"One critical question is how many passengers would use the service. Amtrak projects that the revived route would carry 153,900 passengers a year — many times more than the 29,668 travelers its former Gulf Coast service carried in fiscal year 2005 when it was shuttered."
Sound reasonable?
Richard
palmland Member # 4344
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Richard, I think there is a lot of grass roots interest in getting the service going again. And it's good to see some republican supporters. But I suspect the new administration's infrastructure dollars will take a long time to filter down to Amtrak, if ever.
Best chance of getting this going in our lifetime is for LA, MS, and AL to put their state money where their mouth is and at least get an extension of the CONO over to Mobile. The states are also probably in a better position to play quid pro quo with CSX on providing improvements or 'political favors' CSX would like to have in those states.
yukon11 Member # 2997
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I wonder if the old idea of an extension of the City of New Orleans to Orlando, overnight, could still be in the mix?
Richard
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Richard, if Mobile develops, that would be a victory. No additional equipment would be needed. Only drawback would be for passengers traveling through New Orleans. The traditional one a day schedule of "little town to big town in the morning and back to little town in early evening" would mean a three some hour layover in New Orleans in each direction.
Also, there would need be a new name for the City. How about "Magnolia Star" - a 1967 "illusion" of the IC's where they touted a new train to New Orleans when all they did was add Coaches and a Cafe to the Panama. When it started out (can't say first hand as I wasn't around. I was at my home away from home known as Saigon), there was a gate between Coaches and Pullmans. But by the time I got back to Univ of Illinois to "finish up" June 1969, it was a combined Coach-Sleeper train simply named Panama - and badly downgraded at that.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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The "City of New Orleans" had the song of the same name going for it. There is an old Bob Dylan tune entitled "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again". But it had some line in it about staying away from the train line and railroad men.
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Mona tried to tell me To stay away from the train line She said that all the railroad men Just drink up your blood like wine An’ I said, “Oh, I didn’t know that But then again, there’s only one I’ve met An’ he just smoked my eyelids An’ punched my cigarette” Oh, Mama, can this really be the end To be stuck inside of Mobile With the Memphis blues again
mic drop/Nobel Prize
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Correction - "City of New Orleans" by Steve Goodman.
Arlo tells the story of how he happened to get the hit on it - best beer he ever had!
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I stand corrected, Mike. Yes, the song was by Steve Goodman and recorded by Arlo Guthrie. Goodman wrote the song in 1970 after riding the old City of New Orleans, before Amtrak. His wife fell asleep on the train, after which he wrote the lyrics and eventually the song. His lyrics give an account of Goodman's impression while riding the train..
I assume Arlo never or will never contract Huntington's disease That would be good.
Richard
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Richard, I am kind of an Arlo "groupie." I believe he was genetically tested and found to not carry the gene, and I believe all his brood are clean too. He has a farm up in the Berkshires as well as a home in Sebastian, FL (Indian River County), where he winters.
Didn't know the above about Goodman's inspiration for the song, but makes sense.
Hope you watched the link.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I am so glad you corrected about Steve Goodman; he is a favorite of mine. Also was a very big Cubs fan and wrote one of their songs.
He has another excellent song called "Colorado Christmas" that the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded. Like CONO, it is a little wistful.
yukon11 Member # 2997
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Here is a take, on restoring the Gulf Coast service, by Jim Loomis:
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