What a difference a few decades makes...

When I was stationed in Norfolk, Va. with the Navy in the mid-1970s, I would often drive up to The D.C. area for trainwatching. I remember seeing and photographing Southern's "Southern Crescent", "Piedmont" and "Lynchburg Local" at the Alexandria, Va. depot.

Back then, the Lynchburg train, the remnant of the pre-Amrak "Birmingham Special", rarely ran with more than a single FP7 and rebuilt heavyweight coach, and was discontinued when Southern had the opportunity to do so.

Now, nearly 40 years later, that same route, operated by Amtrak and Virginia DOT, can boast of a full eight-car Regional train that routinely carries double the projected ridership -- and is actually producing a surplus of income!!!

If you run it, they will ride...