Green Eye
Train Attendant
This past Friday, I helped present the Trails and Rails program on Train 29, the Capitol Limited. As we sat in the Sightseer Lounge car waiting for the train to depart Washington Union Station, a young man came through the car dressed in an Amtrak polo shirt and carrying a flashlight and other tools. He inspected the safety equipment, the locked equipment areas, the restrooms, the cafe (which was not in service, food was being sold out of the diner/cafe car ahead of us) and even the trash cans. He told us he had just checked the diner/cafe, including the kitchen, and the sleeping cars. He moved on to the coaches behind us.
He told us that he was employed by the Amtrak legal department as a health inspector. He said there was one inspector each in New York, Washington, Chicago (about to be two there) and Los Angeles. He said that they routinely ride the trains to ensure proper health and safety. He was very pleasant and professional and his inspection (that we could see) was thorough and impressive.
I didn't get to ask him if this was something new or if this was an activity that has been ongoing. Has anyone heard of this before?
He told us that he was employed by the Amtrak legal department as a health inspector. He said there was one inspector each in New York, Washington, Chicago (about to be two there) and Los Angeles. He said that they routinely ride the trains to ensure proper health and safety. He was very pleasant and professional and his inspection (that we could see) was thorough and impressive.
I didn't get to ask him if this was something new or if this was an activity that has been ongoing. Has anyone heard of this before?