Nostalgia & History > Early Amtrak was pointless

Back when Amtrak’s first corporate logo was irreversibly tagged with the nickname “Pointless Arrow”. You sure couldn’t miss that big red nose, though…

1. AMTK 597 leads train #31, the “National Limited” into KC Union Station in Kansas City, MO in May of 1975.
(Original Kodachrome slide by John Wegner)

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels (santafe199)
John Wegner (chiefbuilder)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/22 22:03 by santafe199.

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The favourite Amtrak train of my teens (guess I don't have one now.)  What's happening on the track to the right? Thanks for sharing this photo.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/19 06:02 by King_Coal.

A rare view of the National Limited.
Nice one.
Gary

Wonderful shot , Lance!  My favorite engine and scheme still today except for Santa Fe's FP45s.`

Later on the National Limited carried 1 SDP40F, I believe.

Randy Lundgren

King_Coal Wrote:
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> The favourite Amtrak train of my teens (guess I
> don't have one now.)  What's happening on the
> track to the right? Thanks for sharing this photo.

one of burlington trains that went to saudi arabia

dan Wrote:
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> King_Coal Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The favourite Amtrak train of my teens (guess I
> > don't have one now.)  What's happening on the
> > track to the right? Thanks for sharing this
> photo.
>
> one of burlington trains that went to saudi arabia

Wow I knew the Burlington went 'Everywhere West" but service all the way to Saudi Arabia was taking it to a new level..

(yes I know burlington had the Train of the Gods and other cars bought and shipped to the middle east, just trying to make a joke)

santafe199 Wrote:
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> Back when Amtrak’s first corporate logo was
> irreversibly tagged with the nickname “Pointless
> Arrow”. You sure couldn’t miss that big red
> nose, though…

Nice picture! Thanks for sharing.

I liked the "coming together" intent of the first logo. but it didn't exactly work out that way.

Just so happens I photographed #31 with the very same SDP40F on May 2 1975. Location is Lewis Tower in Lewistown, PA. Could be a coincidence!

Bob
Omaha



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/19 12:09 by King_Coal.

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I did not like Amtrak, but I must admit that I did like photographing their trains with the SDP 40 Fs on the point. KC's Union Station was beautiful. Happy to see it is stil in existance. Nice shot of 31!

Bill Rettberg
Bel Air, MD

The train on the right is indeed one the early Burlington Zephyrs that went to Saudi Arabia.  It's the original Denver Zephyr which was then owned by KC banker Alex Barket.  There was apparently some special event that evening, though I don't remember what it was.

John Wegner

texchief1 Wrote:
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> Wonderful shot , Lance!  My favorite engine and
> scheme still today except for Santa Fe's FP45s.`
>
> Later on the National Limited carried 1 SDP40F, I
> believe.
>
> Randy Lundgren

This is how I remember the National Limited's locomotives:

1973/1974    2 E-units (Penn Central black in earliest years, didn't see the National until 1973)

1973/1974    1975 2 SDP40Fs

1975 -1977   1 SDP40F and 1 E-unit

1977 - 1978   2 E-units

1978 - 1979 - F40 with Amfleet equipped train.


 

My photos of that Saudi bound Zephyr set.
SR

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Terrific photos John, Bob and Steve.

Alex Barkett (who owned the last fully intact former Texas Zephyr (ex DZ) and a set of the former Nebraska Zephyr (ex TCZ) operated, in conjuction with the Kansas City Terminal Railroad, several special trips around the KC downtown area in 1975 for the public.  On one weekend, the train made two round-trips on a Saturday and Sunday, as I recall.  I rode one trip and photographed a couple of others.  

In addition, On October 12, 1975 Mr. Barkett hosted the Shriners for a special trip aboard the Texas Zephyr equipment.  Many of these trips I was able to witness when I worked at Kansas City Union Staion from 1973 thru 1976.  There may have been other trips too.

Here is another Kansas City Union Station view of the former Texas Zephyr boarding passengers for the Shriners Special on Octobber 12, 1975, with KCT switchers 79 and 77 as motive power.  The boarding track this day is where the Amtrak National Limited would spot, typically, which featured a platform with a working escalator to the overhead station area.  After the special trips, the ex TZ would be re-spotted a couple of tracks to the north of this platform. The Generator Baggage Lounge Buffet "Silver Courier" was fully operational mechanically and provided hotel power for the train lights and air conditioning.

Mr. Barketts team of two car men had reupholstered the entire train, did touch up painting, worked on trucks, brakes and wheels for the train to be made servicable and comfortable. The train looked terrific, inside and out. 

When you consider this ex Texas Zephyr/ex Denver Zephyr train was built in 1936, it looked pretty darn good 36 years later.

Hubert    


chiefbuilder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The train on the right is indeed one the early
> Burlington Zephyrs that went to Saudi Arabia. 
> It's the original Denver Zephyr which was then
> owned by KC banker Alex Barket.  There was
> apparently some special event that evening, though
> I don't remember what it was.
>
> John Wegner

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