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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.