David Lustig
LA Union Station to host part of Oscars ceremony
Los Angeles Union Station will be one of the two venues for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, Variety reports. The station, built in 1939, is a frequent setting for films, but has never been part of the Oscars. It will be used this year, along with its recent home, Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, in light of continuing COVID-19 restrictions in Southern California. Transit agency LA Metro says the use of the station will help highlight “the importance and beauty of what is widely regarded as ‘the last of the great train stations,’” and the station will remain open to bus and rail passengers, with alternative waiting accommodations to be provided. The April 25 show will use the station’s Grand Waiting Room, Historic Ticketing Hall, North and South Patios and Main Entrance. “Union Station is one of the most iconic landmarks in Los Angeles County and we are honored for it to be highlighted at the 93rd Academy Awards,” Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said in a press release. “We look forward to helping celebrate excellence in film in a safe and healthy manner while still ensuring that our transit riders can reach their essential destinations.”
Norfolk Southern train derails after hitting truck, closing highway
Eleven cars of a westbound Norfolk Southern train are reported to have derailed after the train hit a truck stalled at a grade crossing in Moberly, Mo., on Monday. KMIZ-TV reports there were no injuries and no hazardous materials situation resulted, but that Route A is expected to be closed at the site of the accident into Tuesday.
CN names Reporter as vice-president, governmental and regulatory affairs
Canadian National has named Cyrus Reporter as vice-president, government and regulatory affairs. Reporter, a lawyer who has served as a ministerial chief of staff and lead advisor to Canada’s Office of the Prime Minister. Based in Ottawa, he will deal with governments at all levels in North America, and will be responsible for stakeholder and community relations, part of the company’s increasing focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives. He will report to Sean Finn, CN executive vice-president of corporate services and chief legal officer. “I am pleased to welcome Cyrus to the CN team,” Finn said in a press release. “He will lead our strong bench of experienced government and regulatory affairs professionals to deliver best in class government relations.”
I never bother to watch the Oscars any longer, most of the movies I have not seen or do not want to see. But I will watch some that night as I love that station. Went thru two times with friends on trips, once departing on SP to Yosemite Park with tour group and the other time arriving on SP Daylight from San Francisco, we rode around Tehachapi Loop on that trip . And when we departed, we left from there, the agent told us what gate and fortunately I was walking around and saw two signs for UP City of Los Angeles, one said Pullman and one said Coach. I asked the agent, telling her we were traveling in Pullman and she apologized and told us to get in the line for that gate. I guess she did not think 3 gals barely out of their teens was on Pullman. There were 3 of us and none wanted to ride with a stranger, so Dad talked to UP sales agent and he got us set up for a bedroom with toilet. Upper and lower berths, two of us slept on lower and other climbed the ladder to upper. We had 3 lounges on the City of L.A. and one was a bulletnose obs car on the rear, and a dome diner too, where we ate breakfast. Reality set in at Ogden, Utah when we were switched to City of St. Louis heading home. Still the Pullman but not the fancy perks for all Pullman train. Glad we did that, my only time in a Pullman . So I have a lot of great memories of that station like the overstuffed chairs to sit in, see they are still there. Other favorites were DC Union , Grand Central in NYC, and our own St. Louis Union, one of the busiest passenger stations in US, I think we ranked #2, not any longer, only LD train is Texas Eagle but easy access to Chicago with multiple trains and even to KC.
“Honored” to be part of the bowling trophy awards, or whatever they’re called? More like horrified. Nothing like a whole gaggle of overpaid arrogant parasites on society to really stink up a place. Let hand out their silly ego-shots under a bridge by the landfill….
And, no, I don’t really care for the entire “famous actor” garbage…
LAUPT, better usage than LAUS and historically accurate, one of the top handful of the nation’s stations. Post your list.