aid are collections and flower arrangements. ten divisions directly into competition counted in the statistics. with one another. The ten divisions Fuel Officer include the six from national Corridor Picnic C.E. "Gene" Inglett has been operations and the four in the The Northeast Corridor's material named corporate fuel officer, Northeast Corridor. control/procurement department reporting to Chris Wahmann, With that finalized, the Southern held its second annual family picnic assistant vice president, tran­ took first place in the division on July 22 at the Philadelphia Naval sportation. category for the month of July with a yard. Says Bob Herman, vice president 1.6 safety ratio. Albany-Rensselaer This year the picnic served as the and general manager, national led the shops with a 6.8 figure. occasion for Jim Crawford, director, operations, "As such, Inglett is Nine mechanical facilities-New material controls, to present service responsible for developing methods Orleans, Houston, Dallas-Fort awards to the Wilmington and New Worth, St. Louis, Kansas City, Haven material control staffs for Minneapolis, Detroit, Jacksonville outstanding achievement In Book Review processing their 1978 inventory. and Buffalo-had no injuries at all in Rail Talk/a lexicon of railroad An estimated 150 employees and July and thus attained the coveted language: Collected and edited by zero ratio figure. their families from throughout the James H. Beck, 128 pages, 5-112-by- Corridor attended. Food For the year to date, St. Louis leads 8-1 12, soft cover, $5 postpaid, arrangments were planned by John the other nine divisions with a 2.9 Published by James Publications, Long, purchasing agent, New York. figure, followed closely by the P.O. Box 257, Gretna, Nebraska Southern with a 3.9 and the North­ 68028. west with a 4.2. Clothesline Art Show Beech Grove leads the shops with a Some 300 employees viewed the They call themselves toads, 12.7 ratio, while three mechanical artistic efforts 0; their fellow workers hogheads and gandy dancers. And facilities-Dallas-Fort Worth, Kan­ during the Northeast Corridor's first their equipment is a crummy, a rat or sas City and Detroit-are tied, after annual Clothesline Art Exhibit held a reefer. The first are railroaders, the second are rail cars and the language Board Approves Beech Grove Funds is rail talk, appropriately the title of the book. Amtrak's board of directors has The projected cost of the entire Over 2,000 words and phrases approved completion of the third modernization program for the Beech coined by railroaders over the past major phase of the five-stage reha­ Grove facility is $29.8 million over a 150 years have been collected by Beck bilitation of the Beech Grove main­ five year period that began in 1976. into this handy book that includes tenance facility at a cost of $5.9 Phase III of the program, which humorous, earthy and literal words million. began last December, is budgeted for used by the industry. This final segment of Phase III $13.4 million, the largest phase of the Although the book preserves the includes funds for construction of a program. old jargon, it also is a practical guide passenger car truck repair shop, When the modernization is to modern rail language. Besides construction of a combination air com pleted in 1981, Beech Grove will describing terms like highball, brake and electric component repair serve as Amtrak's modern primary sidetrack and doubleheader, it also shop and the continued rehabilitation overhaul and heavy maintenance details terms such as retarder, CTC, of existing shop buildings. It will also base. It will be equipped to perform piggyback and USRA. fund the purchase and installation of specialty work, as well as being able What resulted in this book began as environmental equipment to comply to rehabilitate car components for the a semantics project of the Association with federal and state anti-pollution entire Amtrak system. of Railroad Editors. Happily, it codes and will include the purchase Beech Grove will also serve as the outgrew its original intent and is now and installation of production system supply point for selected car available commercially to any machinery tools. components. collector of rail literature.

9 for control and accurate reporting of destroyed by fire on March 18, 1894. The SP operates 22 trains in each Amtrak's use of fuel and other forms It was promptly rebuilt and retained direction daily. of energy. the side wings which are still part of Locomotives 705 and 7 I I were "Besides monitoring our current the present building which was built delivered to the SP at San Jose by the performance, he will have to develop in 1912-14. Coast Starlight on July 19 and went new programs and performance goals into service the very next day to result in more efficient use of fuel Locomotives To SP powering SP trains 136 and 138, and energy. " Fifteen P30CH locomotives have departing San Francisco at 5:23 and Costs of fuel and energy represent been leased by Amtrak to the 5:26 p.m. a very large expenditure on Amtrak's Southern Pacific for use in commuter Reports Art Lloyd, Amtrak's part. From all indications those costs service between San Francisco and director, public affairs, San Fran­ will continue to escalate at a very San Jose, California. cisco, "The commute service here is rapid rate hence the need for a SP's commuter line runs 46.9 miles beginning to look like an Amtrak watchdog position to keep Amtrak's along the west side of San Francisco operation with all of the silver, red use of energy as efficient as possible bay and serves such communities as and blue locomotives in between the with the least amount of waste. San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo red and gray SP units." Park, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and The 90 day lease terminates on On Time In Denver Santa Clara. October 12. Denver Union Station's four clocks, two on the outside and two in the waiting room, are alive and ticking again. The clocks which had been silent for over five years began operating again at noon, Monday, June I 9, ex­ actly 108 years after the arrival of the first train in Denver. They now again offer precise "railroad time" to the traveling public and to those Denverites who ~ can see the station from the streets. i

The clock restoration was a project 0.. Amtrak P30CH locomotives mix in with SP power at San Francisco during homeward rush hOllr. of the Intermountain chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. LYNUMN talk show, featured Lynumn in a 15- minute interview a few days after the The present station is Denver's (Continued from page 1) occurrence. third Union Station building. The first opened on June I, 1881, but was Shiffrin who explained it had been Besides the coverage he received lost by a careless bank messenger. from two stories in the Sun- Times, AMTRAK NEWS After thanking him for his honesty, including mention by the noted Shiffrin opened a savings account in columnist, Irv Kupcinet, stories Published once a month for em­ Lynumn's name and offered him free about Lynumn's integrity have ployees of the National Railroad business and legal advice. appeared in the Chicago Defender Passenger Corporation and those Lynumn has been awarded the and the Chicago Tribune. of participating railroads engaged "Excellence in Ethics A ward" by He has been interviewed by the in rail passenger service. Operation Push, a civil rights wire services and was also the subject STAFF organization headed by Jackson. A on various taped news segments for Editor the local ABC television station and Ed Wojtas group of Chicago businessmen, Circulation learning of the incident and of Chicago radio stations WVON and Marguerite Broyhill Lynumn's lifelong desire to become WJPC. Reporter an airplane pilot, offered to pay for Although the check could have Debbie Marciniak flight instructions. been sold or "fenced," Lynumn says The publicity which inspired the he has no regrets for returning it. public response was provided by "I've received the most beautiful Amtrak News is a member of the I_In many sources in the Chicago area letters from Chicago citizens who liJii1 Association of Railroad Editors. Material in Amtrak News is not copyrighted. where Lynumn has become somewhat heard about the incident," said Readers may use what they wish with proper at­ of a celebrity. Lynumn. "Many wrote to say that I tribution to Amtrak News. AM Chicago, the city's morning had done the right thing."

10 NRP'C - 1562 AMTRAK CONFIDENTIAL CAREER INTEREST PROFILE

TO THE EMPLOYEE: AMTRAK WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A MANAGEMENT JOB. IF SO, PLEASE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU FULL CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS FOR WHICH YOU ARE QUALIFIED. TURN THIS IN TO YOUR SUPERVISOR,

I EMPLOYEE INFORMATION LAST NAME FIRST MID . IN. ISOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

DEPARTMENT IRES/LOC ILOCATION

PRESENT TITLE

A. EDUCATION I. Indicate highest level of education, year completed, and major area of study, ______

Are you pfanning to further your education? DYES o NO If yes, describe ______

2, List other relevant troining, past and current,, ______

3. List Amtrak training courses. ______

B. WORK HISTORY: LIST LAST POSITION FIRST :01: 4 II:: POSITION: DATE: I- ::E PO SITION: DATE: ~

111:01: POSITION: EMPLOYER: 11::4 DATE: 011:: 11.1- POSITION: EMPLO YER: DATE: III::E l1l:I4 POSITION: EMPLOYER: DATE:

II CAREER GOALS A. What are your career goals with Amtrak? ______

I. What entry-level management jobs do you consider yourself presently qualified for and why? ______

2. What kind of jobs would you like to become qualified for? ______

3. What training and e xperience do you need to become qualified for those jobs? ______

Bo Do you want to be considered for a job that involves supervising other people? DYES o NO C, Are you willing to relocate? DYES o NO

SIGNA TURE OF EMPLOYEE ______DA TE ______

NAME OF SUPERVISOR TlTLE ______

SIGNA TURE OF SUPERVISOR ______DA TE ______

(See accompanying story on page 12)

11 Employee Development Program ______----, I Seeks Potential Managers

Amtrak's agreement-covered information about him or herself, plus particular job, we may already have employees at corporate headquarters education, job history and career had a completely qualified person on who would like to be considered for goals. The form is reproduced on page the payroll. That person might have promotion to management positions 11 of this copy of Amtrak News. been in a totally different type of job now can tell the company of their After filling out the form, the and we just didn't know he or she was wishes through the Employee employee will give it to his or her available. Development Program. supervisor, who will-using a "This new program should give us an inventory of people interested in Under the program, Amtrak's Promotional Assessment Record promotion as well as their skills and personnel department will be creating form-assess the candidate's potential qualifications and thus alleviate this a reservoir of qualified individuals for and qualifications for moving into problem." use when managerial positions become management. The supervisor will available. Daniels did caution applicants. review the assessment with the em­ "We will begin the program at ployee. ''Not everyone who enters this corporate headquarters," says George program will be promoted. We have If the employee is lacking in some Daniels, vice-president, labor relations many talented people to fill the few areas, the supervisor will counsel him and personnel, "so that we can quickly management positions," he said. or her on ways to improve themselves. identify any problems that may crop "But, the system is geared to insure The two completed forms will then up and will be able to fix them that employees who are interested in be sent to the personnel office where quickly. After the program has been promotion to come to the attention of they will be reviewed and filed . tested successfully, we will implement management. it nationwide." "Then," says Daniels, ''when an ''Thus, all will be given equal and entry level management position Continued Daniels, "We believe fair consideration " that upward mobility through a policy becomes available, we1l be able to All corporate employees are eligible provide the department that has the of promotion from within the com­ for the program regardless of race, pany is essential to provide growth vacancy with the forms and files of the color, creed, national ongm, sex, age, opportunities for competent em­ most qualified candidates. " handicap or veteran status. ployees. This program is designed to They will then make the final Interested individuals at corporate give employees the opportunity to tell decision on who gets the available job. headquarters can fill out the form on us if they would like to be considered ''The irony," says Daniels, "is that page 11, or request a Career Interest for management jobs. " until now when some department, Profile Form No. 1562 from To enter the program an employee either in headquarters or in the field, headquarters personnel office. Forms will fill out a special form listing basic was trying to find a person for a should be returned to one's supervisor.

First Class Mail U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit 1911 Merrifield. V A

Passenger Corporation 400 N. Capitol SI., NW Washington, D.C. 20001

FIRSTCLASS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED