LOCAL RAILROADING



AMTRAK'S Northeast Corridor High-Speed Rail

The Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston is the nation's busiest rail corridor, serving over 220 million passengers per year. Begun in 1838 in Stonington, Connecticut, the rail line north of New York was then consolidated from smaller lines by the New York, New Haven and Harford Railroads in the 1880's. South of New York the Pennsylvania Railroad stretched from New York to Washington. Amtrak took ownership in 1976. Since then, $3 billion has been invested to preserve and upgrade the railroad. The high-speed rail project will complete these upgrades and inaugurate and entirely new level of premium serice to America.
HIGH SPEED TRAINS
Amtrak is buying 15 high-horsepower electric locomotives and up to 18 high-speed trains capable of 150 mph service. Trains are integrated or "fixed", a locomotive at either end with six passenger cars in between. Built in America.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Entire rail line revitalized with new track, signal system, and bridges. Curves modified to permit higher speeds. Installation of 140 miles of continuous welded rail for faster service and 332,000 concrete ties for smoother ride. Station enhancement to improve passenger comfort and provide intermodal connections. Signal system upgraded to maximize safety and increase capacity for all railroad users. High-level station platforms for safer, easier, faster boarding.
DEPARTING 1999
The most comfortable transportation in America and the safest equipment in the world. This is Amtrak's vision of the high-speed rail service in the 21st Century.


New London Area Maintenance
Andy's Job

Andy works for Amtrak as a Track Maintenance Foreman, out of the New London, CT Maintenance Division, he has been with Amtrak for 22 years, and working in railroading for 27. He is presently working with the Slot Train, they are digging out ditches for better drainage. The Slot Train is comprised of two engines, two cars, and a working caboose. The two cars are actually 5 cars lengths long each. They each have a CAT Loader with a inverted bucket in them. The CAT works it way along the car digging dirt from along side the track and putting it in the car. Where it is later dumpped at another site. This work is being done at night, while less train traffic will be disturbed.


Kingston Railroad Station
Grand Reopening May 31, 1998


Kingston Station is the only original depot still in use on the old New York-to-Boston line, the 1875 station was almost destroyed by fire in Dec. 1988. It was restored through the efforts of The Friends of Kingston Station, RI Dept. of Transportation, and Senator John H. Chafee. As part of the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project. RIDOT purchased the station and oversaw its development.
Kingston Station's restored appearance belies its extensive restoration. First, to accommodate new high-speed trains the building was moved sixteen feet to the east and raised three and a half feet. The north waiting room, almost entirely destroyed by the fire, was rebuilt, and the interior was refurbished. The exterior's flaring peripheral canopy supported on massive brackets, substantially removed or altered, was rebuilt in original form. Finally, the building was repainted in New York, New Haven and Hartford colors. The station's thorough, thoughtful restoration admirably befits its unique status on the Northeast Corridor.
This information was provided by the Friends of Kingston Station.

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