Transit Maps: 1971

Project: Diagram of Amtrak Rail Services, May 1971

April 27, 2021

Filed Under:
Historical Maps, My Transit Maps, Prints Available

Tags:

1971, Amtrak, Cameron Booth, D&RGW, Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, passenger rail, Southern Railway, USA

May 1, 2021 marks Amtrak’s 50th anniversary! On that day in 1971, most regional and long-distance trains in the United States either disappeared or became part of the new national rail carrier’s network (there were some exceptions to this rule, which we’ll get to later). While there are plenty of maps out there that show the general extent of Amtrak’s nascent system — including one that I made myself as part of an historical series […]

Project: Amtrak Timeline Map, 1971-2017

November 9, 2017

comments 3

Filed Under:
Historical Maps, Visualizations

Tags:

1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2011, 2016, 2017, Amtrak, Cameron Booth, Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, information design, passenger rail, Southern Railway, timeline, USA

Here's a fun little project: an interactive timeline of Amtrak's passenger rail routes from its inauguration in 1971 through to the current day. Using the extensive Amtrak timetable archives over at the Museum of Railway Timetables (well worth a visit!), I've created maps in five year increments -- 1971, 1976, 1981, etc. -- that show the changing face of passenger rail in the United States over the last 40-plus years. Click through to inspect the map!