Passenger Trains > Amfleet observation/executive car?

Last night, I saw something new to me-- an Amfleet car with an observation platform on the rear. I will admit I don't follow passenger equipment very closely, so forgive me if this is something that's been around for years. But I do see quite a bit of Amtrak activity through Alexandria, VA even if I am just waiting on freight.

I walked to the tracks last night around 9pm with the hopes of seeing something, and after the southbound trash train rolled by a northbound Amtrak was passing him. Engine was 204, one Viewliner on the head end, standard Amfleets, then I noticed the last one had some extra equipment on the roof. I was expecting it to be one of the Amfleet cab cars, but imagine my surprise to see a nice observation deck and recliners just inside the windows. This train was apparently a regularly scheduled Amtrak train, because it did work the station at Alexandria (I heard him whistle in and out, did not physically see). My guess based on the consist was Amtrak 50, the Cardinal, but that is just a wild guess.

Any further information on what I saw is greatly appreciated.

Mike Derrick
http://www.shortlinesusa.com

mderrick Wrote:
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> Last night, I saw something new to me-- an Amfleet
> car with an observation platform on the rear. I
> will admit I don't follow passenger equipment very
> closely, so forgive me if this is something that's
> been around for years. But I do see quite a bit
> of Amtrak activity through Alexandria, VA even if
> I am just waiting on freight.
>
> I walked to the tracks last night around 9pm with
> the hopes of seeing something, and after the
> southbound trash train rolled by a northbound
> Amtrak was passing him. Engine was 204, one
> Viewliner on the head end, standard Amfleets, then
> I noticed the last one had some extra equipment on
> the roof. I was expecting it to be one of the
> Amfleet cab cars, but imagine my surprise to see a
> nice observation deck and recliners just inside
> the windows. This train was apparently a
> regularly scheduled Amtrak train, because it did
> work the station at Alexandria (I heard him
> whistle in and out, did not physically see). My
> guess based on the consist was Amtrak 50, the
> Cardinal, but that is just a wild guess.
>
> Any further information on what I saw is greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Mike Derrick
> http://www.shortlinesusa.com


That should be Amtrak's business car. I'm not sure how many they have, but I believe it's just one.

Here is a link to one on RRpicturearchieves

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=804616

It's a tad old though. I'm sure someone else has some more recent pictures stored away somewhere.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/10 08:58 by glendale.

Mike,
They have been around awhile.I am not sure if this is the 10000 or the 10001.
Tallahassee,Fl.April 2,1993.

Uncle Joe-just east of Tampa

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It was in fact, train 50.

That car is Amtrak 10001, the Beech Grove. It has definitely been around a while. I saw it on the Cardinal going west in maybe 2005. Its probably twenty or thirty years old by now. It is an Amfleet I coach with the vestibule doors removed (you can see the weld lines where they covered them up with corrugation). I think I saw someone had posted photos of its interior on here a few years back. The thing on the roof holds a camera for track inspection work.
Cheers,
Nick

There also used to be an Amfleet conversion called the Corridor Clipper. Don't remember the details about it, though.

The 10001, "Beech Grove" is the Amtrak business car. It was rebuilt from a wrecked Amfleet coach. At one time there were two Amtrak cars named "Beech Grove", the other one being an ex-SP Budd 10-6 sleeper. The business car got the same name in deference to the skilled craftspeople at Beech Grove shops who did the rebuild.

The 10002, "Corridor Clipper" is not a business car. It's Amtrak's track geometry car.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The 10001, "Beech Grove" is the Amtrak business
> car. It was rebuilt from a wrecked Amfleet coach.
> At one time there were two Amtrak cars named
> "Beech Grove", the other one being an ex-SP Budd
> 10-6 sleeper. The business car got the same name
> in deference to the skilled craftspeople at Beech
> Grove shops who did the rebuild.
>
> The 10002, "Corridor Clipper" is not a business
> car. It's Amtrak's track geometry car.

Thanks for the details. I found myself wondering about that 10-6 as well.

Besides track geometry, I believe the Clipper is equipped for inspecting the catenary wire.

Pic above is 10001-Beech Grove and the clipper is 10002. Ive seen both on Amtrak 30 already. the clipper is equipped with a pantograph for overhead wires too.

Can't remember the year but these pictures were taken at Dallas Union Station. If I remember correctly there was a railroad equipment makers convention in town. A guy with the Amtrak car invited me in to see the interior.

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The 10001 came to Indianapolis on P05118 for a tour of Beech Grove Amtrak shops and also some meetings. It departed Indy for points east on P05019.