Trails & Rails ... & Podcasts?

According to the National Park Service’s web site, the Trails & Rails program

“is an innovative partnership program between the National Park Service and Amtrak. This program provides rail passengers with educational opportunities that foster an appreciation of a selected region’s natural and cultural heritage; it promotes National Park Service areas and provides a value-added service to encourage train ridership. It also renews the long tradition of associating railroads with National Parks.”

The “educational opportunties” are typically a very knowledge volunteer or two that are on-board the train and they give a verbal presentation and are available to respond to traveler’s questions.

I feel that the Trails & Rails program is very cool and can add tremendous value to one’s trip.  Deb and I would often wonder what the local history of the area was that we were traversing through during our many road trips.  In fact, her and I even thought of creating a product that travelers like us could play a CD that would describe the local history through a narrative and play music that fit the scenery and story, but like our other ideas, we had no funding for such an endeavour. So I think it is great that this program is available for others to enjoy.

From what I gleaned from the Trails & Rails web site, the program is only offered on some of the trains that Amtrak offers and only on a portion of the route as well.  That’s OK. Something is a whole better than nothing. However, there is now another option for train travelers - podcasts.

Here is an explanation from a page about the podcasts at the NPS’ Trails & Rails web site:

The National Park Service’s Trails & Rails program is expanding the Amtrak ® traveler’s experiences with another opportunity to learn about the nation’s national parks.

NPS has staff and volunteers on key Amtrak® trains promoting the national park sites, answering park questions, etc. and some Amtrak passengers can now be able to download audio podcasts highlighting the history and sites of interest along their route. The podcasts are accessible via smartphones, computers and strategically played at “on board” display screens on key Amtrak® trains, providing an audio guide, NPS anecdotes and fun facts.

Passengers can also download a printed version of the podcast, a perfect format for both teachers and the hearing-impaired. The podcast is a feature of the NPS Trails & Rails program, and was developed as a partnership between Amtrak®, the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University and the National Park Service.

Volunteer at http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm 

Route of Amtrak’s Sunset LimtiedCurrently there is only one offering and that is for Amtrak’s Sunset Limited which provides service between Los Angeles and New Orleans but I am certain more are planned.  The podcast appears to cover all of the key points along the route and some less known locations as well.  You can print out the narrative as a .PDF file if you prefer to read the information or for the hearing impaired traveler.

If you think about, now you have one more reason to travel by train besides you can keep your shoes on and use the bathroom whenever you desire.  Because railroads operate at “ground level” instead of 35,000 feet there is a lot to see.  Not only can you see beautiful scenery, you also get to see many areas that you cannot see any other way because, often, rail corridors are in remote regions and predate the interstate system.

Good job Amtrak and the National Park Service for combining two wonderful aspects of America and keeping it current and accessible. If only the system had GPS capabilities…Shhh…nevermind!

You've Seen Yesterday, Now See the Future

You may have seen the numerous videos and coverage of Union Pacific’s legendary steam locomotive, UP No. 844 which is currently on duty leading the Valley Eagle Heritage Tour train or perhaps you are one of the lucky ones who saw her firsthand, either track side or on display during the tour.  Maybe even you have fond childhood memories of the steam behemoths roaming the country during the days of yesteryear. If you have then you will agree that it is truly a sight to behold.  What amazing machines steam engines are.

Now On May 8, 2010, you can see the newest in railroad motive-power technology, the Generator-Set (or Genset) switcher which is Union Pacific’s latest environmentally friendly design to join its fleet.

UPY 2681 - A Railpower RP20BD (RP20GE) 2000-horsepower Genset Switcher

The Union Pacific Railroad is exhibiting these 2000-horsepower locomotives during the festivities at several locations as part of the National Train Day celebration.  According to the Union Pacific, the Genset locomotive is scheduled to be on display at least these locations:

• Dallas Union Station
• Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC)
• Los Angeles Union Station

Union Pacific pioneered the Genset concept in 2002 and performance testing of a prototype Genset locomotive began on December 5, 2005, at Union Pacific’s Proviso rail yard near Chicago, Illinois.  UP currently has more than 160 such units on its roster.

Soon these locomotives will be more prevalent and in-service throughout the country.  That’s good news for us all because painted on the side of the locomotive are the words “Ultra Low Emissions Diesel Genset Switcher.” Based on these specifications, that is no idle claim:

• The Genset switcher reduces emissions of oxides of nitrogen by 80 percent and particulate matter by 90 percent. It also uses up to 37 percent less fuel compared to older switching locomotives. This fuel savings translates into a greenhouse gas reduction of up to 37 percent. The new 2,000-horsepower locomotives are powered by three 667-horsepower ultra-low-emissions, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) off-road Tier 3-certified diesel engines.
• At low throttle settings, only one of the engines operates, with the other two shut down. When additional power demand is needed, the second and third diesel engines automatically start and quickly go online, producing the right amount of electrical power required to move rail cars. When the Genset is not in use, all diesel engines automatically shut down to conserve fuel and reduce emissions.
• The Genset switcher is able to pull more rail cars at low speeds than other yard locomotives because the electric, or “traction,” motors are independently powered and controlled, giving it superior adhesion compared to a typical locomotive with series-parallel motor connections.

Be sure to stop-by your local rail event location on National Train Day, May 8, 2010, to check out the latest in railroad technology and services.  See you there!

Video of Union Pacific No. 844 on Display in Houston

Union Pacific’s 4-8-4 steam locomotive, No. 844, continued her excursion with the Valley Eagle Heritage Tour train today after spending yesterday on display in Houston, Texas.

 

The public was given an opportunity to get up close and personal with the legendary locomotive as she rested at the Amtrak Station in downtown Houston.  As the following video proves, complements of ABC13 Houston, fun was had by young and old alike!