http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/03/railroads-and-the-creation-of-national-parks/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:05:57 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/03/railroads-and-the-creation-of-national-parks/comment-page-1/#comment-12685 Bob Hale Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:11:34 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/03/railroads-and-the-creation-of-national-parks/#comment-12685 One year later I sign in! Well, better late than being marked absent. Excellent piece. I worked for the Great Northern in Glacier Park in 1955 and 1957 as summer passenger agent. Seven days a week I made reservations, and handled train movements. A point about the middle class and train travel: While the earliest days saw mostly the upper class folks who could afford train travel,the railroads soon saw a market for middle class travelers also. The tourist trade was an early industry that helped popularize the National Park, so the railroads would attach cars just for a particular tour. To accommodate them rail lines used less fancy equipment. Once engine power improved it was less discomforting to spend two nights sitting up in a coach seat for middle class folks. In the '50s the Great Northern would attach old "heavy-weight" non-streamlined Pullman cars to the Western Star to handle tours. So, while the "monied" travelers were the initial source of revenue for the rail lines, the rail big-wigs quickly realized there was income to be derived from the middle class also if train accommodations could be provided. The train trade has almost disappeared, what with the flexibility of automobile travel. One certainly sees more of a park via a car; visits are more complete. Maybe, someday high-speed "green" trains will cut down auto pollution and traffic jams, and we can develop "safari systems" to make the visits cleaner, more expansive and relaxed. Besides, the train is just plain "more fun to do." RSH One year later I sign in! Well, better late than being marked absent. Excellent piece.
I worked for the Great Northern in Glacier Park in 1955 and 1957 as summer passenger agent. Seven days a week I made reservations, and handled train movements.
A point about the middle class and train travel: While the earliest days saw mostly the upper class folks who could afford train travel,the railroads soon saw a market for middle class travelers also. The tourist trade was an early industry that helped popularize the National Park, so the railroads would attach cars just for a particular tour. To accommodate them rail lines used less fancy equipment. Once engine power improved it was less discomforting to spend two nights sitting up in a coach seat for middle class folks. In the ’50s the Great Northern would attach old “heavy-weight” non-streamlined Pullman cars to the Western Star to handle tours.
So, while the “monied” travelers were the initial source of revenue for the rail lines, the rail big-wigs quickly realized there was income to be derived from the middle class also if train accommodations could be provided.
The train trade has almost disappeared, what with the flexibility of automobile travel. One certainly sees more of a park via a car; visits are more complete. Maybe, someday high-speed “green” trains will cut down auto pollution and traffic jams, and we can develop “safari systems” to make the visits cleaner, more expansive and relaxed. Besides, the train is just plain “more fun to do.”
RSH

]]> http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/03/railroads-and-the-creation-of-national-parks/comment-page-1/#comment-12684 Robert Simpson Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:27:57 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2008/03/railroads-and-the-creation-of-national-parks/#comment-12684 There is a detailed video documentary available all about the Santa Fe Railway and how they positively influenced the development of the Grand Canyon National Park. See lots of pictures at www.goldenrailvideo.com/TUH.html There is a detailed video documentary available all about the Santa Fe Railway and how they positively influenced the development of the Grand Canyon National Park.
See lots of pictures at http://www.goldenrailvideo.com/TUH.html

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