Vol. 4, No. II June 15, 1977 Thousands Crowd Stations ________-----, I To See Pioneer Inaugural Run Despite temperatures in the mid- tion of the route already has passen­ support a revival of railroad passen­ 90s, thousands of persons thronged ger train service. ger service because energy-short to Amtrak stations to watch the Riding aboard the special train America needs such mass transit." Pioneer, the new Seattle-Salt Lake were members of the press and state He also predicted, "There is des- City train, roll into their cities on its and local political and transportation inaugural run . officials. The press-public preview train trip Prominent among the political took three days, June 4-6, to permit figures were Senator Frank Church persons at all of the train's stops to and Governor John V. Evans, of climb aboard and inspect the new Idaho, who rode from Ontario to Amfleet equipment that has been as­ Pocatello; and Governor Scott M . signed to the run. Matheson, of Utah, who rode from Overnight layovers were made at Brigham City to Salt Lake C ity. All La Grande, Oregon, and Boise, greeted the crowds at the various sta­ Idaho. tion stops. Ceremonial stops were made at Senator Warren Magnuson, of Hood River, The Dalles, Hinkle, Washington, spoke at the official Pendleton, La Grande, Baker and dedication ceremony in Seattle. His Ontario, Oregon; Nampa, Boise, wife, Germaine, smashed the tradi­ Mountain Hom"" Shoshone and tiona! bottle of champagne over the Pocatello, Idaho; and Brigham City, rear car's coupler to officially Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah. christen the train. No stops were made between Said Magnuson to the Seattle Mrs. Magnuson christens the Pioneer with a Seattle and Portland since that sec- audience, "Congress will continue to bottle oj champagne. Amtrak President Paul Reistrup addresses the crowd at Boise, Idaho, on the second day oj the inaugural run. tined to be more and more travel on ranged from high school bands at chambers of commerce jointly spon­ the energy efficient trains." Pendleton, Nampa, Pocatello and sored a reception for Amtrak per­ Crowds jammed the station plat­ Brigham City to a three-piece western sonnel working the train. forms all along the route to hear the dance band at Hinkle to the Idaho 01' Also while in La Grande, the train speakers and listen to the band music. Time Fiddlers at Pocatello to a Senior was washed by members of the city's After each ceremony the cars were Citizens' band at Baker to the Union high school wrestling team. Since open for inspection by the public. Pacific Railroad band at Ogden. there were no contractors in the city Inside the cars, visitors viewed the Spirit along the route was one of that could do the job, the washing comfortable Amcoach seats, the food greeting a long lost friend. The route "contract" was offered the students. service center and samples of Amtrak lost its passenger trains, the Portland They accepted and did the job with meals. Rose and the City of Portland, in brushes and buckets. The money they Largest crowds were at Boise where May 1971. The route had not been earned will be spent on summer 3,500 persons walked through the one of the many chosen by the Secre­ camp. cars and at Pendleton where 3,000 tary of Transportation and the Am­ The inaugural train was picketed at came out to see the train. trak incorporators for passenger serv­ several stops by Greyhound per­ ice and hence lost its trains when Am­ sonnel. One of the pickets at Boise At a few locations crowds were so trak went into operation. large the train was delayed in leaving told a reporter that "We object to the The Pioneer, which began regular the city. Time, however, was made up federal subsidy to this train." service in both directions on June 7, is in each case and the train arrived "on Senator Church took note of that equipped with Amcoaches and an time" at each point. and told the crowd at one point, "I Amdinette. The special inaugural have nothing against the bus com­ Major spokesman for Amtrak at train consisted of two F40PH loco­ panies, but I don't think this train is ceremonies between Seattle and motives, two Amdinettes and four going to hurt them at all. Nampa was Harold Graham, vice Amcoaches. "But, when they complain about president for service planning. At Amtrak President Reistrup re­ the subsidy to Amtrak, they overlook Nampa, Amtrak President Paul vealed on the inaugural trip that a the fact that the biggest subsidy we Reistrup boarded the train and took sleeping car will be assigned to the payout today is the one the public over the official host duties. train later this year when cars - con­ puts in highways that the buses use Also riding aboard were Mrs. Mary verted from steam to electrical heat and the trucks use . Head, vice chairman of Amtrak's and thus compatible with Amfleet - "Let's not forget that!" Board of Directors, and Joe become available. The crowd responded with loud MacDonald, Board member. While the train overnighted at La applause. Music at the various stations Grande, the Baker and La Grande Church continued, "I believe we'll find that this rail transportation sup­ plements the buses, supplements the airplanes and brings Idaho back where we're part of the country again, served by a national rail pas­ senger system as the people of other states have been served." Did he personally like the train ride? Church told the crowds at every stop, "It's a modern, wonderful, comfortable train. It runs in all kinds of weather, in sunshine and in fog. It's a good ride for the price." He also noted, "I'd almost for­ gotten how nice it is to see the landscape, to see the communities, to have contact with the country you're riding through." On-board crew working the inaugural special included, left to right, Gary Erford, on-board At Nampa, before some 2,000 on­ inspector, San Francisco; Jim Wong, attendant; Willie Jenkins, employee in charge; Starla lookers, Governor Evans said, "It's a Berentsen, attendant; Donald Bryan, employee in charge; Charles Larrabee, attendant; Joe Broussard, regional instructor, Western region; and Jim Burton, manager, on-board services, great pleasure for me to welcome Seattle. Amtrak to Idaho. 2 He als~ suggested that Amtrak con­ in all United States cities, is squar, ly More sider, sometime in the future, a Salt up to the rail travelers. If enough I naugural Pictures Lake City-Los Angeles train. patronize the train, it will continue." Whether or not the train does be­ The Idaho State Journal, of Poca­ On Pages 4-5 come a permanent part of Amtrak's tello, told its readers, "We now have system depends on how well the peo­ assurance of at least two years of Am­ "As the train begins service, I want ple support it. The train is designated trak service. We hope it will be much to remind each Idahoan that it de­ as a two-year experimental route. At longe r than that." pends on his or her support. The need the end of that time, it will be I f the crowds that greeted the train' for passenger service for some of our examined and a decision made as to are an accurate indicator, its future areas is critical. whether it does or does not meet the bodes well. Said Rei strup at the end "For many, this train can and will route criteria standards. of the tou r, " It's the best inaugural tie the state of Idaho together and Editorials in papers along the route run I've seen." bring together friends and family. pointed this out to their readers. Trai n commander for the run was But for it to succeed, it must have Said .the Boi se Statesman, "Am­ Bruce Heard, manager, on board your support and patronage. I urge trak has accommodated Idaho. Now service. The on-board service crew all Idahoans to get into the habit of it's time for Idahoans to show it was consisted of Donald F. Bryan and riding the train again and to use it worth the trouble. The next trip, con­ Willie Jenkins, employees in charge; frequently in their travels." sider the train." and Starla Berentsen, James Wong Governor Matheson said he hoped Wrote the Ogden Standard and Charles Larrabee, on-board serv­ the new route would become a per­ Examiner, "The future of railroad ice attendants. All five are based in manent part of the Amtrak system. passenger service through Ogden, as Seattle. Convert Sleepers To Operate With Amfleet Cars At its May 26th meeting, Amtrak's ventional sleepers along with the Am­ program will be from a series of Board of Directors approved a $2.75 fleet on these trains so the trains have Budd-built stainless steel cars. Two million program to convert 25 con­ been operating, in the interim, cars had been converted earlier to test ventional sleeping cars to make them without sleeping cars. The new con­ the feasibility of such a project. compatible with the all-electric verted sleeping cars will alleviate the The entire fleet of 25 cars should be Amfleet cars. problem. available for use on the trains by the Work will consist of removing the Cars chosen for the conversion end of the year. steam heating system, the axle-driven generators and associated equipment and replace them with an all-electric Frayer Top April Salesman heat and air-conditioning system.