[78-L] ARSC^

[Steven C. Barr]

From: "Philip Carli" <Philip_Carli at pittsford.monroe.edu>
> Unfortunately the good ol' New York Central itself (now Conrail) is 
> responsible for much of the delays on the Empire Corridor.  When NYC 
> passenger service ceased in the 60s they ripped up half the trackage to 
> save maintenance costs -- it used to be a 4-track way all the way to 
> Chicago -- and since Amtrak leases the way from Conrail, passenger 
> servirces are now secondary to freight rather than the reverse (as it 
> was).  That turns the Lake Shore Limited from being a true "limited" or 
> crack train into the slowest on the run, since it comes the farthest and 
> has the greatest opportunities for being shunted.  It's nice to feel that 
> people are secondary to a train of construction materials, or worse, empty 
> boxcars returning home.  (On the Rochester-NY regular trains, rather than 
> the Lake Shore, I've usually been stopped between Syracuse and Utica, 
> where some of the way has been cut to single-track and sidings.) William 
> K. Vanderbilt's 1870s contemptuous blast about the Central's res
> ponsibilities still holds true, here and in US business generally: "the 
> public be damned!"
>
Poimt is I USED to be ablwe to board a train to Chicago...straight 
through...
which took meb to Chicago in about 11 hours...! Id this still possible...?!

Steven C. Barr

(who prefers trains to Greyhound...if only because one can purchase a
cold-ish beer en route on trapns...!

Steven C. Barr