Railroad Forums 

  • Presidential Trains (Inauguration, Campaign, Etc.)

  • Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.
Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman

 #1561379  by STrRedWolf
 
Arborwayfan wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:12 pm One thing is odd to me: MARC is all cancelled. What about the people who use it to commute into Baltimore from intermediate stations? I assume those people exist. Is it just operationally impossible to run on only the eastern half of each of the two DC-Baltimore lines (no place to change ends or something?).
They'll have to drive to MTA Maryland Light Rail stations, most likely Cromwell... or just drive all the way into Baltimore. The WMATA B30 isn't running, and there's not much bus service to Seabrook, Bowie State, and Odenton.

Let's add some more context here. When I went into the office during this pandemic, Odenton to Baltimore, the train was... practically empty. Maybe 10 people outside the conductors? 20? And you basically had to drive to the outlying stations.

So yes, there's alternatives. They're not good.
 #1561400  by Jeff Smith
 
Reminder: please keep the political hyperbole' out of your post. This isn't politics.net, it's railroad.net. You're more than welcome to post about travel restrictions here due to the crisis revolving around the election and capitol riots. I understand we're all very upset at the turn things have taken, so no warnings. There are plenty of places to post and share your feelings about all matters under the sun; we post about railroads here, not politics. Take it up with Dorsey and Zuck lol.
 #1561447  by MattW
 
STrRedWolf wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:01 pm
Gilbert B Norman wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:44 pm A very quick clip on NBC Nightly News showed the "consist" of Joe's "Unity Special" was a C-32 (B-753).
Bah, that'll never pass FRA regulations. :)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... l_3473.jpg
Well there's always this! :-D

image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... l_3473.jpg
 #1561454  by STrRedWolf
 
MattW wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 10:44 pm https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... l_3473.jpg
Well there's always this! :-D

image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... l_3473.jpg
Oh yeah, I read that they're shipping fuselages over rail in a Trains Magazine article sometime two years ago.

I still doubt it qualifies as a passenger car. :grin:
 #1561455  by Gilbert B Norman
 
MattW wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 10:44 pm
Well there's always this! :-D

image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... l_3473.jpg
Of course, the Clark Fork I guess became a runway. BTW

https://www.usatoday.com/story/todayint ... /12258639/
Last edited by Gilbert B Norman on Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 #1561542  by FatNoah
 
My main experience with an "Inauguration Train" was making the trip home from Orland to Boston. I'd unintentionally timed my arrival in DC to coincide with the day of Obama's first inauguration. Fortunately, it was a trip I booked well in advance and had a Roomette. My first clue that something unusual was happening was when we lined up to board in Orlando. On my past trips, there's a couple dozen folks, but there were well over 100 for this trip! It was one of the livelier trips I've ever taken on Amtrak as it was essentially a rolling party.
 #1561592  by Ridgefielder
 
rohr turbo wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:04 pm I still hold hope that Biden makes an Amtrak trip some time in his first year. Maybe just DC-Wilmington when Avelia Liberty begins service.
I have no doubt at all that he will at least be at Union Station for a photo op on the first run of the Avelia Liberty. Doubt he rides as far as Wilmington but I could see him taking a jaunt as far as BWI.
 #1561625  by Alphaboi
 
Its worth noting that technically the Secret Service can only advise a sitting President; he's free to overule them if he really wants. Like when JFK insisted on an open top convertible.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 #1561680  by urr304
 
Yes, the President can say where or how it wants to go, but he or she also has to remember public and Congressional opinion. If it comes out how much extra it would cost and how much the travel effects others. I am sure it would be good to see the President taking the new Liberty.

President Kennedy took the train only twice after becoming president; returning from the Army-Navy Games in 1961 and 1962 onboard one of the Washington specials. Since they were Saturday evenings, there probably was minimal disruption.
  • 1
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11