Pdxrailtransit Wrote:
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> It is typical of the small mindedness of some of
> the people on this board, that they would reduce
> my pro-railpassenger stance as a "railfan
> fantasy." My "fantasy," is for the U.S. to wean
> itself from air and automobile travel.

When the US returns to the days of:

1. crowded cities, with butchers, clothiers, grocers and etc on every block,
2. scheduled passenger rail service to every little podunk town in the land
3. clean, well scheduled reliable rail service between those little podunk towns,
4. taxpayers willing to fund this system
5. ....etc

I may be able to wean myself from my automobile, til then...

I would
> like to be able to travel to every major city in
> this country by rail. I do not want to travel
> across this country again on the Interstate and
> see the hideous blight that is Offramp America.
>
I rather concur here, but, this is what we want. We want/need to know that no matter where we go we will be able to find reliable standardized services, gas, motels, groceries and etc.

Depot America was a far superior place,

nah, even in the 50's when I took my first train ride (B&MRR, behind steam no less) the train depot was in the downward part of town.

and
> flying?

Likewise, I miss, a bit, the old days when air service provided leg/seat room, in-flight meals with menus, and stainless flatware. Boy, those days are gone!

How US citizens tolerate their complete
> suspension of human rights and dignity just to fly

I highly recommend that you not give a transit cop a hard time on the Chicago Transit Auth.

In
> case you haven't noticed (and if you are a railfan
> you should have) the whole country is being
> TSA-ized.

And, ultimately, who's fault is that? Don't like it? Complain to your congressman. It won't work but, you can try.

As I type this, the stock market is down over 500!!! points. I doubt the US will be in a position to provide the idealized transportation infrastructure that you propose.

Perhaps a small investment in one of those "Sims" computer games will tide you over.