Amtrak Southwest Chief consists?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Just today I was flipping through MBI’s book on the Santa Fe Chiefs. In the last chapter which focusses on Amtrak, I found photos captioned as the SW Chief showing a train of only 8 or 9 Amfleet cars. There was another shot in San Bernadino that had only one loco and 5 Superliners. I’m not an Amtrak expert, but I don’t believe the SW Chief ever ran with all Amfleet or was as short as five cars. Am I confused or is the book in error?

Roger in MI

2

From what you’ve written, it seems to me either

  • somebody at MBI Publishing was out-to-lunch when the captions were written and edited or
  • somebody is misreading the captions.

I’ve never seen Amtrak nos. 3 and 4 carrying Amfleet equipment, unless, possibly, that equipment was deadheading to a midwestern shop for maintenance or overhall.

The most recent consists of The Southwest Chief that I’ve seen usually have a heritage fleet baggage car and around nine Superliners including 3 or 4 Sleepers, a dining car, a lounge car, and 3 or 4 coaches.

QUESTION: Do nos. 3 and 4 still carry those unique, ex-Santa Fe baggage cars that had a single, stainless steel “air dam” in the shape of a wedge mounted on the roof? The air dam was mounted on just one end of the car and it allowed for a somewhat smooth transition from the lower roof line of the baggage car to the higher roofline of the Hi-Level or Superliner equipment. The air dam makes for a nice aesthetic transition and perhaps lessens the aerodynamic drag of the train as well.

3

I have looked through this book.I decided against buying it as in a number of photos the Desert Wind is identified as the Southwest Chief.Some of the shots show the Wind with Amfleet equipment,others with Amfleet and Superliner cars,both should have been a clue to the proofreaders(if they have any) at MBI.

4

Those baggage cars with the air dam dissapeared when the Chief was Superlinered.

5

The only time Amfleet may have run on the Chief may have been the time just before the Superliners arrived. Even then, Amtrak would have used the old ATSF high cars. With one unit, that may have been a Desert Wind-Pioneer from Salt Lake City. Another possibility could be equipment moving west to make up a San Diegan train.

I can’t believe the Chief would run with only one engine. Not for the distance from Chicago to LA, & not over Raton Pass.

Amtrak is in severe need of finding new baggage cars. All that heritage equipment may be getting on 60yrs old. Perhaps Amtrak sold off their MHC’s too soon?

In recent years, I’ve seen the Chief with 3-4 GE’s, a string of MHC’s & another set of boxcars on the rear end, with 8-9 Superliners or 1-2 Highliners.