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				P42 ROSTER		PHOTO OF THE MONTH
	The link to the p42list status page has moved, please click the roster link above. If you are here and reading this, you probably know about Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation). It's mission, since 1971, has been to run what is left of passenger trains in the US, and it is one of and handful of entities that has the legal authority to run them across state lines. Currently Amtrak runs a 21,000 mile network in the 43 states with old diesel engines that vary from 11-20 years of age. It serves twice as many communities than all of the airlines combined. In the equipment pool today are "Genesis" locomotives purchased from General Electric, designated either as P32's, P40's, or P42's, depending on their initial horsepower ratings. These "cab units" share their unibody design with the first, older, now long-gone, diesel engines of the 1930s-50s that initially brought US railroading from steam power into the "streamliner" era. Cab units do have their fans, and the selection of the name has religious significance as well. The P40 variety was retired by 2005, but fifteen of them have returned to service under the George W. Bush economic stimulus program. The P42 fleet (road numbers 1-207) is still in exist except for two that have been scrapped due to wrecks. Amtrak has gone back to a deferred maintenance cycle since 2008, and its equipment age is now at historic highs. The availability is at historic lows due to breakdowns and worn components. As of March 2011, almost one third of the western diesel fleet was unavailable for lead-locomotive usage. The company has resorted to leasing freight engines and cancelling more trains due to alleged "weather problems." It will be interesting to see how long the shell game will contine. Did you know that God is the Creator Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1,26-27,3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14. Whatever happens to us personally, professionally, or with regard to our great nation, occurs according to His plan. Yet, God permits us a certain amount of personal choice, and while He guides our decisionmaking, He still gives us a certain amount of latitude to think, reason, and somewhat influence future events. The gift of choice He gave you, to guide your own life, and influence public policy for the betterment of all, is a precious one. Use it wisely! THE RADICAL BUDGET CHOPPERS - THE GREAT FOOD FIGHT RETURNS We thought our politicians were smarter than this. But for about eight years a core group of Republicans in Congress claimed they could balance the United States budget by eliminating food from Amtrak dining cars. Why they were so against passenger trains we have never figured out, but fortunately most were defeated in the 2008 election, retired for lucrative jobs in the private lobbying sector, or are now spewing their hate on cable or radio "talk" shows. These people parade around as "conservatives," yet they want to take away the separation of church and state, and trample the Constitutional freedoms our ancestors have sacrificed for. Despite the short memory of what happens to politicians who vote against what their constituents really want, there is a new bunch of budget chopping zealots back in Congress. The radical budget-choppers have the same tired time-worn "moral agenda" that has been bouncing around since the 70's, yet most of them have sordid personal lives, and hardly practice any type of personal morality. Several of their leaders have had to resign after sexual affairs with staffers were revealed, and one US Senator continues to rant and rave from his bully pulpit despite his admission of marital infidelity with prostitutes. These so-called "leaders" are against public schools, unions, immigrants, national public radio, public intercity mass transportation, and "planned parenthood." They want to give federal money to "private" (make that "church") schools, even the "churches" that advocate non-Christian principles. Hmm, do they forget the child sexual abuse that has traditionally taken place in private schools over the years? Should taxpayer funds go to "shoe-bomber" schools of radical sects? How can you stop it once it starts? Who is going to "police" the federal taxpayer grants to private schools, a new cadre of "private school police?" Well, all we can do is wait it out. These things go in cycles, and ultimately it seems the high gas prices will ultimately drive politicians back to some form of common sense and compromise. Perhaps they need to focus on that, and the environmental costs of continued dependence upon foreign oil. These are the locomotives left with the hard shell nose (26 29 33 34 101 102 105 107 108 109 111 124 127 133 142 151 164 and 203). Despite the obstacles and the political rhetoric, these western state locomotives seem to always be capable and willing, with a little patching and prodding. They are very resilient, despite the constant attacks and pummelling from trucks and errant cell-phone talkers. Amtrak has almost daily incidents involving pedestrians, car and SUV drivers, falling trees, rolling boulders, cows, moose, deer, snowmobiles, and just about anything else that can roll, walk, or be pushed to a railroad track. Our heart does go out to the victims of such accidents, and we always look forward future improvments in safety that will reduce future incidents and/or minimize their effects. Please contact us via the email link on our P42 roster page if you have questions, comments, or info on them you would like to share. We are no longer updating this page, but other sections of the website are being actively updated, time permitting. Updated April 15, 2011