Passenger Trains > current Amtrak baggage car history (Santa Fe)?

Caught #14 this afternoon at Van Nuys. While the sun was shining bright on the car sides, I noticed a cleaned off section of lettering along the top of the baggage car. Of course, it spelled out Santa Fe. I thought it was pretty cool seeing a car that had probably travelled all the southwest back in the day.
So now the challenge. Does anyone have a decent photo of what this baggage car looked like while in Santa Fe regalia? Sorry I don't have the car number. Miss Amtrak agent was fast approaching and I didn't want to push my luck with another photo.

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You dont have to worry too much
about the ticket agents at VNC.
I know each one there. All you
you have to do. Is just say hi
to them. And they are as friendly
as can be.

The one ticket agent Gail. Who was
there today. Is the same ticket. Who
hosts open house and other kinds of
fun events there. Just start a nice
conversation with her. She is also
a rare few agents. That will go out
of their way. To look out for you.

Anyone here that has been to VNC.
Including the webmaster Todd Clark.
Will tell you the same thing about
the Agents there.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/11 01:34 by GP25.

GP25 Wrote:
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> You dont have to worry too much
> about the ticket agents at VNC.
> I know each one there. All you
> you have to do. Is just say hi
> to them. And they are as friendly
> as can be.
>
> The one ticket agent Gail. Who was
> there today. Is the same ticket. Who
> hosts open house and other kinds of
> fun events there. Just start a nice
> conversation with her. She is also
> a rare few agents. That will go out
> of their way. To look out for you.
>
> Anyone here that has been to VNC.
> Including the webmaster Todd Clark.
> Will tell you the same thing about
> the Agents there.


Thanks for the info. I hadn't taken passenger train pics here before and didn't know what to expect. She was doing all the announcing and seem very helpful when the train arrived. She also lugged some heavy luggage into the baggage car. I felt like asking her if I could help, but I am sure that's a big company no-no.
Anyway, glad to know she's cool. Since my luck at Gemco seems to be horrible the last few times, I'll stick to the VN station.

Hey, that's your "Cali where is it" from the Western board.

Based on the small amount of the car I see, it is from ATSF series 3500-3659, BUDD built 1953-1957. Delivered with disc braded OSH trucks, many of these trucks were traded out and swapped with conventional trucks from passenger carrying cars.

lodich Wrote:
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> Hey, that's your "Cali where is it" from the
> Western board.


Good detective work!

ATSF3751 Wrote:
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> Based on the small amount of the car I see, it is
> from ATSF series 3500-3659, BUDD built 1953-1957.
> Delivered with disc braded OSH trucks, many of
> these trucks were traded out and swapped with
> conventional trucks from passenger carrying cars.


Thanks for the info. So these baggage cars are over 50 years old now... wow! I did a little further research and I believe the car number is 1163. Don't know if that helps or not.

Does anyone have an idea how many miles some of these cars have on them?

Baggage Car # 1763

mmcgill Wrote:
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> Baggage Car # 1763

If it is really the 1763 doesn't that make it one of the converted coaches?

Not to hijack your post but here is a shot of Amtrak diner #8521 which has just finished getting it's roof redone by Watco in Jacksonville, FL. You can clearly see the SOUTHERN showing through after they finished the work. I have shots of the car you mentioned plus a couple others that feature this cool phenomenon. I'd have to do a bit of digging to find them. If there's any interest I will post them. Enjoy!

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Is 8521 still active?

Amtrak farming out overhauls on cars which have replacements on order?

I am surprisingly unsurprised

Someone please remind me why they'd ever need to replace a stainless steel baggage car unless it was wreck damaged. It's just a box with doors, right? I guess I'm being naïve but I don't see why they can't run forever. Worst case scenario you'd re-truck them I guess.

Metal fatigue would be the first thing that comes to mind. Gets brittle and old and develops cracks, and eventually something fails. You can deal with that by detailed inspection and replacing parts, but eventually that can become uneconomic.

Or alternately styling can change and it ends up just looking old and nobody wants to use it.

Yes it is still active. I can't see how repairing roofs that leak onto passengers can be surprising. I know new cars are on order but with that logic it would be like saying I'm buying a new automobile in 2012 so no need to put any oil in it or air in the tires.

notcheight Wrote:
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> You can clearly see the SOUTHERN showing through after
> they finished the work.

Used to see Sunset Limited and Golden State on the SP number plates until they were painted over with Amtrak blue. Might see them again somewhere; the blue is about due to peel off.

Let's remember that with a good overhaul, Budd stainless steel cars can still be operative! Just head to our northern neighbor where their flagship train, the Canadian, has 50+ year old ex-CP stainless steel coaches, sleepers, diners, domes and baggage cars still in operation! The fleet is even seeing another round of overhauls to keep them going for another 20 years or so (let alone the well publicized eight "deluxo" Chateau and four "deluxo" Park Cars). VIA doesn't have any timeline established for replacing these cars that they have basically "rebuilt" from top to bottom in most cases. VIA has even purchased what we know as Heritage Amtrak cars to augment their fleet (i.e largely coaches). I wouldn't be surprised if VIA tries to buy additional Amtrak Heritage cars (especially the diners) once Amtrak has the "Viewliner II's" on the property..... But I'd hope Amtrak keeps what single level Heritage cars they have going until the Viewliner II's are "broken in."