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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.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Appears Mr. Flynn is trying to "buck up the troops":
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:
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
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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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").
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