Is it true? Nixon and the creation of Amtrak.

Trains Magazine Passenger
1

I always hear how bad Amtrak is (and has been, for quite some time), so I wonder why it had to be this way. It is it true that Nixon and some freight railroad execs designed Amtrak to fail simply to get rid of the passenger rail business? Or did they really believe that it would become profitable within 3 years after its conception?

2

The answer is in Rush Loving’s “How to Save Amtrak” article in last month’s Trains.

3

First question: Lots yes some no

2nd question Lots no some yes

4

It was said at the time Amtrak bought the SDP40Fs that Amtrak chose a modified freight loco so that when Amtrak failed they could pull out the steam generators and sell the engines to freight railroads.

5

Hi Everyone:

I have been authorized to post the following courtesy of Steve Grande, honcho for trainweb.com.

FYI.

—“Ken” Ruben— (see below):

Hi Ken,

You can find my story here:

http://www.trainweb.com/travel/stevelog/sg_tr_sw.htm

Also, lots of Amtrak history can be found at:

http://www.AmtrakHistoricalSociety.com

under “Brief History of Amtrak”

You may want to pass that info along.

And also, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation
(APRHF.com) has just received its 501c3 non-profit status
from the IRS and will be moving forward with building an
organization and museum devoted to the history of passenger
rail in America. A large amount of that effort will be
devoted to the history of Amtrak.

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Stephen Grande - steve@trainweb.com
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