Inauguration Special?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:06 pm

It's a fact of life that, even WITH Amtrak contacts, I can get NO advance info on the planned "whistle stop" trip of Obama and Biden from Philly to DC on Saturday the 17th. (One Amtrak guy said there was a rumor about that the campaign asked if the train could be run from Springfield or Chicago......... much stomach-clutching gales of laughter supposedly answered said request....)

Has anyone witnessed or heard of preparations or movements of three of the likeliest "suspects"--Georgia 300, PRR 120 and/or the E8's, or the "armored" Ferdinand Magellan?

Scott Kwiatkowski · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:37 pm

Sandy,

Yes, but if told you I would have to kill you!

Scott Kwiatkowski

MIB, the other planet!

tomgears · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:59 pm

I'm sure we'd have heard reports if Ferdinand Magellan was heading North. Georgia 300 is also hardened and was also used by Obama in the past. Of course there is some equipment already in Philly. It's going to be interesting to see. We don't have too long to wait. There is supposed to be an "event" here in Wilmington but no details have been released as of yet. Not even to local Obama staffers.

tomgears · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:46 pm

From the Amtrak Website:

Quote:

Due to special security and train operations associated with presidential inaugural activities on Saturday, January 17, the Wilmington station will be closed from 10:00 am until 2:45 pm.

We appreciate your patronage and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience. For reservations and information, visit Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:41 pm

I heard a little while ago that Georgia 300 is supposed to be part of the special. I have a business associate whose brother is part of 300's crew.

HuckleBerry Foamer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:55 am

Interior shot of one of the cars????

Howard P. · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:48 am

That looks like a bus to me...

Howard P.
Prevost, CT

isaksenj · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:37 am

Or a mighty spiffy narrow-gauge lounge car! ;^P

(Hey, ya gotta have some fun with this!)

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:15 pm

What, Amtrak 10001, "Beech Grove" isn't good enough for a tail car? After all, this is supposed to be about the future, not the past. <G> And while I'm at it, what a sad commentary that 148 years after Lincoln made the trip, it's not logistically possible to get the President-elect from Illinois to DC in three days, no matter what your politics are.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:53 pm

You can certainly GET from Chicago to DC in three days, even via a tortuous routing, but such a schedule wouldn't allow for speech-making, blessings from The Anointed One, holy-water spraying...... oh, sorry, my cynicism is showing.

Late update: Georgia 300 confirmed:

http://www.claytoday.biz/content/675_1.php

Al Patterson · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:21 am

Here is the info from the SEPTA website.

http://www.septa.org/travel_advisory/regional_rail.html

In brief, one round trip appears to be cancelled during the trip between Philly and Wilmington, and Southbound Parking lots will be closed at 12:00 Saturday.

S. Weaver · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:31 pm

It was chilly and the lighting wasn't quite right, but here's the train at Perryville, MD. They were almost at track speed for the bridge.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =641056840

S. Weaver · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:45 pm

Here's the actual photo. It's a little bit better than the Facebook posting.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:37 am

Rejected by RailPictures, apparently because it doesn't prominently feature a loco, but for the next seven days:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreject. ... 1656&key=0

WalterS · **Joined:** Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:19 am **Posts:** 116

Looks like you where right below Luke.

http://flickr.com/photos/varocker07/3204835193/