On the Road to Roanoke in July 1987

In late July 1987, I met up with the Surdyk family (William, Marty, Robert and John) in Parma Heights on the first step of a Rails to Roanoke trip for the 1987 National Railway Historical Society convention.

It would be a week long adventure. Our first stop was Cass, West Virginia, to ride and photograph the Cass Scenic Railroad.

We then spent the next two days photographing the Chesapeake & Ohio mainline in West Virginia and Virginia while working our way to the Shenandoah line to catch the inbound convention trip from Alexandria, Virginia, to Roanoke.

We met up with it at Delaplane, Virginia, and were able to photograph it at least 12 locations. We rode the Thursday July 30 trip behind Norfolk & Western Class A No. 1218 from Roanoke to Bluefield, West Virginia.

N&W Class J No. 611 would power our return to Roanoke. We did some photography east of Roanoke prior to the equipment display on July 31, which will start the second part of this series.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Amtrak’s Cardinal at Fort Spring, West Virginia, on July 26, 1987.

Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia , on the C&O on July 27, 1987.

At Alleghany Tunnel in West Virginia on July 27, 1987. The locomotive engineer doing a roll by inspection is wearing a Chief Wahoo hat.

Southern FP7s on the Shenandoah line on July 29, 1987.

Southern FP7s at Buchanan, Virginia.

At Bedford, Virginia on July 31.

Ridership of Cardinal in W.Va. Fell 31% in FY 2019

Although ridership of Amtrak’s Chicago-New York Cardinal was up 12.6 percent in fiscal year 2019, it collectively fell 31 percent at the eight stations the train serves in West Virginia.

The tri-weekly Cardinal stops in the Mountain State at Huntington, Charleston, Montgomery, Thurmond, Prince, Hinton, Alderson, and White Sulphur Springs.

Those stations served 24,731 passengers in FY2019, but had handled 35,840 in FY2018.

Total ridership for the Cardinal in FY2019 was 108,935 compared with 96,710 the previous year.

That increase came despite Nos. 50 and 51 not serving the New York-Washington segment for eight a half months in 2018 due to construction at New York Penn Station.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin in a statement blamed adverse actions taken by Amtrak that have made it difficult for some to ride the train.

He singled out Amtrak’s closure of ticket offices, including the one in Charleston, the state capitol, on June 6, 2018.

No station served by Amtrak in West Virginia, including those on the route of the Chicago-Washington Capitol Limited in Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg, has a ticket office.

“Without a station agent, disabled West Virginians have difficulty accessing the train, and those without access to the Internet cannot buy tickets before they arrive,” Manchin said in his statement that also pointed out that he has heard from residents of the state who have been affected by the loss of agents at Amtrak stations.

Rail Passengers Association President Jim Mathews said that ridership typically declines at stations that lose a ticket agent.

In Charleston, ridership fell 26 percent from 11,251 passengers in FY2018 to 8,280 in FY2019.

Ridership in Huntington fell 55 percent from 10,784 passengers in FY2018 to 4,870 passengers in FY2019, while Hinton lost 58 percent of its ridership, falling from 5,836 to 2,456.

In White Sulphur Springs ridership dropped from 5,230 to 5,191, while ridership increased at Alderson (433 to 578) and Thurmond (285 to 364). Montgomery saw ridership decline from 347 to 275.

On the Capitol Limited route, ridership at the two West Virginia stops increased by 2.2 percent.

Ridership at Martinsburg nudged up from 10,784 to 10,917, while ridership at Harpers Ferry rose from 7,638 to 7,920.

Manchin has introduced a bill that would require Amtrak to have a station agent in every state that it serves.

He attempted to add similar language to FY2019 transportation appropriations but it was amended to require part-time station caretakers.

Those caretakers do not sell tickets or handled checked baggage.

This year, Manchin introduced stand-alone legislation that would mandate station agents in each state.

The Cardinal also serves Cincinnati and Indianapolis on a route that is primarily hosted by CSX.

Manchin Trying to Force Amtrak to Return Agents

A West Virginia senator wants federal law to require that every state served by Amtrak have at least one station agent.

Joe Manchin of West Virginia amended a pending fiscal year 2019 transportation appropriations bill to include the requirement after his state lost its last Amtrak ticket agent.

Amtrak closed the ticket office in Charleston, West Virginia, on June 7.

Manchin’s amendment also requires Amtrak to justify its decision to increase prices for special and charter trains, and to stop accepting private railroad cars in Huntington, West Virginia.

In a statement, Manchin said removing the agent at the Charleston station will make it harder for Amtrak to attract new customers and retain the ones it already has.

“Amtrak has told me that most of their sales are now online, but West Virginians buy far more tickets at the Charleston station than most places around the country. That’s not surprising, as nearly 30 percent of West Virginia is without internet access, and mobile broadband access is also difficult in my state’s rugged, mountainous terrain, making online ticket sales difficult,” he said.

Charleston is served by Amtrak’s tri-weekly Chicago-Washington Cardinal.

Manchin Pleads for Charleston Ticket Agent

A West Virginia senator is seeking to get Amtrak to delay plans to close a ticket offices his state.

Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) wrote to the passenger carrier to express “serious concerns” about the criteria Amtrak used to determine which ticket offices to close.

In a letter to Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson, Manchin said removing the ticket agent from Charleston on June 6 “will not only deprive the state of West Virginia of its last Amtrak ticket agent, but will also compromise safety and upkeep of the facility, and make access more difficult for potential customers.”

Manchin said that Charleston handled 9,749 passengers in federal fiscal year 2017, which works out to more than 62 passengers per day for each day that the tri-weekly Cardinal operates there.

He said Amtrak’s decision to calculate ridership on a weekly basis ignores the fact that the Cardinal does not operate daily. “The policy penalizes Charleston’s station for part-time service without allowing it to be a full-time station.”

Manchin also said 30 percent of West Virginia lacks Internet access and that mobile broadband access is limited in many parts of the state.

New River Train Gets High Green

Amtrak and the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society have reached a tentative agreement to allow the New River Train to operate this year.

The group has resumed selling tickets for the excursion, which originates in Huntington, West Virginia, and operates over a former Chesapeake & Ohio mainline to Hinton, West Virginia.

The annual excursion, which has operated for more than 50 years, had been threatened by an Amtrak policy change prohibiting most specials and charters.

Huntington Society officials said that the trip will be more expensive and some operations will change from what they have been.

New River Train Assistant General Manager Joe Rosenthal said fares will be much higher than they were in 2017.

The website for the train shows fares ranging from $170 to $600. It is not clear if these are the most recent fares because tickets originally went on sale in January.

The group is also examining costs and seeking ways to save money as well as make the operations more efficient.

The New River Train will run on the third and fourth weekends of October.

West Virginia officials along with Society members recently met with Amtrak management to discuss the train and emphasized the economic impact that it has on West Virginia.

Tickets are being sold at at www.newrivertrain.com

Cincinnati, Charleston Amtrak Ticket Offices to Close

Amtrak plans to close its ticket offices in Cincinnati and Charleston, West Virginia, in early June, which will mean that no stations in that state will have Amtrak agents.

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones called the closing a terrible inconvenience for anyone who rides trains.

The mayor said many people are not Internet savvy, and information about trains is not always up to date.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the station waiting room will remain open. Charleston, which closes on June 6, and Cincinnati, which closes on June 5, are served by the tri-weekly Chicago-Washington Cardinal.

Magliari said the closings are being done to save money and because the volume of business done at ticket counters continues to decline. Altogether, Amtrak plans to close 15 ticket offices and eliminate 22 agent jobs over the next few weeks.

“Nine out of 10 tickets across the country are purchased online,” Magliari said.

Amtrak within the past year also closed ticket offices in Huntington and Prince, West Virginia. The carrier is targeting stations serving 40 or fewer passengers a day.

Passengers boarding the Cardinal in Charleston or Cincinnati will have to purchase their ticket online, from a travel agent or aboard the train by paying cash to the conductor.

Closing of the Amtrak ticket office in Cincinnati will mean the only ticket windows still open in Ohio will be in Cleveland and Toledo.

W.Va. Officials Optimistic About Saving New River Train

West Virginia officials say they had a productive meeting with Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson about continuing the annual New River Train and expressed optimism that a deal will be worked out.

In a news release, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin said the service has had a stellar record with no operational issues or citations

“I made sure that Amtrak knew the impact this would have on our economy and local non-profit,” Manchin said in the release. “Richard Anderson and I both agree that we need to find a solution and I received a commitment from him that they are committed to continuing their partnership with [the] Collis P. Huntington [Railroad Historical Society] and finding a solution that both sides are happy with.”

Echoing that was Rep. Even Jenkins who said the meeting has moved the New River Train one step closer to operating.

“There are still some issues that remain to be resolved, but every single person in the room wants to keep the New River Train running,” he said in a news release. “I will continue to work to ensure the New River Train runs for a 52nd year this fall and am encouraged by the results of today’s discussion.”

The New River Train has operated for 51 years, most recently between Huntington and Hinton.

Its continued existence has been threatened by a new Amtrak policy that bans most special and charter movements.

Of late, Amtrak has expressed some willingness to allow a limited number of specials that use routes covered by scheduled Amtrak trains.

In the case of the New River Train, it uses CSX tracks also used by Amtrak’s Cardinal.

West Virginia interests have said the New River Train generates $5 million in tourism dollars.

Jenkins said that Anderson understands that the New River Train has a 50-year history and economic impact that distinguishes it from other charter trains.

Amtrak, W.Va. Officials to Talk about New River Train

Amtrak executives will meet today with public officials from West Virginia to discuss the future of the New River Train, which operates annually in the fall between Huntington and Hinton.

The train, which has operated for the past 51 years, is in danger of being canceled after Amtrak said last month that it would no longer operate specials and charters.

The passenger carrier also has been restricting the use of its trains by privately-owned rail cars although a formal policy in that regard has yet to be announced.

Last week some West Virginia officials indicated that Amtrak had said it might make an exception to its policy to enable the New River Train to continue operating.

There has been discussion that Amtrak might be amendable to allow select specials to run on routes over which it operates scheduled trains.

The New River Train uses the part of the route of the tri-weekly Chicago-Washington Cardinal.

The train, sponsored by the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society, has been touted for its economic impact, which has been put at $5 million.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin asked Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson for a meeting to discuss the future of the New River Train.

“I will continue doing everything I can to fix this problem,” Manchin said in a news release.

W.Va. Senate OKs Daily Cardinal Legislation

A bill that seeks to promote daily operation of Amtrak’s Chicago-New York Cardinal is poised to pass the West Virginia legislature and be sent to Gov. Jim Justice.

The Senate approved the legislation on a 32-1 vote this week without discussion.

HB 2856 had been approved on March 22 on a 95-5 vote by the House of Delegates.

The House must concur in a title amendment to the bill before it reaches the governor’s desk.

The bill has the support of the Justice administration. “I couldn’t be more solidly behind it. It’s integral to tourism to have that train operating daily,” said Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher said of the legislation, which does not appropriate any funding for operating expenses of the now tri-weekly train.

Instead, it authorizes the state Tourism commissioner to enter into compact agreements with other states served by the Cardinal, and with Amtrak to improve the quality and frequency of Cardinal service.

The commissioner will be allowed to establish a special revenue account in which funds could be deposited to promote daily Cardinal service.

The Cardinal passes through West Virginia in both directions on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, serving Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs and Prince.

Storm Disrupts Rail Service in West Virginia

A severe storm that dumped more than 6 inches of rain on parts of West Virginia played havoc with railroad operations in the state.

The Alleghany and New River subdivisions of CSX between Clifton Forge, Virginia, and Handley, West Virginia, were closed.

Also closed was the Kanawha Subdivision near Huntington, West Virginia. Workers on Friday were clearing downed trees and evaluating the damage caused by rock and mud slides.

In some areas, track was submerged in water and culverts had washed out beneath the tracks.

Trains magazine reported on Friday that CSX appeared to be focusing on reopening its mainlines before moving on to fixing damage on branch lines in the state.

Amtrak’s westbound Cardinal that was to leave New York on Friday morning was canceled.

The eastbound Cardinal that departed Chicago on late Thursday afternoon terminated in Indianapolis and its equipment was to turn back on Saturday (June 25) to run to Chicago.

The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad cancelled its Cheat Mountain Salamander tourist train out of Elkins on Friday due to a track washout between mileposts 56 and 58.

The Cass Scenic Railroad suffered flooding near Back Mountain Road grade crossing.