1986
Citation: 100.542.1 (Full image size: 80Kb)
A group of Ames residents assemble to welcome a special Amtrak train as it passed through Ames on December 9, 1986 (see p. C1, December 10, 1986, AMTRAK ROLLS TO ROUSING AMES WELCOME, in "The Ames Tribune). F. Paul Goodland (3/19/1930-9/7/2004), during his tenure as mayor of Ames from 1980-1990, worked hard to convince the federal railroad officials to route Amtrak through central, rather than southern, Iowa and hence through Ames. He wanted to re-open the old Chicago & North Western railroad depot as an Amtrak depot. In this photo people are holding placards that read "GIVE FARMERS SOME CREDIT" and "FAMILY FARMERS NEED A HELPING HAND," taking advantage of the media coverage to get some publicity for Iowa's farm crisis of the 1980s.
Citation: 93.501.2 (Full image size: 73Kb)
A group of Ames residents assemble to welcome a special Amtrak train as it passed through Ames on 1986 (see p.C1, December 10, 1986, AMTRAK ROLLS TO ROUSING AMES WELCOME, in "The Ames Tribune"). F. Paul Goodland (3/19/1930-9/7/2004), during his tenure as mayor of Ames from 1980-1990, worked hard to convince the federal railroad officials to route Amtrak through central, rather than southern, Iowa and hence through Ames. He wanted to reopen the old Chicago & North Western railroad depot as an Amtrak depot. The Chamber of Commerce worked with the mayor, though in vain, to bring passenger train service back to central Iowa. On the depot can be seen a banner reading "Ames Chamber of Commerce WELCOMES YOU" and part of a banner advertising Ames's designation as an ALL-AMERICAN CITY.
Citation: 93.501.3 (Full image size: 77Kb)
Residents of Ames wait for the arrival of a special Amtrak train which would soon stop at the old Chicago & Northwestern depot in downtown Ames on December 9, 1986 (see p. C1, December 10, 1986, AMTRAK ROLLS TO ROUSING AMES WELCOME, in "The Ames Tribune"). The placard held by the man on the right side of the photo reads SAVE OUR FARMS. People took advantage of the media coverage to get some publicity for the Iowa farm crisis of the 1980s. F. Paul Goodland (3/19/1930-9/17/2004), during his tenure as mayor of Ames from 1980-1990, worked to convince federal railroad officials to re-route Amtrak through central Iowa. Though he and other promoters of passenger train service through Ames were unsuccessful in changing the route from its southern Iowa crossing, they at least got some serious consideration from Amtrak which included this promotional trip over the old Chicago & North Western (later, Union Pacific) tracks.
Citation: 93.501.4 (Full image size: 72Kb)
A special Amtrak passenger train approaches the old Chicago & North Western depot in downtown Ames on December 9, 1986 (see p. C1, December 10, 1986, AMTRAK ROLLS TO ROUSING AMES WELCOME, in "The Ames Tribune"). A large group of residents await the train's arrival. The placard held by the man in the far right of the photograph reads FAMILY FARMERS NEED A HELPING HAND. People took advantage of the media coverage of special events to publicize Iowa farmers' plight during the farm credit crisis of the 1980s. Mayor F. Paul Goodland (3/19/1930-9/17/2004), during his tenure as mayor (1980-1990), arranged for a number of meetings with federal transportation officials in order to persuade Amtrak to change its Iowa route from its southern pathway to one in central Iowa (which would have included Ames, Nevada, and Des Moines). In the end, he was unsuccessful.
Citation: 93.501.5 (Full image size: 66Kb)
A special Amtrak passenger train (engine #402) pulls up next to the old Chicago & North Western Railroad depot in downtown Ames. Excited residents carrying balloons and placards greet the train, an event arranged to demonstrate to Amtrak officials the enthusiasm of the people of central Iowa for a restoration of passenger service. (Ames had its last passenger train service in 1961.) Mayor F. Paul Goodland (3/19/1930-9/17/2004), during his tenure as mayor of Ames (1980-1990), had campaigned tirelessly for the re-routing of Amtrak through central Iowa where the bulk of the state's population live, but the federal rail service continues [2005] to pass through Iowa on tracks in southern Iowa. The placard held by the man in the far right of the photo reads FAMILY FARMERS NEED A HELPING HAND. People used media events to publicize the plight of Iowa's farmers during the farm credit crisis of the 1980s.
DEPOT, RAILROAD
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Published: 08/29/2007 10:10:48 am