Dear members:
By now you will have received your latest Steel Wheels magazine. In the rush to meet the deadline for mailing the conference registration a few errors crept in, for which I apologize. Andy Selden’s excellent account was spoiled somewhat by missing captions. Andy took the photos which are in order of appearance Denver Union Station trackside, El Paso depot, and the Huey Long bridge. I suppose I could have made a competition of that! Also on the front cover mention is made of the SCRIP project, which story is on the cutting room floor to use local Burbank parlance. That story will appear in the fourth quarter issue.
The front cover depicts a Stadler electric train in Switzerland, of the kind just ordered by Caltrain. The other photos were meant to depict the lack of investment in southern California, i.e. continued single track, and big highway projects. How can Metrolink and transit compete with a single track railroad against a billion dollar highway widening on both I-5 and I-405?
My plan starting this week is to begin a weekly diary of my and other Board member activities to let you know the scope of the meetings we cover and issues we attempt to influence. Tomorrow I’m heading to Sacramento to distribute Steel Wheels at the Capitol and State offices, and meeting with Calsta and Division of Rail. So far this week we have been to CRCC, LOSSAN and Burbank TC. Tune in early next week.
PD
