From what I’ve read in the past two to three years, Gunn has ordered the retirement of the E60 electrics and a number of the old “streamliner” cars as he’s been working hard at trying to maximize efficiencey. [4:-)]
Does anyone know if these cars are being scrapped, sold, or donated to historical societies and museums? I’ve ridden these cars many times on Amtrak in the past and I’ve always maintained that they were more comfortable and rode much better than the “Amcans” (Amfleet cars). [;)]
It would be tragic if these historic cars were scrapped as they were built during the time when America had passenger trains that we were proud of. [:D][8)][:)]
Amtrak has offered many for sale and after a certain time if no interest develops they are sold for scrap after salvaging any and all usable parts. Others go to scrap with no salvage of any parts. Others are being held in case they should once again be called upon to operate. For the most part they are scrapped as the condition of these fifty year old cars leaves little that is salvagable and the car types do not suit private car service. They do wait until the price of stainless steel scrap is higher and are careful not to offer to many cars for scrap at any one time in order to keep the car scrap value high.
It is a shame that they are not in a position where they could donate some cars to museums. Likely bueracratic red tape.[V]
Quite a number of these cars were used on the Pre-Amtrak streamliners like the Chiefs, Zephyrs, "City of " series, Silver Series, and the Southern Crescent just to name a few. They are of historical significance! [;)][8)]
I still remember riding the Silver Meteor in 1983 and eating in a gorgeous rebuilt Heritage Fleet dining car. There were a bunch of Native American symbols on the glass table partitions which I found puzzling. After reasearching, I discovered that I had eaten on a former Santa Fe diner. [:D][8D]
Gunn wants to do that, if he can find the money. This being an election year, I wouldn’t count on it. Starving ATK has been something both parties agree on. Sometimes poor fiscal policy is not owned by a single party.
Well it’s been a while since this has been posted.
It’s almost Sep. 2006. I saw the Silver Star yesterday after it left Tampa Union Station. 10 cars long, nice!
She still had a couple of Heritage Fleet cars in the consist and I was happy to see that. The down side to this was that they were in desperate need of a paint job.
I may sound corny, but its a good feeling and living proof that years back USA manufacturers built certain things to last…and last…and last.
And maybe you can reach into your “whlittle bitty piggy bank” and get out some of those quarters the tooth fairy left you under your “whittle piwwow” and help pay for those 1,500 cars you are saying Amtrak needs to order.
While bureaucracy is often a problem, Amtrak has to scrounge for every dime it can get and donations as opposed to sales are a luxury it can’t really afford. Many musuems have been able to acquire some cars at scrap prices, so it can be done.
While they are of some historical significance, they have appreciably less significance than the Pioneer Zephyr, EMD 103 or NKP 779. While it would be nice to preserve these cars, a line has to be drawn somewhere when resources are limited.
Car assignments got scrambled pretty well once Amtrak actually purchased the equipment from the various member railroads. Virtually the entire Santa Fe lightweight passenger car fleet was purchased by Amtrak so seeing those cars assigned just about anywhere could be expected.
Amtrak Black Hole is NEC they should get rid of it, From Boston to D.C. it needs 30 plus Billion Dollars to get it into A shape again, Amtrak could Run the LD and Med trains for 80 plus years off of 30 Billion Dollars, Plus New Cars for the LD and Med trains 1500 New Cars.[:D]
On one of my first trips on Amtrak, I took the Crescent with a Heritage fleet and thought they were awesome to ride. I never liked newer Amfleet equipment as much. Sorry to see them go.
Check out www.railmerchants.net I think is the site…Click on pass.equipt.If AMTRAK HAS SOLD sold any they may have them…They try to sell them to private individuals before they scrap’m…Danny
The Northeast Corridor has been an “Essential” rail network for over 100 years. Why and how would you “get rid of it”? It is a needed transportation assett that hundreds of thousands of people rely on a daily basis. Congress has known about the deficiencies since the 1970s and except for the major renovation in 1980-83, support has been anemic at best.
The Acela program was touted as a major undertaking with the upgrading of tracks and installation of catenary poles. However the media, as usual portrayed it as if an obscene amount of money was being spent to upgrade the “entire” NEC mainline when in reality it was just several long sections north of New York.
I’m a big supporter of the LD and Medium distance trains and hope they’ll be around for a long time to come but in reality whether the NEC is “spun off” into another agency or Amtrak keeps it…it’s a vital economic link that’s not going to disappear anytime soon…
With the increasing prices of petroleum it seems that public support for Amtrak is actually growing.
Give the NEC to States, Amtrak is spending money for NEC instead of LD and Med train like they should do , and Amtrak being taken from from LD trains and putting money into the NEC. Amtrak runs about 100 Trains to 1200 Commuter Trains on NEC.
Amtrak is spending money in the NEC because that’s where the passengers are, lots of them. Also, the suburban trains in the NEC are operated by a host of other operators: MBTA, Shore Line East, Metro-North, NJ Transit, SEPTA, etc; although Amtrak may honor tickets from those operators on certain trains. The suburban operators also don’t get a free ride on Amtrak’s tracks, either.
I believe, but I’m not 100% sure, that there Heitage Fleet cars that are stored by Amtrak and are used to replace cars out for service, the Thanksgiving/Christmas season when extra cars are needed and also for special events (20th Century excursions, etc.).
So what’s happened to the former Santa Fe hi-level cars? Are they in storage, or have they all been retired. Oh and while I’m on the topic, are the two ex-Santa Fe hi-level cars with tapered sides still around, or have they been retired?
These folks have a few of the Hi Level cars, as well as some of the heritage cars that were purchased directly from Amtrak http://www.iltransit.com/ . The hi level cars are spread all over. I remember seeing a hi level diner for sale somewhere, but can’t remember where that was. The Hobo Railroad got a couple of 'em, but if I remember correctly, they were put up for sale by them.
The Hi Level lounges are still used on the Coast Starlight, and are referred to as “Pacific Parlours”. Are the Hi Level chair cars still being used on the Heartland Flyer? Here is another link that gives the disposition of a few more of the Hi Level cars. http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtHILEV.html