Re: (rshsdepot) Boise, Idaho Depot rings in 76th

["Paul S. Luchter" <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>]

I like the rumbling Amtrak wheels passage at the end....What is the meaning
of the =20s???

Paul
- -----Original Message-----
From: I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com <I95BERNIEW@aol.com>
To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net <rshsdepot@lists.railfan.net>
Date: Sunday, April 22, 2001 9:34 PM
Subject: (rshsdepot) Boise, Idaho Depot rings in 76th


>Boise Depot rings in 76th
>Train fans hope to see Amtrak service soon
>=A0
>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=
>n=20
>rolls through.=20
>=A0
>The city marked the depot's anniversary with an open house featuring
elevato=
>r=20
>rides up the depot's bell tower, displays of train cars and model
railroads.=
>=20
>=A0
>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
>=A0
>"We'd like to see the trains come back through," Bill Blitman of Boise
said.=
>=20
>=A0
>"And we'd like to take our grandchildren," wife Elaine Blitman chimed
in.=20
>=A0
>Six-year-old Max Blitman said, "I like to see all the things out the
window"=
>=20
>as the train speeds along the tracks.=20
>=A0
>Amtrak stopped coming to the city in May 1997. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo has
been=
>=20
>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
>=A0
>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
>=A0
>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
>=A0
>Betty Gilmon of Chehalis, Wash., said she would love to be able to visit
her=
>=20
>sister, Dorris Rogers of Boise, on Amtrak.=20
>=A0
>"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
>=A0
>Ralph Johnston of Boise hasn't given up on seeing rail service link Boise
to=
>=20
>Portland, Salt Lake City and Denver again.=20
>=A0
>He drew depot guests to his petition Saturday, reminisced about train
travel=
>=20
>through the Northwest and collected hundreds of signatures. He has 1,200=20
>names on a petition so far, he said.=20
>=A0
>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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