Possible Restoration of Amtrak Route in Florida

AMTRAK AND SOUTHERN RAIL COMMISSION TO
HOST AN INSPECTION TRAIN ACROSS GULF COAST
Fourteen locations in four states to have special stops

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Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) are conducting a tour to examine new ideas for intercity passenger rail by operating an Inspection Train from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Fla.,on Thursday, Feb. 18,and Friday, Feb.19.   


Amtrak service between New Orleans and Jacksonville was ended after hurricane Ivan in 2004.


The local Pensacola, Fl. newspaper covered the event.
Several nice photographs accompany the article.




 The locomotive P40 822 has an interesting history.

Built for Amtrak in 1993 by General Electric in Erie, PA, this 4,000 horsepower locomotive provides the pulling power for the Exhibit Train. It was originally based out of New Orleans, operating on various long distance routes. Later, the 822 was reassigned to Albany, NY, operating in the Northeast until it was deemed surplus and stored in 2003. It was selected as one of the 15 P40 locomotives to be upgraded and returned to service as a stimulus project.

(The second locomotive on the inspection train does not look like the Non Powered Control Unit used on the Exhibit Train.)