WOW !!!! Sure are a lot of comments on this train subject. For three and a half years 1997 to the middle of 2000 AMTRAK had magicians on all the Coast Starlight runs from L. A. to Seattle and back. I was one of the original magicians hired and worked thru till the end of the “experiment” I knew most of the other entertainers because most of us were from L. A. We really worked to bring entertainment to the passangers and make thier trips fun. AMTRAK got thousands of letters saying what a great idea it was, now they had something for the whole family to enjoy on their trip. Ridership increased 27% because of us. AMTRAK in it’s infinite wisdom decided to let us all go, I have heard a few reasons as to why, and all of them ridiculous. But that is what happens to a government funded entity, if it makes a profit, destroy it. It really is sad because we were the one shinning star in the AMTRAK universe.
