As likely many here know (but a search reveals no active topic), ABC's Morning News Show "Good Morning America" has been airing this week from a chartered Amtrak train.
The consist appears to be 2 P-42's, an F-40 NPCU refitted with satellite uplinks, 4 Superliners, including at least one Sleeper and Sightseer, as well as Juniata Terminal "PV's" Warrior Ridge and #120 "Pennsylvania'.
The show is intended to be a whistle stop tour to get "up close and personal" with "Mr and Mrs Main Street" to have their election year concerns addressed. The current GMA personalities all appear to be riding the train (how far and how long who knows).
Of interest to me is that the train traveled on the Housatonic RR from Pittsfield to Stockbridge. I could have never envisioned in this life that an Amtrak train, let alone with a Sleeper, would operate over any portion of the New Haven Berkshire Line (my "freedom train" "prision train" from boarding school days; the New Haven never had an overnight train on the line).
All told, I give the coverage relating to Amtrak a "favorable".
Posted by mpaulshore (Member # 3785) on :
Was that the boarding school where they teach that, in order to produce elegant English written prose, one should put quotation marks around any word or phrase that has the slightest flavor of being idiomatic or colloquial or metaphorical, plus any words or phrases that vulgarians such as publishers would ordinarily put in italics, plus a generous number of other words and phrases for good measure?
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I've been watching GMA these last two mornings just to see the train. If it weren't for that, I'd never tune in and watch these guys. While the Whistle Stop Tour is a neat idea and it took a huge effort to put all of the technical gizmos together, I just wish they provided the viewers with a more upbeat view of this excellent country that we live in. So far, in my opinion. it has been the Gloom and Doom Express! Everywhere they go---oh, look how bad things are here, look how many people lost jobs, look at the plants closing.....good grief! I'm glad they did the story this morning with the 12 year old kid and the Extreme Makeover story, but geez....couldn't they also do stories about people who succeeded in this country? Talked about how great we are, and what a great place this is to live? And how we've got things better here than anywhere else on earth???? No wonder I don't watch the mainstream media any more...I just can't take it.
Posted by Geoff M (Member # 153) on :
At least you don't have EastEnders on TV (or do you, smitty?). If ever I thought of taking my own life, that depressing drama series would do it for me.
Charter trains going into uncharted territory is nothing new: just needs somebody with the money and knowledge to set it up. I bet they could have filled that train with railfans who wanted to go on lines not frequented by passenger trains.
Call me cynical but one does wonder whether the reporters finish the segments and then head straight for the nearest airport and then hotel for the next segment.
Geoff M.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Ah ... another name for my ignore list. Not you, GBN. Nor you, Smitty195. Nor you, Geoff.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Smith, take a journey on a regularly scheduled Empire Service train or the Lake Shore and you will see for yourself just how depressed the major cities of Upstate New york have become.
I last did during 2001 (pre 9/11) on #48, and I was "appalled' with what could be seen from the train around Buffalo, Rochester (Syracuse station is well out of town) Utica and Schnectady. I cannot imagine what conditions must be today.
But I do agree that "gloom and doom" makes for journalism that sells. One would not expect to see any such caravan, train or otherwise, stopping in Greenwich, Clarendon Hills, or for that matter, Pleasanton as there would simply be no, or not very much, "story".
Posted by mpaulshore (Member # 3785) on :
Mr. Kisor: I'm sorry that my post above displeased you. But there has long been a need for a person who is willing to insert a pin into the giant balloon of Mr. Gilbert B. Norman's arrogance and silly idiosyncrasies. And I am that person.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
Mr. Shore, as we all know one of the joys of living in a democracy is the ability to voice one's opinions without out fear of persecution.That is your right. That being said my right is to also express an opinion. I feel that since this is a rail forum posts should be confined to the subject at hand which is railroading. There are several people on this forum that really have made and do make me very angry but I just send them a private message. May I sugest you do that with Mr. Norman. I do not say you must agree with him but this forum is quite civil and I am sure you with the rest of us would like it to stay that way.
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Ditto!
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
I caught a bit of GMA this morning when I was channel surfing, and was delighted to see a train going to Lennox & Lee, Massachusetts. (The part I saw wasn't gloom and doom; it was just a lot of excited people on plaforms!) I wish there were a train traveling this route all the time. I actually think some regular daily trains between NYC and the Berkshires would do quite well with 2nd home owners from NYC, who tend to be amenable to using trains--right now, they generally drive to Hudson or Albany to catch a train.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Here's some video; enjoy it while ABC has it posted:
Ms. Sojourner, there were "two a day" over the New Haven RR Berkshire Line during my years at South Kent School 1956-61 along with an extra NB Sat and SB Sun. There was "one a day" right up until A-Day.
Connecticut, under the leadership of Gov. Jodi Rell, seems to be starting to "see the light" on mass transportation. If there is to be any kind of service restoration N. of the existing Danbury terminus, let's address "baby steps first" with Danbury-New Milford, however the likely operator of the service would be Metro North, rather than Amtrak.
Incidentially, Gov. Rell is married to a retired airline Flight Officer.
Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :
quote:Originally posted by Geoff M: Call me cynical but one does wonder whether the reporters finish the segments and then head straight for the nearest airport and then hotel for the next segment.Geoff M.
I've been wondering about that too. The first day Diane Sawyer's hair looked less made up then usual with very bad dark roots. She had sort of that staticy look you get when using a Superliner shower. But, like you, I doubt they're actually staying on board and using the Superliner or private car facilities.
Funny point about East Enders. I recall watching something on the local PBS station and falling asleep. When I woke up East Enders was on and I see what you mean about depressing
I'm taping/Tivo the GMA shows and watch them at night. Fast forwarding through anything without the train. Total viewing time last night might have been 15 or so minutes. I hate when they get off the train. James Taylor wasted a lot of non-train time on the first episode. I wonder how much I'll be watching tonight
Another thing I've been wondering is if most of the Superliners in the consist were due for makeovers so that's how GMA got them. The sleeper interior shots they showed yesterday indicate it's a Superliner I that has not been completely refurbished. One of the Lounges is a half diner seat/half lounge seat Superliner I. Looks to have been refurbished. Hope to find out more about the consist tonight.
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
Does anyone know if the GMA train went through Great Barrington? If it did, it passed within a few feet of Arlo Guthrie's "church" up there. Would have been a real "Good morning America, how are you?" event.
Oh, and please stop picking on GBN, whoever you are. He is about the only poster on here whose posts require no byline!
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Southwest Chief wrote:
"The first day Diane Sawyer's hair looked less made up then usual with very bad dark roots. She had sort of that staticy look you get when using a Superliner shower."
For some reason this strikes me as very funny. I'm mostly bald, so I don't get that staticky look, but there are other consequences of showering on a Superliner ...
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I could have sworn that I heard the black woman anchor (sorry, I don't know her name because I never watch the show) say that after Monday's show, they were taken somewhere in car, then to hotels, and back on the train in the early morning. I still have it on my DVR so if I have time tonight, I'll go back and see if I can find where she says that.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
quote:Originally posted by smitty195: I could have sworn that I heard the black woman anchor (sorry, I don't know her name because I never watch the show) say that after Monday's show, they were taken somewhere in car, then to hotels, and back on the train in the early morning. I still have it on my DVR so if I have time tonight, I'll go back and see if I can find where she says that.
Doesn't surprise me at all - NBC's "Today" show did the same stunt years ago, but they didn't admit they were flown to the next city between shows. Like you, I never watch "GMA" and am only TiVoing it for the train segments. I'm already tired of watching them arrive in each town to the same crowd and the same High School band. I must have FF'ed past the part where Robin, (I think that's her name) said that.
Posted by Geoff M (Member # 153) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Connecticut, under the leadership of Gov. Jodi Rell, seems to be starting to "see the light" on mass transportation. If there is to be any kind of service restoration N. of the existing Danbury terminus, let's address "baby steps first" with Danbury-New Milford, however the likely operator of the service would be Metro North, rather than Amtrak.
That would be nice. I worked at a summer camp in New Milford and most nights would hear the one(?)-a-day freight go through the valley. The station at New Milford housed a small art gallery - but this is going back 10 years now so things could have changed. The ride would be scenic though, even more so if the route went beyond New Milford.
Geoff M.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by smitty195: I could have sworn that I heard the black woman anchor (sorry, I don't know her name because I never watch the show)
Today the "whistle stop' is in Gustavus Ohio. This is located on an ex NYC line that has not seen a passenger train since "God knows when".
The "clout' that a large, if not THE largest on this planet, entertainment company, Disney, has in the marketplace is immense. Here on GMA (ABC is Disney owned) Wednesday morning is the 'whistle stop' train stopped on a main line track so that Diane and Robin can "hop off' to interview a farm family near Gustavus (located on an NYC line from Ashtabula to Youngstown - presumably CSX today).
Anyone here who may have been involved with the organization of fan trips must be envious of the clout Disney can command and its ability to "make things happen'.
disclaimer: hold position in DIS
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Oh yes, Disney is quite a company with big, big, big clout. My sister-in-law is a Disney executive in Los Angeles, so I get to hear the stories. She used to be the CEO of The Lion King worldwide, but is now doing something different with them. Interestingly, Disney was recently looking into chartering a private passenger train for several months, doing their own whistle stop type of tour across the USA (doing a live show in various towns along the way). But for reasons that would be too boring to list, it's not going to happen. But it was a neat idea.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jerome Nicholson:
quote:Originally posted by smitty195: I could have sworn that I heard the black woman anchor (sorry, I don't know her name because I never watch the show) say that after Monday's show, they were taken somewhere in car, then to hotels, and back on the train in the early morning. I still have it on my DVR so if I have time tonight, I'll go back and see if I can find where she says that.
Doesn't surprise me at all - NBC's "Today" show did the same stunt years ago, but they didn't admit they were flown to the next city between shows. Like you, I never watch "GMA" and am only TiVoing it for the train segments. I'm already tired of watching them arrive in each town to the same crowd and the same High School band. I must have FF'ed past the part where Robin, (I think that's her name) said that.
I do recall the NBC on a train morning show......seems like it was in the late 1980's!!! Yikes. A friend of mine who knows I "like trains" took a picture of that train doing it's morning show from the foot of Beale Street in downtown Memphis.
Now......the fly ins and fly outs - I have another friend who has for the last decade made his living driving the fancy charter buses that your typical rock bands use for their tours. In the cases where he is driving tours for the really big name acts, the members of the band are dropped off and/or picked up at the airports en route. The roadies who do the rigging and run the sound and lights are the ones who live on the bus from town to town. If the members of Journey, the 1980's rock band who's tour he worked this past summer warrant an airplane ride from town to town, I imagine the cast of GMA does too.
Finally - Hear Hear Train Lady!!!!! This board is a remarkably civil place and I enjoy it for that reason. I contribute to that (I hope) by checking my religion and politics at the door and once here talk about passenger trains and share some old stories......sometimes working in a pony or a bagpiper along the way......oh, and Amstage, the Federally Funded stage coach company which cut expenses by using smaller stage coaches pulled by ponies instead of horse......oooops, I did it again!
Bottom Line though - because this is a civil place I am able to consider and respect the opinions of some people that I know I would completely disagree with in a board room or at the dinner table. I appreciate being able to have that discourse here.
Posted by RR4me (Member # 6052) on :
Sorry to bring it back up, but "silly idiosyncracies" are what makes this forum interesting! And the content, whether or not encapsulated, bolded, italicized, capitalized, or evne mis-spelled (or often in my case, mis-typed), is allways of interest to me!
Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :
quote:Originally posted by smitty195:....Interestingly, Disney was recently looking into chartering a private passenger train for several months, doing their own whistle stop type of tour across the USA (doing a live show in various towns along the way)....it's not going to happen. But it was a neat idea.
Yes that was a neat idea. Sounds sort of like a circus train.
Posted by Floridian (Member # 8304) on :
Thanks to reading RailForum , I caught the last hour of the GMA Train Tour this morning. Near the end they mentioned that Prince Charles had ridden that train and then went on to say that Barbara Walters (on 20/20 Friday night) would be interviewing Queen Elizabeth on the train she supposedly rides frequently in Britain. I'm not sure if they meant that Charles had been on a train ride in the US or GB. Nowadays, big media has a very bad tendency to gloss over facts and present a confusing, illogical story. Instead of fulfilling their desire to be the firstest with the mostest, they wind up being the firstest with the leastest.
They had a fellow explaining the efficiancy of the engine pulling the GMA train. I noticed that there was a big "NS" on the side - doesn't that stand for Norfolk Southern? I also noticed in the last shot of the train leaving, the track was freshly dressed with what looked like new gravel. This gave me a laugh because on my recent trip I saw a lot of weeds in and around the tracks. The set designers on GMA have been very busy bees.
The "Insider" (on Fox) did a short segment on the GMA Tour Tuesday evening, touting the "50 states in 50 days" slogan. This too gave me a laugh, since I'm wondering how they are going to get that train to states in the lower 48 that have no track - computer animation, perhaps?
I hate to be cynical, but I feel this recent mass interest in train travel is just going to turn out to be another short-lived fad.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Ms. Floridian, Prince Charles used the open platform rear car, the "Pennsylvania", during a US tour within the past two years Phila to NY.
The Royal Family still maintains a "Royal Train" that Queen Elizabeth and party uses on occasion for travel within Great Britain (it cannot be used "on the Continent', but I guess it could be ferried across the Irish Sea for use within the "Six Counties").
Most interesting to learn that Norfolk Southern has supplied a locomotive to haul the GMA Special. I hope it was reasons other than an Amtrak locomotive mechanical problem.
Posted by Floridian (Member # 8304) on :
The deal with the NS locomotive was that it had three separate motors, which would come on/go off according to the amount of power needed, thus hauling a lot of weight for a long distance on one gallon of fuel. Since Disney is involved, maybe it was just a stage prop , but it looked like it was hooked up to the rest of the train as the "official" locomotive. It could be that GMA just wanted to show that rail can be efficient and will change back to something else tomorrow.
I have set my DVR to record 20/20 on Friday, in case I forget to watch, and will report if the Queen or Barbara WaWa have anything of "rail road" interest to say.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Hmmm -- 50 states in 50 days, eh? I can't wait to see them ride an AMTRAK train to Hawaii!!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Judging from a segment "Life Aboard the Train" aired today, it would appear that the staff, including the "on-airs', are living on board:
But all told it certainly appears that "Disney don't do things on the cheap".
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: .......Diane and Robin can "hop off' to interview a farm family near Gustavus (located on an NYC line from Ashtabula to Youngstown - presumably CSX today).
I have now learned that the Ashtabula-Youngstown line was conveyed to Norfolk Southern and not to CSX. Therefore, Ms. Floridian's noting of an NS locomotive handling the GMA train is quite plausible.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
I'm surpirised this wasn't pointed out earlier, but in this month's "Trains" magazine, the "Map of the Month" shows all the "whistle stop" campaign trips that Presidential candidates Truman and Dewey made across the country in 1948 -- quite impressive!!!
Couldn't we all just imagine John McCain making a whistle-stop campaign trip on AMTRAK this year?!!!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
It appears that the rail journey is now over, and that the show was being aired from a studion is Wash.
Since Jennifer Hudson had just completed performing her "signature song" from "Dreamgirls", the crowd was still cheering, and as a result Robin Roberts "thanks to all the folk at Amtrak" was sort of "muffled'.
But all told, the production appeared to be a "plus" for Amtrak.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
I have a vague recollection of reading about FDR and his whistle stop campaigning. In fact I think there were some pictures of him and Eleanor on the "porch" of the last car. Does anyone else remember that?
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
One of the best stories about presidential campaigning from trains involves Richard Nixon and a Democratic political trickster named Dick Tuck. One day Nixon had just begun a speech from the rear platform of an observation car when the train suddenly pulled out of the station, Nixon incredulously clutching his notes. Tuck had dressed as a trainman and had signaled the engineer to highball just as Nixon launched into "My fellow Americans . . ."
Or so the story goes. According to the Wikipedia entry on Tuck, he denies the prank, although he suspiciously admits he waved to the engineer.
Posted by dnsommer (Member # 2825) on :
The Housatonic Line is the setting for James Thurber's classic short story, THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
The other day I saw a smidgeon of GMA again and the stop they were heading to was my favorite stop, scenerwise, in all of Amtrak: Harpers Ferry WVA. Diane Sawyer recognized the beauty of the area and had the train make an unscheduled stop along the river before they pulled into the station! They said they were along the Shenandoah River; is that right? Dumb me, I thought the Potomac went along here!
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Harpers Ferry is at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers but the Shenandoah River comes in from the west. It would only be visible out the south side of the train while sitting on the bridge just east of the Harpers Ferry station.
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, I caught the last hour of the GMA Train Tour this morning. Near the end they mentioned that Prince Charles had ridden that train and then went on to say that Barbara Walters (on 20/20 Friday night) would be interviewing Queen Elizabeth on the train she supposedly rides frequently in Britain. I'm not sure if they meant that Charles had been on a train ride in the US or GB. Nowadays, big media has a very bad tendency to gloss over facts and present a confusing, illogical story. Instead of fulfilling their desire to be the firstest with the mostest, they wind up being the firstest with the leastest.