Letter to the Editor - Support Amtrak and the Festival Days Run of Special Trains

Dear Editor,

This railroad-related letter comes for two reasons. First, I want to thank you and your staff for commitment to reporting on Amtrak issues and for supporting efforts to re-staff Montana ticketing locations and for preservation of long-distance passenger service. Sadly, ticket agents haven’t been put back on their jobs yet. And, even though Richard Anderson, Amtrak’s CEO, said in a U.S. Senate committee session this summer he felt “there are historically important trains in the long-distance network we should always operate, like the (Empire) Builder,” my reaction is that our Montana congressmen need to be reminded to support our transportation opportunities.

And again speaking of trains, but on a much smaller scale, I would encourage everyone to plan during Festival Days a visit to the basement of the Frank DeRosa Railroad Musuem. The annual running of special model trains is always interesting and the continuing additions to the display are amazing,  The small group of dedicated craftspeople making the miniature empire come alive will, I hope, have their work viewed by a lot of visitors!

I’m also hopeful those visitors will enjoy the main level of the museum and take a minute at the reception desk to offer support for the Have Beneath the Streets project.

My gratitude goes out to Jody and Julea at the Chamber of Commerce for their Festival Days planning and organizing, and thank you in advance to all the individuals and groups who will provide Havre with another amazing and entertaining weekend!

Gary L. Springer

Havre