(rshsdepot) Boise, Idaho Depot rings in 76th

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Boise Depot rings in 76th
Train fans hope to see Amtrak service soon
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By Wayne Hoffman
The Idaho Statesman=A0=20

Train lovers and fans of the Boise Depot celebrated the building's 76th=20
anniversary Saturday hoping another year doesn't go by before an Amtrak trai=
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rolls through.=20
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The city marked the depot's anniversary with an open house featuring elevato=
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rides up the depot's bell tower, displays of train cars and model railroads.=
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But as young and old gathered to marvel at train memorabilia and listen to=20
the whistle of a model steam engine, train enthusiasts murmured that they=20
want no delay in Amtrak's return to Southern Idaho.=20
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"We'd like to see the trains come back through," Bill Blitman of Boise said.=
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"And we'd like to take our grandchildren," wife Elaine Blitman chimed in.=20
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Six-year-old Max Blitman said, "I like to see all the things out the window"=
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as the train speeds along the tracks.=20
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Amtrak stopped coming to the city in May 1997. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo has been=
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working on efforts to bring Amtrak back through Idaho, but funding has been=20=
a=20
major stumbling block for the Idaho Republican. Amtrak must at least break=20
even if a Boise to Portland line is to be restored.=20
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A task force set up by Crapo and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, found that the=20
rail service would wind up $5 million short annually, even if freight cars=20
were added to the mix.=20
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Last month, Crapo said he would try to get money to restart the route by=20
amending a bill that would give Amtrak $12 billion in tax credit financing.=20
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Betty Gilmon of Chehalis, Wash., said she would love to be able to visit her=
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sister, Dorris Rogers of Boise, on Amtrak.=20
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"I enjoy coming over on it. I'll probably do it again," Gilmon said as she=20
admired the Boise skyline from the depot's tower.=20
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Ralph Johnston of Boise hasn't given up on seeing rail service link Boise to=
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Portland, Salt Lake City and Denver again.=20
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He drew depot guests to his petition Saturday, reminisced about train travel=
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through the Northwest and collected hundreds of signatures. He has 1,200=20
names on a petition so far, he said.=20
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Johnston said he has "real cautious optimism" the area's train tracks will=20
rumble again beneath the wheels of an Amtrak train.

(see original article with pictures at:=20
http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/daily/20010422/LocalNews/106734.shtml)

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