|
Posted by
Olog-hai
on Thu Jun 16 05:31:51 2011
edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d In PDF form on the Canada Southern Railway historical website. Interesting highlights (not in order from the article):
"Where is this welded rail I've heard about?" asked Congressman Dan Kuykendall, of Tennessee. "We're almost on it," a Penn Central official assured him.
And soon over the train loudspeaker came the voice of Robert B. Watson, coordinator of the Northeast Corridor Project: "Our speed is 110 miles per hour. We are now on welded rail." "This feels much better," said Congressman Kuykendall, a member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Aeronautics in the House of Representatives.
(The Metroliner cars are built to reach 160 miles per hour, but initially the speed is being kept to 110.)
So even back then, 160 mph wasn't regarded as too ambitious on a traditional ROW.
"It's a pleasure to work in this supermodern car," said Thomas Porter , a parlor lounge attendant," and I guess we can make it a pleasure for the passengers." And Conductor Elden A. Fisher concluded: "With this fine new equipment, if we handle the passengers right we can make them forget the airlines." . . .
The Railroad is spending more than $45 million on the High Speed program. The Federal Government is contributing $11 million.
That's $267 million and $68 million respectively in 2011 dollars. How is it that they're talking multiple billions nowadays?
The fare in Metroliner coaches is the same as in ordinary coaches plus a surcharge of $1 for trips up to 174 miles, and $2 for 175 miles and over. The fare for Metro Club cars is the same as in ordinary parlor cars. Thus, a coach passenger can ride from Washington to New York for $12.75—$5.15 less than the lowest air line fare—with more comfort and room than in an airliner. And since the trip is from center-city to center-city, he eliminates the problem of fighting auto traffic to and from airports, and thus may reach his destination faster than by plane.
$12.75 is $78.50 in 2011 dollars. Since the airfare back then was $5.15 higher, that would make the equivalent airfare in 2011 dollars $110.21.
Nice pix on the PDF . . .
|
