Nostalgia & History > Potomac Special Crossing the Potomac

In early spring 1974, Amtrak's westbound Potomac Special, crossing its namesake river, slows for its station stop at Harpers Ferry, W.V. The train consists of two former New Haven coaches spliced by a former C&O coach-diner (ex-C&O 1610 or 1611). (My photo)

Art House

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First-rate scene.
Bob

Nice.
Gordon

Thanks, Art, for sharing that wonderful photo. 

I rode that train a bit after you took the photo.  An E8 still in its B & O scheme was the power.

Nice photo Art!  BTW, the ex-NH coaches were rebuilt from Parlors in the mid-sixties.  Unlike the New Haven's ubiquitous 8600-series coaches, they only had one vestibule.

Dave

DavidP Wrote:
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> Nice photo Art!  BTW, the ex-NH coaches were
> rebuilt from Parlors in the mid-sixties.  Unlike
> the New Haven's ubiquitous 8600-series coaches,
> they only had one vestibule.
>
> Dave

Thanks, Dave. I should have noted the parlor-to-coach conversions in the original post, but the fact slipped my mind.  The reason that these former New Haven cars were assigned to B&O routes under Amtrak had to do with hard springs, which B&O/C&O cars were also equipped.

Art

Ah, yes, the "Staggers-inspired" Potomac Special.
Actually, "mandated."  Thank you , Harley.