As just about everyone knows, for many years–a dozen or so, at least–Amtrak has been in a cost-cutting mode. Just one example: for the past couple of years, despite protests from NARP and others, Amtrak has not replaced ticket agents at smaller Amtrak stations who were transferred or retired. The subject of unattended railway…
Take a long-distance train ride and, if you look for them, you’ll see people taking your picture as you roll by. I was surprised to discover that railroad photography is an avocation for literally thousands of people, and many of them produce some really excellent work. But among those there is an elite group, a…
An interesting question came in by email the other day asking about “Quiet Zones” … that is, specific stretches of track, usually running through or adjacent to residential areas, where residents want relief from the blaring horns of locomotives hauling both freight and passenger trains. Under normal circumstances, engineers are required to sound the…
It has always been interesting to me how expressions belonging to a specific activity or sport or occupation eventually become part of everyday language but with a broader meaning. Baseball, for instance has made a number of contributions like that. If someone makes an effort at something and fails, we say he “struck out”. …