Panhandle

[Donald Galt]

>From Bob Rathke:

> 
> In the early years of Amtrak, their National Limited enterered Pittsburgh
> via the Panhandle Bridge and tunnel.  I watched it many times from my
> office window in the USS Bldg.  However, this train was notoriously late,
> and was eventually discontinued entirely between Missouri and the East. 
> I also recall the Amtrak routing over Brunot's Island, but don't remember
> the reason for it.
> 
The one time I rode the train was in September of 1974 which was, I believe, 
only a few months before it was discontinued. The state of the roadbed was 
unspeakable: the train arrived at Dayton from St. Louis at least two hours 
late; in spite of painfully slow speeds which shredded the timetable, we 
crashed into every rail joint.

Whatever the reason, we crossed at Brunot's Island. I never asked why -  
just assumed this was the Amtrak way.

The trip from Pittsburgh to Chicago a few days later was only marginally 
better. Sic transit - very sick - the Broadway and the National.

And, in Pittsburgh, mostly buses. I rued the many times I had passed 
through as a youth in the '50s, at night without stopping (see, I *can* get 
back on topic!)

Don