Congressman Joe Barton's 2006 Texas Train Ride

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Thought I’d try and get a date and named train set on this Texas rail adventure between Fort Worth and San Antonio which is a fund raiser for Joe Barton. Me being very naive thought a phone call would do it, well not so…

Before I continue, the fund raiser train will depart Fort Worth on the 20th of January 2006 per the Joe Barton campaign office.

My efforts described here:

Well I called Joe Barton’s Washington phone number, which is 202-225-2002, the fellow that answered the call referred me to Joe Barton’s campaign office in Texas. I called that number, which is; 972-875-8688. I explained that I was a railfan, and interested in the train ride. Was told that it will take place January 20th. I then asked about equipment, then it got busy according to the call screener, she then ask for my number so the office could call me back. They haven’t called back yet, I tried to call her back, no one answers now…

I then got her back on the phone, I then asked her who was providing the train set for the Fort Worth - San Antonio train ride, she then accused me of being too aggressive, she then stated I must be a reporter. I told her I was not, I was just a railfan. She then gave me a number of Murphy Turner Associates; 817-226-5551. I apologized for being too aggressive about three times, this to placate her, at no time was I aggressive.

I called Craig Murphy of Murphy/Turner Associates, they have yet to call me back…

So, looks like this passenger move is scheduled for Friday January 20th. Train set provided by, I don’t know because they would not tell me, so its got to be either Union Pacific or BNSF?

If by some miracle this Craig Murphy calls me back with information about the train set, I’ll pass it along to the group. Also, if someone is better connected with Joe Barton’s campaign and can tell us about the train set used for this fund raiser, I bet everyone would be appreciative. Thanks in advance…

Jim B

2

So, all you folks in Texas have no connection? All we want to know is who is providing Joe’s train set for the ride from Fort Worth to San Antonio over Union Pacifc rails?

3

You don’t seem to grasp the concept here.

This B a political fund raising event for big wigs. If you want on the train you’re going to write out a significant check to the congressman’s campaign fund.

Follow the money.

4

Greyhounds,

Yeah I get the concept, and think the train is a pretty neat idea. Maybe someone will catch this move and post some photos, hope so atleast.

Jim

5

SP
The route you mention is the ex MKT which is now UP…As far as the train itself the provider will probably be Amtrak…Unless UP wants to provide their vintage equipt.
Most political whistlestops like this one are Amtrak specials…Thanks for the heads up…Danny

6

Fort Worth to San Antonio is on the route of Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, which is a daily train. According to the timetable, that’s on the BNSF

However, as you said, there’s no indication whether this is or is not a special train.

7

Why are you so interested in this train Jimmy? Just curious.

8

SP
It will be a spl train if if follows the UP route rather than the Amtrak Eagle route.(BNSF)Barton’s district includes Ellis Co. which is not on the Eagle route so I guess it depends on which way he chooses to go…I dont think his ditrict includes some of the counties on the Eagle route…Im not staking my life on this but I guess we’ll know more later next week…Have you cont. Amtrak P.I. officer?Danny

9

SP,
I checked Joe B’s website and didnt see anything about a fundraiser spl.Also looked at Trains news wire ,didnt see anything there either…Where did you get your info? Danny

10

I read about it in a Washington Post article, the article didn’t have any details. Joe Barton’s campaign web site had no information about it either. Well, thought I get some information about the fund raiser, to post a heads-up. Wanting to see photos of this train is my only interest.

Jimmy B

11

SP
If I come up w/anything I will let you know…I have some local sources I can chk w/B4 it runs…Danny

12

Oh, I thought mabee you were going to Texas.

13

Well, now that you mention why…

Here is the Washington Post article…

Derail These Fundraisers

By Ruth Marcus
Monday, January 9, 2006; A19

“All Aboard for Joe Barton’s 2006 Texas Train Ride,” the invitation reads. It is oversized and glossy, printed on the kind of heavy stock that sends the message: This is a Major Event.

If you don’t know who Joe Barton is, if you can’t imagine why you’d want to pay several thousand dollars for the privilege of playing Texas Hold 'Em with him en route from Fort Worth to San Antonio, as the invitation promises, then – it’s safe to deduce – you don’t make your living as a Washington lobbyist. For Barton is not only the Republican congressman from the Sixth District of Texas. He is – more to the point for those who are anteing up for his weekend-long fundraiser this month, and as the invitation helpfully points out on its cover page – “Chairman Joe Barton.”

Chairman, that is, of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has dominion over everything from health care and pharmaceuticals to broadcasters, from cable and telephone companies to energy policy and environmental protection. If you are a lobbyist offered the chance to spend some quality time with Joe Barton (“During the ride, we’ll have lots of time to talk,” the invitation notes with the subtlety characteristic of these missives), chances are you’ll think about getting on board.

Or, as Barton put it in the invitation, “This is going to be a hot ticket!” Indeed, it is, even at the sticker-shock price of $2,000 per individual, $5,000 per political action committee – hotel rooms not included. As of Friday afternoon, 132 attendees had signed up – mostly from what’s commonly referred to as the PAC community, as if they had a unifying belief in something beyond the efficacy of campaign checks.

I write about the Barton fundraiser not to single out the chairman – though you could question the ta

14

You see Chad, I wanted this not to be political, but to be a heads-up!

Go, AMTRAK!

Jimmy B

15

Jimmy,
Im going to tell some people here about this and I 'll let you know if anybody gets pics of it…However,If its private railcars we’ll all be looking for it…Sometimes Amtrak power pulls private varni***hru here,the last one was the MOPAC Hist.Soc.train w/all the cars from the Austin Steam Train Assoc…Danny