Recent content by Palmland

I suppose a Plan B could be terminate the train in Pascagoula, MS, about 30 miles west of Mobile. There is even a short passing siding just beyond the historic station. At one time The L&N had a local from New Orleans stopping at Ocean Springs about 15 miles short of Pascagoula. It sounds like...

Good question. While you would often see interline baggage cars in the east where a southeastern road sent them to PRR, the UP went most everywhere of significance the DRGW/WP went. And the UP didn’t absorb the WP until 1982.

We talked about this a few months ago and I mentioned seeing the ski train and riding the Yampa Valley train while at CSU. I've now, finally, embarked on a never ending project to scan my many slides from long ago. I had forgotten about these. They were taken on my second trip out west in April...

You trip reports are worthy of a Passenger Trains Journal article. I particularly like your including historical information with your trip report. Keep on traveling!

91 this morning had a fourth coach. Just in time for the holiday weekend. Sleepers still 9110 VL1, 9111 VL2

Why two different shifts for LD and day trains? The SCA’s have beds made upon arrival. Cleaning sleeper rooms, coaches, rest rooms, emptying trash, shouldn’t be much different between a coach and sleepers. I would think the cost of an additional cleaner or two would be more than offset by...

Nice article in the Orlando Sentinel about a coach trip northbound on AutoTrain. Generally favorable with only negatives being a restless sleep, about an hour late arrival, and waiting two hours for his auto. “Despite the wait, the Amtrak Auto Train proved a worthwhile experience that I would...

Well, as you point out, the Star is often delayed. So, regardless of changes to its schedule, I would think the Carolinian would be your train of choice (unless you’re splurging on a roomette)? It’s only 90 minutes or so behind the Star and also has business class if you want to avoid crowded...

I saw 98 in Deland today with same consist as described above. Good to see a healthier train size. I’m sure this isn’t news to many but I didn’t realize Amtrak was renaming VL1 sleepers and this began in 2015 to match the VL2 cars being built. When I first saw this car I thought it was a VL2...

Yes, that is what the 1971 timetables show. By 1973 it originated in LAX. There was a daily Coast Daylight on the same schedule LAX to Oakland on the days the Starlight didn't operate. By 1976 it was 6 each way. By the way, the 1973 a roomette Chicago-LA would set you back $149. Using an...

Fascinating history lesson, thanks for posting. Jim McClellan was a bit like Forest Gump- he was everywhere at that exciting time, as this article describes. I remember watching the evening news and seeing Secretary Volpe describe the routes. At that time there was a lot of enthusiasm for...

And that's a real oversight. Hard to find a faster growing area then the Triangle in NC and the coastal cities in SC and GA. Our son is in the process of moving to Beaufort, SC (and reduce the need for us to use AutoTrain) and I was amazed at the amount of developments between Charleston and...

Because Amtrak moves at glacial speed, I suspect we'll see Jax- West Palm service via Brightline long before Amtrak gets around to it. But it's fun to talk about the 'what if's'. For us, the drive to Daytona is maybe 15 minutes longer than the drive to the Deland station. And the extension of...

Those were the days when railroads competed for passenger business. Amtrak seems to be motivated by cost control and hands off management of day to day operations.

And it really was superior service. I especially liked the special PPC menu and service and being able to sit at a table of your choosing for just the two of us and sitting across from each other.