Mistral

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As I noted at another topic, I rode "Le Mistral" Paris/Nord-Nice during May 1971 (after A-Day).

I don't know which was more "luxo"; Mistral or Midland Pullman.

Pardon my ignorance - what is A-Day?

A-Day was May 1, 1971; the first day of Amtrak.

Here is discussion amongst some of us who have been around these parts for a while;

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Thanks, Gilbert. Nostalgic stuff. I would still have been in the sixth form of grammar school (the highest class in high school) on that day, but despite my interest in British railways, I was unaware at that time of what was clearly a momentous day for US railroaders.

johnthefireman wrote:Thanks, Gilbert. Nostalgic stuff. I would still have been in the sixth form of grammar school (the highest class in high school) on that day, but despite my interest in British railways, I was unaware of what was clearly a momentous day for US railroaders.

Practically, it was the closure of a large number of American rail services, reducing the passenger system to a bare minimum.

I remember when sometime in the late 50's-early 60's a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission (the regulatory commission overseeing railroads) named Howard Hosmer (I think) commented that at the current rate of discontinuances there would be virtually no long-distance passenger trains left in the U. S. within (I think) 10 years or so. Everybody said no way--never happen--what is he thinking--etc., etc., etc. As it turned out I don't think he was off by more than 5 years or so.