Nostalgia & History > Early Amtrak baggage cars

1. AMTK 506 is an ex US Army hospital car converted to a baggage car. Shot taken in Tampa, FL on 08/17/1973.
2. AMTK 516 is also an ex US Army hospital car converted to a baggage car. Shot taken in Tampa, FL on 08/05/1973.
3. AMTK 1007 Silver Treasure ex BN CB&Q 908 baggage car in Auburndale, FL on 06/1979.
Stan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/13 12:29 by acltrainman.

---

---

---

The last photo with the pointless arrow appears to be an ex-California Zephyr budd built baggage. I've seen the x-CZ baggage on the Amtrack Superliner CZ train in the early 80's.

How could picture #3 be Amtrak in 1970 when Amtrak was not a company until May 1st 1971?

Is it possible some of the ex-hospital cars could also have been used as crew sleeping cars on long distance Florida trains?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/13 09:27 by boejoe.

the "Silver Treasure" is coupled to one of the ex-USA ambulance cars, probably in bag-dorm service

The "Silver Treasure" was ordered in 1945 and delivered to the "Q" in
1948. It was the only baggage car with a steam generator for use on
the Kansas City trains pulled by a shovel nose displaced from the
Twin or Denver Zephyrs. The steam boiler was later removed.

I notice these two cars are now riding on outside swing hanger trucks.
Wonder when and by whom they were changed?
Originally equipped with six axle trucks.


Uncle Joe,Seffner,Fl

The trucks on the army cars are original.

The ex-Army Hospital cars were used as Baggage-Dorms.

SilverPeakRail Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The trucks on the army cars are original.


But not to all the cars.Some had six axle trucks.

UJ

An older series of Army hospital cars had the 6 wheel trucks and riveted sides. Amtrak got a few of them but they went to MoW service immediately.

The series that went to Amtrak originally had the 4 wheel trucks. They became dorms cars, "LePub" cars and a few of them did become baggage cars, easily noticed because the doors were much closer to the ends of the car than typical. A few finished their careers in wheel service.

The short 50' army kitchen cars became baggage cars, with a few becoming HEP cars and some becoming training cars.

Would anyone believe that Amtrak also received a 3-car 65' ACF European service hospital car train, but quickly disposed of the sleeper and diner to Ft Eustis VA transportation Museum and the hospital car to US-DOT. The DOT car was used for early "hijacker training" and somehow wound up rebuilt in the area of the "Skunk Train" in California. No details on current status.

These three cars had a heavy chassis with easily replacable/swapable bodies, buffers as well as US Sharon couplers, a generator as well as steam heat, and narrowed ends for European service. The museum disposed of them due to asbestos and lead paint as well as friction trucks. They still exist on the base, at least for now...

Michael

The ex Army cars serving as baggage dorms in Chicago in the summer of 1979 were not limited to Florida service. I recall staying in them while working on the Lone Star and Zephyr. Noisy cars with bunk beds, fold up sinks and heavy curtains.

This is what I was thinking about.

UJ




emd_mrs1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> An older series of Army hospital cars had the 6
> wheel trucks and riveted sides. Amtrak got a few
> of them but they went to MoW service immediately.
>
> The series that went to Amtrak originally had the
> 4 wheel trucks. They became dorms cars, "LePub"
> cars and a few of them did become baggage cars,
> easily noticed because the doors were much closer
> to the ends of the car than typical. A few
> finished their careers in wheel service.
>
> The short 50' army kitchen cars became baggage
> cars, with a few becoming HEP cars and some
> becoming training cars.
>
> Would anyone believe that Amtrak also received a
> 3-car 65' ACF European service hospital car train,
> but quickly disposed of the sleeper and diner to
> Ft Eustis VA transportation Museum and the
> hospital car to US-DOT. The DOT car was used for
> early "hijacker training" and somehow wound up
> rebuilt in the area of the "Skunk Train" in
> California. No details on current status.
>
> These three cars had a heavy chassis with easily
> replacable/swapable bodies, buffers as well as US
> Sharon couplers, a generator as well as steam
> heat, and narrowed ends for European service. The
> museum disposed of them due to asbestos and lead
> paint as well as friction trucks. They still
> exist on the base, at least for now...
>
> Michael

---