This 49th birthday has surely got to be the most distressed that Amtrak has "celebrated" in its 49 years of life.
How many of the "photo lines" out there on A-Day eve and then on A-Day. as well as those taking their "last and first" rides (mine; MILW 103 to Savanna, BN 10 return; MILW #7 to Milw MILW 305 return - paying to ride my own road) would ever envision Amtrak would be facing its present crisis. I can remember how renowned and published photographer, Bob Schmidt, produced a slide show depicting "The End" set to the Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem and for Amtrak's beginning, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".
But 49 years later it's all different; COVID will end, but the fight to save Amtrak to provide meaningful transportation from a reduced - and not coming back for a long time, if ever - passenger base, will only begin.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Appears Mr. Flynn is trying to "buck up the troops":
I can remember how renowned and published photographer, Bob Schmidt, produced a slide show depicting "The End" set to the Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem and for Amtrak's beginning, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".
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It brings to mind the moving final scene from the movie, "Amadeus". Mozart being tossed into a pauper's grave with the Lacrimosa from the Requiem playing in the background.
I have to agree that it may be a long time before the Amtrak LD's return to their normal schedule, if they ever return. I don't think the NEC and other Amtrak commuter trains will be that much affected. There always seems to be something positive emerging when adversity occurs, even with Covid 19. Maybe just a few but high quality LD trains, either run by Amtrak or private. To quote Baron Rothschild, "The time to buy is when there's blood in the streets".
Richard
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
It's too painful for me to watch, but here is the scene to which Richard refers:
Bob has as much grounding in classical music as do I.
Now regarding the LD's, they appear to be more intact than the Corridor and Locally funded services. I observe 3-4, Chief, and 5-6, Zephyr often. Their consists reduced, but they still have both Diner and Lounge in their consists - even if there is only limited on-board servive.
LD's in Canada are the ones that have been whacked, as both Ocean and Canadian are annulled "until further notice", leaving Winnipeg-Churchill as the only overnight service operating up there (believe their Corridors are at "one a day").