Old Amtrak

Came across this set of photos today.

One thing that struck me. I'm SO glad Amtrak dropped the "sexy stewardess" look. It was rather demeaning and sexist, especially coming from a semi-government authority.

I am not glad they dropped that look.

These photos reach back to "Rainbow"and phase I eras,polyester cloth was "in" back then,but would not have held up well
over time,it would have been a matter of time to the point where the "Women's movement" would complain about the uniforms,
like they did with the Airlines at that time.
Other OBS uniforms were just as bad for men as well,T&E crews were still RR employes back then.
Polyester cloth was a Fire Hazard,had to be treated with a "Fire retardant",and in hot weather,no working AC
conditions, you would sweat big time and would feel "heavy" to wear year round.
Any Heat source could melt the fibers to boot.

I remember one Amtrak retiree told me the giant red jackets that they had to wear had lots of fake pockets which was annoying with all the forms you had to carry...

Yep, that's what they looked like. Remember, it was the early 1970s. Those of us who were there remember that it was culturally still pretty much the late 1960s. Flashy colors and such were a mainstream look.

TomNelligan wrote:Yep, that's what they looked like. Remember, it was the early 1970s. Those of us who were there remember that it was culturally still pretty much the late 1960s. Flashy colors and such were a mainstream look.

I'm suddenly reminded of Braniff airline's motto of "If you got it, FLAUNT IT!"

Backshophoss wrote:Polyester cloth was a Fire Hazard,had to be treated with a "Fire retardant",

Except for specific materials like nomex etc, technically, all clothing is a fire hazard. What made polyester so bad for occupational clothing was what you said about the fibers melting. If you were exposed to a fire with a natural fiber like cotton or wool, you will still get burned but the cloth would burn up. If wearing polyester, the cloth would melt to the body making the wound exponentially worse and treatment much more difficult.

Every train I rode back in the Rainbow days had excellent AC, but only during the winter months. I remember on one trip riding the North Coast Hiawatha in late February, my drink did not require any ice and the crew still complained how hot the uniforms were.

Greg Moore wrote:One thing that struck me. I'm SO glad Amtrak dropped the "sexy stewardess" look. It was rather demeaning and sexist, especially coming from a semi-government authority.

The sexy stewardess look was sexist and many considered it demeaning - especially when looking back wearing today's politicly correct glasses - but until now, I never ever heard a red blooded man ever say they were "SO" glad to see them go.

Interesting how we're a bunch of "red-blooded" males sitting around and discussing the "sexy stewardess" look, without any say from the people who would have been wearing such uniforms Suppose that somewhere on Bizarro World Amtrak Forum, there are a bunch of women bemoaning that Amtrak stewards no longer wear vinyl pants?

PS: if you ask me, those uniforms are just awkward-looking.

GM and Everyone:

Good USA Today look at Amtrak's first decade 1971-1981 in pictures - I remember many of these...

The pictures are:
1-SDP40F 631 at Norlina, NC - Silver Service(?) - note "smiley" face from chain across front access door.
2-Rohr Turboliner promotional photo - 1976/77
3-E8 284 with Amfleet cars - 1976?
4-Hostess with UA Turbo and Engineer - early 70s
5-Amtrak Information Booth-NYP-1979/80 - note schedule typefaces, plexiglass facade and Resorts International ad
up above (first open AC casino/hotel). NYP Ticket Office behind Info Booth; note hotel reservation telephone visible.
6-Cafe Car - early/mid 70s
7-Early 70s Metroliner promotional ad - notice PC herald visible in upper right.
8-SDP40F 536 with western train - mid 70s
9-Promotional dining car picture-mid 70s
10-1976 Presidential Campaign train - Jimmy Carter
11-Amfleet ad - mid 70s
12-Amtrak hostess in coach-early 70s
13-Florida promotional ad-1972/73
14-Amtrak Travel Center RV-mid 70s?
15-Disney World Magic Kingdom postcard picture - mid 70s
16-Penn Station New York Ticket Office windows - early/mid 70s
17-Promotional dining car picture - mid 70s
18-Dome Car promotional diagram/drawing - early/mid 70s
19-4 car Metroliner MU train on Gunpowder or Bush River Bridge, Maryland - early/mid 70s
20-Metroclub promotional drawing - early/mid 70s
21-Station employe W/stainless steel baggage car/SDP40F 505 - mid 70s
22-Rohr Turboliner ad - 1976/77
23-United Aircraft Turbotrain Tour exhibit stop-early 70s
24-USA Railpass ad W/F40PH 215/Amfleet cars drawing-1979/80 (during gas shortage)
25-Washington Union Station before construction of National Visitors Center-early 70s
26-Late 1970s ticket envelope drawing
27-Mid/late 70s long distance accommodation promo
28-2/73 Eastern Trains folder W/photoshopped GG1 picture 931 and ? (no pantographs or catenary)
29-Children's dining car menu - early/mid 70s

The 1970s were NOT a "groovy" decade - that was a dated 1960s slang term...
By the middle 1970s use of that word was "out" for some time at that point...
Remember that "fads come and fads go..."
MACTRAXX

AgentSkelly wrote:

TomNelligan wrote:Yep, that's what they looked like. Remember, it was the early 1970s. Those of us who were there remember that it was culturally still pretty much the late 1960s. Flashy colors and such were a mainstream look.

I'm suddenly reminded of Braniff airline's motto of "If you got it, FLAUNT IT!"

AS, TN and Everyone:

Amtrak back in the early 70s was trying to stay relevant by closely copying what the Airlines were doing back then.
This modern look on attractive women working as stewardesses or hostesses was the "in" look at that time.
In Amtrak's case this was something short lived - and was long gone by the late 70s...

MACTRAXX

Greg Moore wrote:Came across this set of photos today.

One thing that struck me. I'm SO glad Amtrak dropped the "sexy stewardess" look. It was rather demeaning and sexist, especially coming from a semi-government authority.

I'm thinking more Disco era Superhero , than sexy stewardess.

MACTRAXX wrote: 18-Dome car promotional diagram early/mid 70s

The "Princess Leia" hairstyle on the woman in the image makes it look like post-Star Wars, which was '77.

I did an Amtrip from San Antonio to Boston in '78, and another from Denver in '81, I think. Those were pretty good. I wasn't as much into railfanning during my Air Force days, and probably wouldn't still have any photos of the trips anyway. The "RR bug bit me" in '83, after I left the AF.

Watchman318 wrote:

MACTRAXX wrote: 18-Dome car promotional diagram early/mid 70s

The "Princess Leia" hairstyle on the woman in the image makes it look like post-Star Wars, which was '77.[\quote]

W318: This Amtrak promotional drawing was from a softcover glossy booklet issued in 1972-73. I have a copy of
this item in storage along with a portion of my railroadiana collection. I remembered this picture #18 the instant I
saw this. Picture #27 shows the type of promotional artwork Amtrak was using in the later 1970s.

MACTRAXX

MACTRAXX wrote:W318: This Amtrak promotional drawing was from a softcover glossy booklet issued in 1972-73.

Oh, okay. Maybe Lucas & Co. got the idea for Leia's "cinnamon buns over the ears" from Amtrak.

Watchman318 wrote:

MACTRAXX wrote:W318: This Amtrak promotional drawing was from a softcover glossy booklet issued in 1972-73.

Oh, okay. Maybe Lucas & Co. got the idea for Leia's "cinnamon buns over the ears" from Amtrak.

W318: Agree here...Someone has to create that "look". Maybe it was Amtrak's promo artwork that influenced GL.
Another way of dating Amtrak's use of colors is note the wide use of bright red and purple on promotional material
and car interior color schemes. That use was very prevalent during Amtrak's first five years into mid 1976.

MACTRAXX