I have fond memories of riding Amtrak from Tampa to Clearwater and St. Petersburg in the early 80s. The "S Line" ran from Tampa Union east on State Road 60, then turned north. That portion was removed from CSX after Amtrak decided to stop running trains to Pinellas due to the circuititious route and the numerous slow speed sections. Yet, the line was still deemed to have a lot of potential. Was a very sad day in 1986 when the trains stopped running to Pinellas.
National Train Day in Tampa is bittersweet. Tampa now only has the Silver Star servicing while the Silver Meteor is only reached by connecting bus. Up until 1979, we had 6 trains a day at TUS (3 northbound, 3 southbound). In the 80s, it was 4 trains. Now it's 1 northbound; 1southbound. New locomotives, newer cars but to me service has not improved. IMHO, Florida service was at its best in the early 80s when the Heritage cars were rebuilt & Amfleet 2 cars were new. Star & Meteor both came to TUS.
@howardkevinm Not exactly. Tampa's Union Station is indeed a stub in facility but the rails that go past Union Station to the west actually go through downtown Tampa and follow the Crosstown Expressway to Port Tampa as an industrial spur of the A line, according to a video by RUclips user distantsignal. However, to get to St. Petersburg a train would have to go east on the A line into Uceta yards and then switch over to the SY line and follow it through Clearwater to St. Petersburg.
I have fond memories of riding Amtrak from Tampa to Clearwater and St. Petersburg in the early 80s. The "S Line" ran from Tampa Union east on State Road 60, then turned north. That portion was removed from CSX after Amtrak decided to stop running trains to Pinellas due to the circuititious route and the numerous slow speed sections. Yet, the line was still deemed to have a lot of potential. Was a very sad day in 1986 when the trains stopped running to Pinellas.
Wow thats neat- I was at one outside of Chicago in Franklin Park last year... Cool to see what Tampa had going on!
Nice video! i was coming home from new york with my friend,who happens to working with amtrak.5*****
National Train Day in Tampa is bittersweet. Tampa now only has the Silver Star servicing while the Silver Meteor is only reached by connecting bus. Up until 1979, we had 6 trains a day at TUS (3 northbound, 3 southbound). In the 80s, it was 4 trains. Now it's 1 northbound; 1southbound. New locomotives, newer cars but to me service has not improved. IMHO, Florida service was at its best in the early 80s when the Heritage cars were rebuilt & Amfleet 2 cars were new. Star & Meteor both came to TUS.
@howardkevinm Not exactly. Tampa's Union Station is indeed a stub in facility but the rails that go past Union Station to the west actually go through downtown Tampa and follow the Crosstown Expressway to Port Tampa as an industrial spur of the A line, according to a video by RUclips user distantsignal. However, to get to St. Petersburg a train would have to go east on the A line into Uceta yards and then switch over to the SY line and follow it through Clearwater to St. Petersburg.
what type of car was the first car on that model daylight train?
cool.They probably removed them because of probably some sort of money reason.If they kept them,we would get lots more action.