Here’s an example — a very small, but perfect example — of the kind of thing that drives me crazy when I hear some congressman pontificate about how Amtrak should be more cost efficient … should not require government support … blah, blah, blah. A year ago, the town of Dyer, Indiana, got a new…
The California Zephyr is still Amtrak’s most scenic train ride … at least in my book. The Coast Starlight is probably my favorite Amtrak train, but much of that has to do with those wonderful parlour cars. The Cardinal gets my vote for the most scenic eastern train … the only possible exception being the…
It takes time to turn a train. By that, I mean doing everything that needs to be done to the consist when it arrives at its final destination to get it ready to start out on its return trip. The train must literally be turned around. Then it’s cleaned. Trash receptacles are emptied, carpets vacuumed,…
I’m still plugging away on updates for the new edition of my book. Specifically, I’ve been working on a new chapter listing my personal Top Ten railway stations in the U.S. and Canada. One of the stations I considered – but finally rejected – was Cincinnati Union Terminal. It’s a beautiful Art Deco building dating…