North Carolina by Rail: Amtrak Carolinian and Piedmont Trains
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Date: 2023-08-28
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Comments and reviews: 30
Matt
I think Texas could really benefit from this type of service but there really is zero local or state interest in it. I live in a place that is home to over half a million in population or better in our MSA and is 2 hours away from any significant major metropolitan location like San Antonio (2 hours) or HOU (3-4 hours. While we have a simple, effective and easy to use airport, you basically have two options to fly. Dallas or Houston. Regional markets are basically closed off unless you want an often very time consuming and cumbersome transfer at one of those choke points. The biggest issue here in Texas seems to be eminent domain and property owner rights. My suggestion was cut a deal out to run lines in the medians of the interstate system or on the Interstate ROW. My suggestion went basically unheard by the legislature and TXDOT. The advantages of connecting Corpus Christi to Lubbock, El Paso, Austin, Laredo, Houston, and Tyler by rail--with minor stops could be a real economic game changer but it is going to be a really hard legislative sell. If you ask me, Texas is an ideal market for this sort of service and the economic advantages are seriously endless.
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I think Texas could really benefit from this type of service but there really is zero local or state interest in it. I live in a place that is home to over half a million in population or better in our MSA and is 2 hours away from any significant major metropolitan location like San Antonio (2 hours) or HOU (3-4 hours. While we have a simple, effective and easy to use airport, you basically have two options to fly. Dallas or Houston. Regional markets are basically closed off unless you want an often very time consuming and cumbersome transfer at one of those choke points. The biggest issue here in Texas seems to be eminent domain and property owner rights. My suggestion was cut a deal out to run lines in the medians of the interstate system or on the Interstate ROW. My suggestion went basically unheard by the legislature and TXDOT. The advantages of connecting Corpus Christi to Lubbock, El Paso, Austin, Laredo, Houston, and Tyler by rail--with minor stops could be a real economic game changer but it is going to be a really hard legislative sell. If you ask me, Texas is an ideal market for this sort of service and the economic advantages are seriously endless.
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Scotty
Jeb Brooks hey the S-line from Salisbury to Asheville owned by Norfolk Southern up until 2020 10+ trains a day run that line in 2020 when NS closed its Lynwood yard it reduced that line to almost nothing 2 maybe 3 trains a week an not even using the whole line id like to see Amtrak and NCRR return to Asheville on the S-line it did a Asheville run as part of the Carolinian an piedmont part broke off at Salisbury an one went on to charlotte the other went to Asheville then it would return to Salisbury join back up an go on to Raleigh it has been mentioned in the proposed new services Amtrak is looking at with their part of the infrastructure bill what do u think i think an Asheville service would be very popular the mountains used to serviced by multiple rail services before 1970 now it has none also another service that Amtrak an the NCRR are looking into is a service to Wilmington from rocky mount on a little used CSX line
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Jeb Brooks hey the S-line from Salisbury to Asheville owned by Norfolk Southern up until 2020 10+ trains a day run that line in 2020 when NS closed its Lynwood yard it reduced that line to almost nothing 2 maybe 3 trains a week an not even using the whole line id like to see Amtrak and NCRR return to Asheville on the S-line it did a Asheville run as part of the Carolinian an piedmont part broke off at Salisbury an one went on to charlotte the other went to Asheville then it would return to Salisbury join back up an go on to Raleigh it has been mentioned in the proposed new services Amtrak is looking at with their part of the infrastructure bill what do u think i think an Asheville service would be very popular the mountains used to serviced by multiple rail services before 1970 now it has none also another service that Amtrak an the NCRR are looking into is a service to Wilmington from rocky mount on a little used CSX line
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David
Jeb, Michigan has something somewhat similar I know. Amtrak operates trains from Grand Rapids (Michigan's 2nd largest city) to Chicago and Port Huron to Chicago. The state subsidizes them and I'm sure they would not exist without the subsidy. I think this may be the better way to go for passenger rail service in the USA. Let the states pay for additional lines to connect to Amtrak main lines. I know there are many rail fans in Ohio that would like to see this with the so-called 3C route. Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati but Ohio has big political problems these days so I doubt it will happen soon. You know what it reminds me of, State or County Highways that connect to Interstates. States have no problem spending money on that, why not rail!
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Jeb, Michigan has something somewhat similar I know. Amtrak operates trains from Grand Rapids (Michigan's 2nd largest city) to Chicago and Port Huron to Chicago. The state subsidizes them and I'm sure they would not exist without the subsidy. I think this may be the better way to go for passenger rail service in the USA. Let the states pay for additional lines to connect to Amtrak main lines. I know there are many rail fans in Ohio that would like to see this with the so-called 3C route. Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati but Ohio has big political problems these days so I doubt it will happen soon. You know what it reminds me of, State or County Highways that connect to Interstates. States have no problem spending money on that, why not rail!
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Charles
I think a tourism line from Savannah GA to VA Beach, VA. In NC Ashville, Charlotte, to Wilmington, the south line Ashville, Raleigh, to Wilmington, north line. Connected with the coastal beach line at Wilmington. The reason I say VA Beach for the northern end. I think there is connection to VA Beach from DC and Baltimore, connected to main line New England Amtrak. Make it easy and take a significant strain of central coast tourism off of the I 95 corridor. Make the train ride part of the vacation. Maybe even part of the vacation deal in conjunction with the resorts and hotels. Maybe even cooperatives that let people spend a night or two at different beaches along the coastal route.
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I think a tourism line from Savannah GA to VA Beach, VA. In NC Ashville, Charlotte, to Wilmington, the south line Ashville, Raleigh, to Wilmington, north line. Connected with the coastal beach line at Wilmington. The reason I say VA Beach for the northern end. I think there is connection to VA Beach from DC and Baltimore, connected to main line New England Amtrak. Make it easy and take a significant strain of central coast tourism off of the I 95 corridor. Make the train ride part of the vacation. Maybe even part of the vacation deal in conjunction with the resorts and hotels. Maybe even cooperatives that let people spend a night or two at different beaches along the coastal route.
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Derek
The best way to go to the state fair if you live on the Amtrak line is by train. I went in 2009 by train. They have a ticket agent on the train to sell you the ticket to get in the fair and drop you off at the gates. You just walk in while others are in line to buy a ticket watching you just walk in. Lol. There's a staging area for you to go to when it's time to get back on the train to go home. They tell you the time to be there to make sure you don't miss the train. I went from High Point to the fair and back. I live in Salisbury NC now so I will have a longer time on the train if I go next year.
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The best way to go to the state fair if you live on the Amtrak line is by train. I went in 2009 by train. They have a ticket agent on the train to sell you the ticket to get in the fair and drop you off at the gates. You just walk in while others are in line to buy a ticket watching you just walk in. Lol. There's a staging area for you to go to when it's time to get back on the train to go home. They tell you the time to be there to make sure you don't miss the train. I went from High Point to the fair and back. I live in Salisbury NC now so I will have a longer time on the train if I go next year.
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DustedThrusters
The Carolinian and the Piedmont are such cool services! I wish more states in the South had solid state intercity systems like North Carolina has. It would be so nice to take the train to get around cities in Georgia or Tennessee. Think how awesome it would be to cruise around Texas for $12 without needing to get on I10 or I35 and bake in traffic. Also Raleigh's new station is really nice looking. I love the modern fusion with the traditional. And it even has a leg-up on huge stations like Moynihan Train Hall - BENCHES!
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The Carolinian and the Piedmont are such cool services! I wish more states in the South had solid state intercity systems like North Carolina has. It would be so nice to take the train to get around cities in Georgia or Tennessee. Think how awesome it would be to cruise around Texas for $12 without needing to get on I10 or I35 and bake in traffic. Also Raleigh's new station is really nice looking. I love the modern fusion with the traditional. And it even has a leg-up on huge stations like Moynihan Train Hall - BENCHES!
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intercityrailpal
The North Carolina RR is a good idea and must be retained by the state! NS would never put the income back in the trains. It would go into their pockets. Cars are former KCS Cars. Which stopped in 1969 after it lost it's mail and package services. The KCS train was called the SOUTHERN BELLE. Coaches were built in 1965 the last ones before Am fleet on Amtrak. Loss of mail in 1967 killed the Belle and thousands of other trains. Cut back downsized underfunded Amtrak was the result.
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The North Carolina RR is a good idea and must be retained by the state! NS would never put the income back in the trains. It would go into their pockets. Cars are former KCS Cars. Which stopped in 1969 after it lost it's mail and package services. The KCS train was called the SOUTHERN BELLE. Coaches were built in 1965 the last ones before Am fleet on Amtrak. Loss of mail in 1967 killed the Belle and thousands of other trains. Cut back downsized underfunded Amtrak was the result.
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Braxton
I think the piedmont should also go from Asheville all the way to Morehead city and should be called the North Carolina mountains to sea. I say that because I live in Dover an hour and a half away from Raleigh and the closet Amtrak or any passenger train comes to us is the corridor that goes through Fayetteville, Selma, Dunn, Wilson, Rocky Mount and other towns it Would be nice for to truly go to from the mountains to the actual coast like the mountains to sea trail.
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I think the piedmont should also go from Asheville all the way to Morehead city and should be called the North Carolina mountains to sea. I say that because I live in Dover an hour and a half away from Raleigh and the closet Amtrak or any passenger train comes to us is the corridor that goes through Fayetteville, Selma, Dunn, Wilson, Rocky Mount and other towns it Would be nice for to truly go to from the mountains to the actual coast like the mountains to sea trail.
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meeshaphrenic
So nostalgic, back when I lived just blocks from the station in Greensboro (off Spring Garden) I took my kiddo to the Museum of Natural History in Raleigh using Amtrak. It was less than gas and my Thomas the train obsessed kiddo LOVED it. I wish we had Amtrak in TN, I live in Chattanooga now and you'd think we'd actually have passenger rail given the whole Chattanooga Choo Choo thing. I'd love to hop a train to downtown ATL or Nashville for a quick day trip.
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So nostalgic, back when I lived just blocks from the station in Greensboro (off Spring Garden) I took my kiddo to the Museum of Natural History in Raleigh using Amtrak. It was less than gas and my Thomas the train obsessed kiddo LOVED it. I wish we had Amtrak in TN, I live in Chattanooga now and you'd think we'd actually have passenger rail given the whole Chattanooga Choo Choo thing. I'd love to hop a train to downtown ATL or Nashville for a quick day trip.
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Elski
Hey, Jeb, Vermont just got a more direct connection from NYC to our largest city, Burlington. To check us off your list, come up on one, and go down on the other, because whereas the Ethan Allen comes jp the Hudson Valley and Lakes George and Champlain, The Vermonter runs through central Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Both are day trains, and The Vermonter can seem pokey, but both provide some of the finest and little known scenery in the country.
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Hey, Jeb, Vermont just got a more direct connection from NYC to our largest city, Burlington. To check us off your list, come up on one, and go down on the other, because whereas the Ethan Allen comes jp the Hudson Valley and Lakes George and Champlain, The Vermonter runs through central Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Both are day trains, and The Vermonter can seem pokey, but both provide some of the finest and little known scenery in the country.
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Tamara
While living in a New Jersey shore town, my husband worked in Brooklyn. On a day off, I would often ride New Jersey Transit trains to Manhattan for date night. It was a commuter train, so it made multiple stops, 1 lengthy one at Newark, before arriving at NYC Penn Station. It took 2 hours, but I much preferred it over driving. As a flight attendant based in NYC, I would have to allow myself 3 hours to drive to JFK. I don't recall this train ever being late.
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While living in a New Jersey shore town, my husband worked in Brooklyn. On a day off, I would often ride New Jersey Transit trains to Manhattan for date night. It was a commuter train, so it made multiple stops, 1 lengthy one at Newark, before arriving at NYC Penn Station. It took 2 hours, but I much preferred it over driving. As a flight attendant based in NYC, I would have to allow myself 3 hours to drive to JFK. I don't recall this train ever being late.
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BillynNC
Hello Jeb this is a great video I enjoyed it greatly but sorry it would have been an awesome addition to the video if you have covered what is available for those who are handicapped. Maybe on another trip to Raleigh you could explore what is included on the two trains. I to live in Greensboro and have thought about doing day trips to explore museums etc. Being handicapped and in a powered wheelchair I would enjoyed this information.
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Hello Jeb this is a great video I enjoyed it greatly but sorry it would have been an awesome addition to the video if you have covered what is available for those who are handicapped. Maybe on another trip to Raleigh you could explore what is included on the two trains. I to live in Greensboro and have thought about doing day trips to explore museums etc. Being handicapped and in a powered wheelchair I would enjoyed this information.
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Matthew
The piedmont would do better to be extended further east into Greenville Newbern Morehead city, and possibly Wilmington. Those areas are terribly under served by Amtrak. They currently have connecting buses, but would be better off with trains, especially Greenville and it also should extend west towards Asheville. Not just Piedmont but Carolinian as well in that direction Asheville is a tourist destination as is Morehead city
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The piedmont would do better to be extended further east into Greenville Newbern Morehead city, and possibly Wilmington. Those areas are terribly under served by Amtrak. They currently have connecting buses, but would be better off with trains, especially Greenville and it also should extend west towards Asheville. Not just Piedmont but Carolinian as well in that direction Asheville is a tourist destination as is Morehead city
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Thomas
Raleigh Union Station will serve the NC Railroad trains, the Amtrak Service between NY and CLT, and NY and Florida. When completed, the travel times to and from NY will be considerably faster over the new SE High Speed Rail Line which is being constructed mostly over Seaboard Air Line right of way from Raleigh to Petersburg. When the old station was named, it served trains on these three plus other rights of way.
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Raleigh Union Station will serve the NC Railroad trains, the Amtrak Service between NY and CLT, and NY and Florida. When completed, the travel times to and from NY will be considerably faster over the new SE High Speed Rail Line which is being constructed mostly over Seaboard Air Line right of way from Raleigh to Petersburg. When the old station was named, it served trains on these three plus other rights of way.
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Brenton
14: 48 The corridor between Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland. Basically just the I-71 corridor.
Idk why it has taken so long to try and get stuff moving on that, but I hear now that Amtrak is preparing to get stuff moving on services there. It is quite outrageous that Columbus, Ohio's most populated city, has no commuter or intercity rail services of any kind.
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14: 48 The corridor between Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland. Basically just the I-71 corridor.
Idk why it has taken so long to try and get stuff moving on that, but I hear now that Amtrak is preparing to get stuff moving on services there. It is quite outrageous that Columbus, Ohio's most populated city, has no commuter or intercity rail services of any kind.
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Brad
I had no idea. I'm going to take advantage of this my next time in Charlotte. I handle a territory in the Southeast and Raleigh is a good 6+ hr car ride for me from north Atlanta. I can get to Charlotte in under 4 though. Wish we had some good regional trains from Atlanta to the Carolina's. Could make a stop in Athens, GA that would definitely get some use. Go Dawgs!
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I had no idea. I'm going to take advantage of this my next time in Charlotte. I handle a territory in the Southeast and Raleigh is a good 6+ hr car ride for me from north Atlanta. I can get to Charlotte in under 4 though. Wish we had some good regional trains from Atlanta to the Carolina's. Could make a stop in Athens, GA that would definitely get some use. Go Dawgs!
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GDR
Summer 2023 will bring a 4th round trip.
California still has the best state supported amtrak system with Surfliner (10RT going to 13RT this summer), Captial corridor (12RT going back to 15RT daily) and San Joaquin (7RT going to 10RT) all are set to increase service massively in the next few year with statewide plans to grow service to more places.
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Summer 2023 will bring a 4th round trip.
California still has the best state supported amtrak system with Surfliner (10RT going to 13RT this summer), Captial corridor (12RT going back to 15RT daily) and San Joaquin (7RT going to 10RT) all are set to increase service massively in the next few year with statewide plans to grow service to more places.
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Jacob
I live in the western part of the state, and I really wish there were more, or really any, rail service over here. To get anywhere you have to drive a few hours into the nightmare of Charlotte traffic, which kind of nullifys the point of a train, lol. It would be amazing if they had a service in Asheville. I think it would do really well.
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I live in the western part of the state, and I really wish there were more, or really any, rail service over here. To get anywhere you have to drive a few hours into the nightmare of Charlotte traffic, which kind of nullifys the point of a train, lol. It would be amazing if they had a service in Asheville. I think it would do really well.
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fireAK
It would be really, really nice if there was service to Asheville going either east or north/south.
I live 90 miles west of Asheville, and the nearest Amtrak Station is in Taccoa, GA.
Having recently moved to the east coast from Alaska, I was super disappointed at the lack of rail infrastructure here.
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It would be really, really nice if there was service to Asheville going either east or north/south.
I live 90 miles west of Asheville, and the nearest Amtrak Station is in Taccoa, GA.
Having recently moved to the east coast from Alaska, I was super disappointed at the lack of rail infrastructure here.
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William
I can't believe that the whole time I went to UNCG in the late 90's and early 2000's I never took the train from Greensboro to Raleigh. I drove I-40 so many times between the two and never thought to take the train. Since then I've taken them a bunch and love it if I'm not in a hurry.
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I can't believe that the whole time I went to UNCG in the late 90's and early 2000's I never took the train from Greensboro to Raleigh. I drove I-40 so many times between the two and never thought to take the train. Since then I've taken them a bunch and love it if I'm not in a hurry.
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Resident
What you are missing with the union track is it might be a fart in the face from the revolutionary war where in the union beet the south with their anaconda plan. Which was by destroying our railroads and stations they limit our goods and its named union as a reminder? Just a guess
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What you are missing with the union track is it might be a fart in the face from the revolutionary war where in the union beet the south with their anaconda plan. Which was by destroying our railroads and stations they limit our goods and its named union as a reminder? Just a guess
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Danny
Would like to see a connection to the coast near Wilmington. The old Wilmington & Western which grew into the Atlantic Coast Line was once quite an economic power in the coastal regions. That all ended in the 1960s and there has been no train service to coast of North Carolina since.
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Would like to see a connection to the coast near Wilmington. The old Wilmington & Western which grew into the Atlantic Coast Line was once quite an economic power in the coastal regions. That all ended in the 1960s and there has been no train service to coast of North Carolina since.
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Leesa
We need train travel again. Too many cars on the road. Make train ability to connect all major cities. We should have rail travel from the mountains to the coast and stops at all major cities across the state. It is a historic state and we should have more tourist travel.
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We need train travel again. Too many cars on the road. Make train ability to connect all major cities. We should have rail travel from the mountains to the coast and stops at all major cities across the state. It is a historic state and we should have more tourist travel.
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Oliver
Once I walked into a naked girl on a plane and the FA was there to there girl screamed so loud. And then on the flight back on that airline (UNITED) I found a LIVING insect of some sort in my tray table thing because I was in the bulkhead. I think it was a roach
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Once I walked into a naked girl on a plane and the FA was there to there girl screamed so loud. And then on the flight back on that airline (UNITED) I found a LIVING insect of some sort in my tray table thing because I was in the bulkhead. I think it was a roach
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Catherine
Maybe you have but you should do the Palmetto route. We live near DC and take that route all the time to visit my aunts. Its been a LIFE savor not having to drive that 10 hours (DC to Charleston SC) and getting to sit and relax instead!
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Maybe you have but you should do the Palmetto route. We live near DC and take that route all the time to visit my aunts. Its been a LIFE savor not having to drive that 10 hours (DC to Charleston SC) and getting to sit and relax instead!
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intercityrailpal
Private passenger rail went bankrupt after GM got the mail the trains carried put on trucks their trucks. It's XPO trucks today. Packages and mail paid the bills. Oct 1967 was the date it happened.
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Private passenger rail went bankrupt after GM got the mail the trains carried put on trucks their trucks. It's XPO trucks today. Packages and mail paid the bills. Oct 1967 was the date it happened.
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USSTiger
According to wikipedia, Raleigh Union Station is called that to pay homage to one of Raleigh's older train stations, Union Depot. There are plans for future commuter rail to serve the station as well.
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According to wikipedia, Raleigh Union Station is called that to pay homage to one of Raleigh's older train stations, Union Depot. There are plans for future commuter rail to serve the station as well.
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Pies
I think there should be service like this on the Wisconsin And Southern line between Chicago and Prairie EU Chein, also Union Pacific and the Rock Island District should also have this kind of service.
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I think there should be service like this on the Wisconsin And Southern line between Chicago and Prairie EU Chein, also Union Pacific and the Rock Island District should also have this kind of service.
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Angela
I have only been on trains in Europe, but I would love to hop on the train here in Fayetteville NC and just ride it somewhere. My kids have never been on a train and I think they would enjoy it.
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I have only been on trains in Europe, but I would love to hop on the train here in Fayetteville NC and just ride it somewhere. My kids have never been on a train and I think they would enjoy it.
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Steve
Re; Raliegh NC Union train station. Union is a title not only for a RR and is also a title for the United States since the Civil War. As distinguished from Confederate as was once N. Carolina.
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Re; Raliegh NC Union train station. Union is a title not only for a RR and is also a title for the United States since the Civil War. As distinguished from Confederate as was once N. Carolina.
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