In 1981 Conrail's business
train made an inspection tour of the former NYC line through the "Grand
Canyon of Pennsylvania".
One of the first American
high speed trains, a Metroliner dating from the late 1960s, waits in Washington
Union Station.
In 1981 the Metra coachyard
in downtown Chicago still featured classic E units pulling stainless steel
cars.
Canada's entry in the high
speed rail race was the United Aircraft turbotrain. Here it is splitting
Brockville, ON at about 95 MPH.
Going to Brockville was
like going back to the 1950's. Twenty plus passenger trains every day,
all pulled by classic F's and ALCO designed FA's
The Chessie had an active
steam program in the early 1980s. Here C&O #614 pulls an excursion
across the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry, WV.
The Rio Grande Zephyr was
the last privately run intercity train in the US when it finally was taken
over by AMTRAK in April of 1983. Here it is after arriving at Denver Union
Station for the next to last time.
The State of New York spent
many millions in the 1970s to upgrade the corridor between NYC and Buffalo.
One of the results were the 125MPH capable Rohr Turbotrains, here at Lockport,
NY.
The Southern
RR was another line with an active excursion program in the early 1980s.
Their runs were powered by various steamers or classic F units, as here
south of Washington DC.