In case anyone is intrested Good Morning America will be broad casting live from the rails next week. They are doing 7 states on antique trains. Here is a link http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5750276
Thanks for the link. Look forward ot it.
What happened to that special engine they had built with the satilite pods?
Dave
Now we know what that was for!
I just got a bulletin on the local train list. The GMA Train’s first stop will be Stockbridge, MA on the Housatonic Railroad. This is the same short-line that I rail-fan near my work. Even better is that the train arrives on Friday to spend the weekend setting up at the Berkshire Scenic Railroad in Lenox, MA.
The Antique Cars are Bennet Levin’s Juniata Terminal Company - Pensylvania Railroad coach and observation car. Too bad GMA wasn’t willing to pay Bennet for his matched PRR E8’s that are Amtrack approved. That would have been a cool consist 
Sounds like a Road Trip this weekend
Geez, Jon, no wonder you get nothing done on your RR…
What can I say? This is just a happenin’ place
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to Lennox, MA over the weekend to see the dry-run of the Whistle Stop tour. My car is ailing and the weather was less than ideal. I did manage to see a few stills of the train at Stockbridge, MA and heard some reports of the action via our local Yahoo group. Here are some pictures taken by some of the guys on the list… GMA Train coming down the Housatonic on Friday
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/GMA-640-1.jpg)
GMA Train arriving in Lennox, MA on Friday - Housatonic GM Bob Bass on the steps of #3600
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/GMA-640-2.jpg)
GMA Train at Stockbridge, MA on Saturday
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/GMA-640-3.jpg)
In these photos, the leading engines are facing South. I’m not sure where they they turned the train (no place big enough on the Housy), but this morning the Amtrak engines were on point at the North end with Bennett Levin’s Pensy Observation Car on the rear with the train traveling North. Unfortunately I was only able to catch a few minutes of today’s show.
Nice pictures. I got to see the first half hour. I could not find a list of the stopes for each state. Do you have that link
I haven’t seen a list. I only knew two of the first three. I also didn’t know about teh big ‘official sendoff’ and crew boarding in Worcester, MA on Sunday. Saw it on the ABC News website this morning.
The technology being used is very cool.
I’m hoping they come through my train town of Ashland, Va. If I could only find a schedule. Doesn’t seem to be posted on the abcnews.com site.
Anyone find a schedule of stops yet?
Paul
OOOPS - A senior moment…
Jon Radder said:
GMA Train at Stockbridge, MA on Saturday(http://lsc.cvsry.com/GMA-640-3.jpg)
In these photos, the leading engines are facing South. I’m not sure where they they turned the train (no place big enough on the Housy), but this morning the Amtrak engines were on point at the North end with Bennett Levin’s Pensy Observation Car on the rear with the train traveling North. Unfortunately I was only able to catch a few minutes of today’s show.
WRONG. The Amtrak engine is facing South and was also facing South on Monday for the show. I had the station stops for Monday morning geographically reversed in my head. The train departed Lennox, MA and headed South on the Housatonic RR stopping in Lee and then Stockbridge, MA. At Stockbridge, while the TV audience watched James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma perform, The Housatonic power shown on the siding was tied in to the North end of the train and lead it back to the former B&A main line at Pittsfield, MA. where the Amtrak power then pulled the train West. There wasn’t a need to turn, or run-around the train for the trip West to Niagara Falls, NY. Still no hint of a schedule of stops.
Jon Radder said:
OOOPS - A senior moment…Jon Radder said:
GMA Train at Stockbridge, MA on Saturday(http://lsc.cvsry.com/GMA-640-3.jpg)
In these photos, the leading engines are facing South. I’m not sure where they they turned the train (no place big enough on the Housy), but this morning the Amtrak engines were on point at the North end with Bennett Levin’s Pensy Observation Car on the rear with the train traveling North. Unfortunately I was only able to catch a few minutes of today’s show.
WRONG. The Amtrak engine is facing South and was also facing South on Monday for the show. I had the station stops for Monday morning geographically reversed in my head. The train departed Lennox, MA and headed South on the Housatonic RR stopping in Lee and then Stockbridge, MA. At Stockbridge, while the TV audience watched James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma perform, The Housatonic power shown on the siding was tied in to the North end of the train and lead it back to the former B&A main line at Pittsfield, MA. where the Amtrak power then pulled the train West. There wasn’t a need to turn, or run-around the train for the trip West to Niagara Falls, NY. Still no hint of a schedule of stops.
I have a feeling they are keeping it fairly quite that way they dont get a mass amount of people flowing into the small towns. Like today they had Brad paisly playing and not that many people showed up for the concert. Especially one like that that would bring thousands. They must be doing a few days or less notice when they advertise.
Just found this shot of the GMA Train leaving Housatonic rails on Monday. HRRC GP-38-2 power is leading the train North, back to the former B&A mainline at Pittsfield, MA.
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/GMA-640-4.jpg)
Again, this is not my photo. Taken by John Bazan from the HRRC Yahoo group.
Why are they doing this? I haven’t had a chance to watch, yet, so I’m out of the loop. I’ve got tomorrows show TIVO’d but since it’s the last one from Wash D.C., I doubt that I’ll get the full flavor. Can anyone enlighten me?
They are basicaly hitting all 50 states in 50 days. the main point of it is due to the upcoming election. It has been very intresting because they are getting away from the everyday BS and going from one small town to another, getting people like us to talk about todays concerns etc… like the economy. They also have been throwing in a lot of history and some train related things. Im not big on watching this stuff but I have to admit, I have been really enjoying it. They show what it is like away from the cities etc…
Sorry I missed it. Any talk of a special?
I have been watching it since day one and was actually late for work because of such! Who cares my name is on the building I’ll go in when I please…I’m a one man show though:lol:
I feel it’s brilliant of GMA too do such, it really covers America and where we were and where we are now. Rail built quite a bit of this country as we all know. Day one of the show Dianne Sawyer(?) stated in MA that they just past 5 mills that have since closed down on the back of a Pennsy heavy. I’m a young man by the standards here and you guys/the site are just great. I’m rambling but I want to say cudo’s to GMA and this series.
Another tidbit picked up off the local Yahoo group…
It seems that because of all of the technology on-board they must carefully plan any run-around moves. The Amtrak Genesis units provide 480V HEP (Head End Power). ABC is using stepped down voltage from the HEP to run all of their video editing and production gear, plus the satellite uplink gear. This hi-tech stuff needs an orderly shut-down before disconnecting the HEP, and then takes quite a while to come back up.
This may explain the odd routing of the train from Lenox, MA to Washington DC via Niagara Falls, NY, Ohio, Pittsburgh, PA, and Harpers Ferry, WV.