billthebarn
Train Attendant
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2013
- Messages
- 94
Actually, the voting took place 60-70 years ago.
After WW11, comercial flights became more and more reasonable. Business travelers got from one side of the country to the other in just a few hourrs. Soon thereafter, families were going on vacation by air. Students were getting back to college in an airplane.
During WW11, Ike saw the autobahns in Germany and decided that the USA could use an interstate system. Roadbuilding began in earnest here and in Canada. At the same time, automobiles were getting more affordable for working people. Cars and tires improved in quality. (I remember the ride from Philly to Wildwood NJ through all the South Jersey towns. You would see maybe 20-30 people changing "flats"...about 90 miles). Cars, tires and roads improved dramatically.
Railroads pretty much stayed the same...until ridership decreased to the point where passenger rail wasn't financially feasible. To give you an idea of the decrease, in the 60's, there were four daily trans-Canada trains (two each from Montreal and Toronto). Twenty-eight per week. Now there are three. And Viarail has to promote like crazy to keep those three running.
There is nothing I enjoy more than riding on a long distance train. 79 mph is as fast as I want to go. I don't advocate for high speed rail. I like things as they are but I realize things will change in the future. For one thing, most of us railfans are kind of "long in the tooth". I know there are exceptions but the younger generation doesn't appreciate train travel the way we do. Heck, even their parents don't. lol!
Although we lost the election, I am glad Amtrak and Via provide rail transportation today,
After WW11, comercial flights became more and more reasonable. Business travelers got from one side of the country to the other in just a few hourrs. Soon thereafter, families were going on vacation by air. Students were getting back to college in an airplane.
During WW11, Ike saw the autobahns in Germany and decided that the USA could use an interstate system. Roadbuilding began in earnest here and in Canada. At the same time, automobiles were getting more affordable for working people. Cars and tires improved in quality. (I remember the ride from Philly to Wildwood NJ through all the South Jersey towns. You would see maybe 20-30 people changing "flats"...about 90 miles). Cars, tires and roads improved dramatically.
Railroads pretty much stayed the same...until ridership decreased to the point where passenger rail wasn't financially feasible. To give you an idea of the decrease, in the 60's, there were four daily trans-Canada trains (two each from Montreal and Toronto). Twenty-eight per week. Now there are three. And Viarail has to promote like crazy to keep those three running.
There is nothing I enjoy more than riding on a long distance train. 79 mph is as fast as I want to go. I don't advocate for high speed rail. I like things as they are but I realize things will change in the future. For one thing, most of us railfans are kind of "long in the tooth". I know there are exceptions but the younger generation doesn't appreciate train travel the way we do. Heck, even their parents don't. lol!
Although we lost the election, I am glad Amtrak and Via provide rail transportation today,