While I have been alive longer than Amtrak, my non-Amtrak memories are few and far between.
I recall once on family trip to relatives in Southern Indiana catching a brief morning glimpse of a Monon passenger train on the street in New Albany. On another trip I recall an afternoon arrival and departure of L&N's Pan American at Louisville Union Station. I recall being trackside when the remnant of Southern's Royal Palm made a station call in Georgetown, KY. I saw what was left of the Carolina Special bolt through Marshall, NC. I had a couple of trips on Southern's Piedmont and one on THE Souhtern Crescent in the 1970's. That was it.
Other than these glimpses, Inter-City rail passenger service in my lifetime has been, warts or no, Amtrak.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I could refer all to material I have posted at another site, but "that's not cricket". Suffice to say, I have more pre-A-Day miles than I have post.
Any wonder that Amtrak to me is simply a means of Point A to B transportation I use on occasion when such is convenient to my travel needs...and really nothing more?
Posts: 9982 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I'm reaching the point where I've covered about 97% of the existing Amtrak system (plus a couple of routes which are no more). This means that I try for new combinations to excite me when I plan a trip...... For instance, I had never changed trains from the Southwest Chief to the City of New Orleans before so on my last trip I did that.
Going somewhere else entirely though, if given a choice between a ride on the Silver Star to Florida or a day on the Cumbres & Toltec narrow guage railroad in Colorado/New Mexico, I'd choose the Cumbres & Toltec.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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