WRP_CircusMovesByRail_Jul15_6v_Layout 1 7/2/15
to objectively determine” what intercity routes should be provided, expansion or contraction of services, and unique benefits provided. Among the issues to be dealt with include: • Connectivity a given route provides (big issue for NARP’s Jim Mathews). • Looking for “Transportation communi-
ties” and how best their current needs are met by inter-city travel. • Views of states and communities to be served (or not). • Possibility of reviving service to communi-
ties that previous had it and then lost it; con- sideration of starting routes which previously were operated by Amtrak; expanding current routes to provide daily or daytime service; accepting private funding, including from railroads; identifying regions underserved by Amtrak or by other intercity public transpor- tation; and fostering economic development, particularly in rural communities, and other non-transportation benefits. All would (again) enhance connectivity and geographic coverage of the existing rail network. • A federal/state partnership would priori- tize a 50-50 federal/state funding share. The Wicker/Booker bill, according to
NARP, “has rejected the embrace the sta- tus quo mentality.” Its official name is the Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015. In keeping with current rail concerns it is a “re- sponse” to the House’s Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act “which covers a series of preventable train accidents by prioritizing grants to implement Positive Train Control [PTC] to quickly improve safety.”
“The More Things Change…”
It turns out this business of searching fool- proof ways of improving the safety of trains carrying crude oil is old stuff, well-explored. Reporters for the Abilene Reporter-News did some serious digging and found that the Nixon Administration came up with an idea along these lines: Simply slow the trains. Brilliant then, perhaps. But this is a dif-
ferent time when we have a larger population and everybody seems to live by the hurry, hurry, hurry syndrome. We really don’t slow down anything anymore. Oh, wait a minute, hold the phone, maybe we do. The Obama Administration’s Transporta-
tion Secretary Anthony Foxx says the whole issue of speed will be considered as he and his cohorts consider the matter in light of spills from trains in recent months. “Flammability” in this day and age, with some of the equip- ment used in the 21st century, would not pose safety issues as prevalent as those in earlier times. But in October 1970, the Nixon administra-
tion proposed slowing down crude oil trains to 25 m.p.h. through incorporated towns and cities.
“Like caged animals just set free, advo-
cates of long-desired passenger rail projects across the country have suddenly taken them off the drawing boards and shoved them to the front burner. New legislation would pro- vide Amtrak more than about double what the passenger train company has received in recent years.” (From this column, January 2008. Just sayin’.)
WES VERNON IS A WASHINGTON WRITER and veteran broadcast journalist. You can reach him with questions or comments at
capitollines@railfan.com.
Moves by Rail The Circus
This Carstens Classic is the definitive book on American circus trains from the earliest days to the big, modern Ringling Brothers operations of today. Including Ringling, Hagenbeck, Wild West Shows, Clyde Beatty and others. Features 400 pages of detailed information on circus train cars, operations, rebuilding, lettering, and more. Order your copy today!
COME ONE, COME ALL!
$39.95
Plus shipping & handling Order Item #CRS-CMBR
(877) 787-2467
WHITERIVERPRODUCTIONS.COM P.O. BOX 48, BUCKLIN, MO 64631
25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74