Proto-Future 5, Part 3: Inaugural Borealis, Day 3 – Dignitaries Car

This episode, the purpose of the whole series, sees me as part of the Press Pool for the Inaugural Amtrak Borealis between St. Paul and Chicago. Speeches, interviews, and applause are heard from St. Paul Union Depot, and many enjoyable conversations are had onboard the train itself en route to Chicago.

The League of American Bicyclists Zoom given by Derrick James and Moriah Morales is here: https://youtu.be/YE6oJ7quCnM?si=CQetZzVpGOMgCHFE

Jim Matthews, CEO of the Rail Passengers Association

Marc Magliari, Amtrak Senior Public Relations Manager

Joseph Aiello, Rail Passengers Association Director of Community Engagement

Derrick and Andrew James (middle and right), Amtrak Director of Government Affairs (and long-distance bicyclist)

Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak

Proto-Future 5, Part 2: Inaugural Borealis, Day 2 – Minneapolis Speedrun and the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum

This episode follows as I walk through the Minneapolis Skyway, discuss the NorthStar Commuter Rail, ride all the Minneapolis Metro Light Rail, visit the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum and interview Ken Zieska and Matt Malwitz, have a disappointingly short visit to St. Paul, walk the entire Mall of America, visit St. Anthony Falls, and leave flowers at George Floyd Memorial Square.

Proto-Future 5, Part 1: Inaugural Borealis, Day 1 – Keystone, SEPTA, Airport Philosophy, and the Metric System for Sounds

This episode is the first in a four-part series detailing my trip to ride the inaugural Borealis between the Twin Cities and Chicago. In it, I motorcycle to Harrisburg, ride the Keystone to Philadelphia, struggle with SEPTA to the Airport, speedrun both the PHL and MSP airports, and give a preliminary exploration of Minneapolis, philosophizing extensively along the way.

Proto-Future Prologue 3: Rochester, MN

An alt-history of the Las Vegas Talgo as if it was purchased by MNDOT and used to start the Northern Lights Express 25 years ahead of schedule.

This episode recounts impressionable articles, near-future Amtrak routes, and how I went from modeling the 1890s On30 and choosing a diesel locomotive just for fun to completely abandoning the On30 layout and starting over to make a new layout based on a concept for regional transportation in a state which I've never lived in and barely visited.