Nostalgia & History > More on Amtrak's last E-units?

There was a question a few days ago about the last E-units in Amtrak long distance service.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,2774828

I finally remembered to look in Amtrak by the Numbers, and while most of the remaining steam-generator-equipped E's were retired in 1981, some of the HEP-equipped units (495-499) and boiler-equipped 417 weren't retired until 1985. Photos on rrpicturearchives.net show the HEP E's pulling Amfleets on the New Haven, CT to Springfield, MA 400-series trains into 1981, then loaned out to Metro North. The 417 (ex-UP 912) showed up at a scrapper in 1986, but was spared at the last moment and is now masquerading as "NYC 4096" at the Danbury Railway Museum. Anyone know what it was doing between 1981 and 1985 that kept it on the roster so long (or if that 2/85 retirement date is even accurate)?

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There was a question a few days ago about the last
> E-units in Amtrak long distance service.
>
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,
> 2774828
>
> I finally remembered to look in Amtrak by the
> Numbers, and while most of the remaining
> steam-generator-equipped E's were retired in 1981,
> some of the HEP-equipped units (495-499) and
> boiler-equipped 417 weren't retired until 1985.
> Photos on rrpicturearchives.net show the HEP E's
> pulling Amfleets on the New Haven, CT to
> Springfield, MA 400-series trains into 1981, then
> loaned out to Metro North. The 417 (ex-UP 912)
> showed up at a scrapper in 1986, but was spared at
> the last moment and is now masquerading as "NYC
> 4096" at the Danbury Railway Museum. Anyone know
> what it was doing between 1981 and 1985 that kept
> it on the roster so long (or if that 2/85
> retirement date is even accurate)?

The 417 may have been held as a parts source. This unit was rebuilt about 1974 and was in relatively good shape.

My encounter with the 417 occurred in 1979 when it and another E9 turned heads by leading the Amtrak Sunset NOL-LAX. The SP engine crew taking over in Tucson had a good laugh with the sign on the old-style water cooler in the cab: "STOLEN FROM SOUTHERN RAILWAY". Among other surprises- separate control and brake stands of a ancient style not seen in years.

Bob

Here's a picture I took of HEP-equipped 495 leading the Montrealer into it's namesake city on June 20th, 1980. I missed the earlier "last LD E-units" thread, but would venture a guess that the Montrealer was the last LD train pulled by E's, in that Amtrak's five HEP-equipped units were assigned to New Haven.

Dave

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Did Amtrak take any E units earlier than E8s?

No, only E8's and E9's. Which helps explain why only one E7 exists today even though that model was most numerous.

filmteknik Wrote:
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> No, only E8's and E9's. Which helps explain why
> only one E7 exists today even though that model
> was most numerous.


Although Amtrak did use leased E-7s from the GM&O on it's St. Louis - Chicago - Milwaukee trains prior to the arrival of RTG Turbos in the early seventies.

Dave

And the GM&O E7's were reportedly in better shape than the Milwaukee E8's and E9's that Amtrak did buy!

e7s were leased from bn,PC and SCL, IC i beleive early on