The Silver Rail Blog

Progressive Railroading magazine is reporting that Amtrak Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman will head the railroad for another year:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=22285

--Jackson McQuigg

Start off 2010 by doing something fun and helping to preserve a railroad landmark at the same time!

Join the Bricks Are Back campaign to benefit Tampa Union Station.

For just $69.95, you can buy an engraved brick bearing the name of you, your family, your business, or your organization which will be placed in the sidewalk in front of historic 1912 Tampa Union Station.

Proceeds from the sale of engraved bricks go to support the Tampa Union Station Preservation Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. The Fund is a permanent endowment that benefits ongoing restoration work at Tampa Union Station.

Or, if you prefer, you can make a tax deductible donation to the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay by using this form on the FCRP website.

To learn more and to buy a brick in the Bricks Are Back campaign, go to www.tampaunionstation.com

The ongoing efforts to preserve Tampa Union Station are an initiative of Friends of Tampa Union Station, which was founded in 2008 by the Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers in cooperation with the City of Tampa.

--Jackson McQuigg

This article from the Financial Times covers China's latest accomplishment: a high speed train (now in service) has become the fastest in the world.

China has invested billions in passenger rail and high speed trains in the past decade.

It wasn't that long ago (the 1990s) that China was still producing new steam locomotives!

--Jackson McQuigg

FCRP members George Bollinger, Tim Mack, and Jerry Sullivan are among those leading an important effort to preserve a piece of Florida's railroad history.

Since 1960, Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotive 1504 has been displayed in Jacksonville for the enjoyment of the public. The engine, a 4-6-2 Pacific type constructed by the American Locomotive Company in 1919, has been displayed at the Jacksonville Terminal Station (now the Prime Osborn Convention Center and also the site of the future Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center) since the 1980s.

More history on this locomotive can be found here.

Now owned by the City of Jacksonville, 1504 was recently designated a local Landmark under Jacksonville's historic preservation ordinance. The effort to landmark the engine, chronicled here in a Florida Times-Union story, was supported by the Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers; indeed, FCRP wrote a letter to City officials advocating for the designation.

Last week, the Coalition (at Tim Mack's suggestion) wrote a letter to Scott Stroh, Director of the Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, in support of a grant which has been requested to further restore and preserve 1504.

Thank you, George, Jerry, and Tim for your work. FCRP is glad to be assisting your fine efforts to save this piece of railroading's past for the future!

--Jackson McQuigg

This article from Tampa's alternative news weekly, Creative Loafing, details efforts to increase the number of international flights serving Tampa International Airport.

The number of international flights currently serving Tampa is paltry when compared to Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, and especially Miami's airports.

Promoters of the Tampa-Orlando segment of high speed rail and FDOT are proposing a stop at Orlando International Airport for the new high speed system.

If high speed rail advocates and FDOT are successful in their efforts, the international gateway to Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater might just be a train station.

--Jackson McQuigg

A very positive article/trip report on Amtrak's Auto Train was published by The Canadian Press recently.

Click here to read it.

Happy Holidays, all!

--Jackson McQuigg

The following interview with CSX CEO Michael Ward ran in the Florida Times-Union this week.

In the article, Michael Ward discusses the new Florida passenger rail legislation, SunRail, and future high speed services for Florida:

http://jacksonville.com/interact/blog/abel_harding/2009-12-16/csxs_ward_sunrail_good_deal_for_state_high_speed_will_cost_bil

--Jackson McQuigg

Congress has passed Amtrak's appropriation for FY 2010.

A special Amtrak employee newsletter contains all of the details (click on highlighted text).

The news is somewhat disappointing, considering that it falls short of both Amtrak's budget request for FY 2010 and the amount authorized in PRIIA.

It is still the highest in Amtrak's history, however.

--Jackson McQuigg

Governor Charlie Crist has sent a letter to USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood formally asking for federal stimulus funds for high speed rail.

You can read the letter on the St. Petersburg Times' website, tampabay.com, by clicking here. 

--Jackson McQuigg

As the Miami Herald reports, negotiations were key to passage of the new Florida passenger rail bill.

The backstory is fascinating:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/1374568.html

--Jackson McQuigg