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When did Amtrak announce they were putting on a Kansas City to Omaha train through Leavenworth, Kansas??? The old Union Station at the Missouri Pacific/C&NW junction still stands, but it's been the Riverfront Community Center for years! http://www.flickr.com/photos/84263554@N00/3556819935/sizes/l/
sbalax Member # 2801
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You need to read the article. This is the "other" Leavenworth. The one in Washington State.
Frank in still sunny SBA
PullmanCo Member # 1138
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Frank,
Got it, but could not resist since I actually have my day job on Fort Leavenworth, and my church is in the City of Leavenworth.
notelvis Member # 3071
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A recent fluffy piece in the revitalized 'Passenger Train Journal' notwithstanding, I have thought for years that extending one St. Louis-Kansas City train northwestward to Omaha opened a gazillion new connectivity possibilities to the CZ at Omaha for surprisingly little capital investment. Imagine St. Louis to Denver.....or the San Francisco Bay....without going first to Chicago. Or KC - Denver.
In other words, 'lot's of bang for the thin Ambuck'.
Service to the Leavenworth most of us think of first is an idea who's time might ought to come.
yukon11 Member # 2997
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I like Mr. Pullman's picture of the old Union station.
David- A route from Omaha to connect with the Zephyr would be great. If I can dream, how about a connection from Omaha to Cheyenne-Casper-Havre to link up with the Empire Builder?
Here is an old route map of the Missouri Pacific Railroad route. I can imagine the number of connections, with other railroads, that it would have provided:
Getting back to Leavenworth, WA. I am thinking, next summer, of a round trip from Seattle to Whitefish, Mt., aboard the Empire Builder. If I were to first go to Leavenworth, gettting off at 8PM and staying the night, is there enough to see and do in Leavenworth to take up a full day, before reboarding the train at 8PM the next night? I have never been to Leavenworth but have always wanted to visit the "Bavarian Village".
Richard
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by yukon11: I like Mr. Pullman's picture of the old Union station.
David- A route from Omaha to connect with the Zephyr would be great. If I can dream, how about a connection from Omaha to Cheyenne-Casper-Havre to link up with the Empire Builder?
Sure......if you're gonna dream, dream big.
Personally, I think the next expansion scenario.... beyond a Missouri River Runner to Omaha.... that would provide 'maximum bang' for 'minimum Ambuck' would be a day train connecting from the Southwest Chief at Kansas City and operating to the Twin Cities on the old Rock Island.
Our zip 5 cronies can hardly contain their applause with that suggestion!
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by notelvis: [QUOTE]Personally, I think the next expansion scenario.... beyond a Missouri River Runner to Omaha.... that would provide 'maximum bang' for 'minimum Ambuck' would be a day train connecting from the Southwest Chief at Kansas City and operating to the Twin Cities on the old Rock Island.
How about a restoration of the Twin Star Rocket? Except that now with the current possibilities with Amtrak it could actually go through Oklahoma City instead jsut close at El Reno. Remember "close" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenandes.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Hear, hear!
A morning departure and evening arrival at MSP would connect all points west on the Builder with all points west on the Zephyr and Chief. Two million Twin City snowbirds would have a new way south. Des Moines would be added to the system, and Kansas City and St. Louis would have more options.
The spine line track is in excellent shape, but would UP be agreeable?
PullmanCo Member # 1138
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The challenge of KC-Omaha is that both the UP and the BNSF (historic CB&Q) are largely doubletracked. Both have 50 or so movements a day as is, much of that being coal and grain unit trains, and much of the rest being corn syrup, lumber, and petrochemicals.
I commute alongside the historic Q from Parkville, MO up to the old East Leavenworth wye (long torn out). I'd have to say that six times a year, the "circus train" comes calling to level track and massage the top of the roadbed.
I think what Amtrak will need is substantial funding to doubletrack one or both of these lines as their entre` to getting a KC-Omaha run. I don't think it's as easy as the PTJ writer think it will be.
notelvis Member # 3071
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It is all easier said than done......
North Carolina has been 'talking about' restoring passenger trains to Asheville for 15 years now.
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