Passenger Trains > Amtrak heritage fleet

What was the oldest car that Amtrak inherited in 1971?

"Blue" series ex. AT&SF sleepers? 

These sleepers were built in 1947 and 1948

Thought there were older cars inherited from the RRs?

P-70’s from the PRR or maybe older diners from some of the western roads

Looking for more clarification

Thanks Bill

Posted from iPhone

I don't think Amtrak ever bought a Pennsy P70 or a B60, even though they ran in early 1970's consists ! 
Oldest cars were probably some Budds from 1946, like the NYC 5600-Amtrak series coaches.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/20 07:54 by joemvcnj.

I always understood it to have been some pre-WW2 (1936?) Santa Fe Budd diners.  I don't have documentation handy to verify that however.  In any event, they were not as old when Amtrak acquired them as all Amfleet and at least Superliner I is today.

Gordon

gbmott Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I always understood it to have been some pre-WW2
> (1936?) Santa Fe Budd diners.  I don't have
> documentation handy to verify that however.  In
> any event, they were not as old when Amtrak
> acquired them as all Amfleet and at least
> Superliner I is today.
>
> Gordon

Yes, Gordon, you are correct.
There were some 1936 Budds in the Heritage Fleet. If I am not mistaken, even one coach was in that group from ATSF. I recall a small plaque in the hallway that mentioned it was the first Budd car to be built to be used independently. That car is now in private hands.
SR2

Posted from Android

I'm not sure what was the eldest car operated by Amtrak in 1971.  However, I must say that in 1988-89 there was a very cool dome car on the Capitol Limited that I enjoyed riding several times between DC and Chicago.    On one occasion, I noted that the floor around the men's toilet had several small holes.  During the winter, it was especially noisy and cold when visiting the men's room.

Sp1110 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What was the oldest car that Amtrak inherited in
> 1971?

Get a copy of Amtrak by the Numbers. According to that source, Amtrak acquired several bag-dorms (1502-1512) that were built by Budd between 1937 and 1939. I haven't done a comprehensive search so there may be others from the 30s

WP17

the C&S car silver teasure was pretty old

Numerous cars at Amtrak takeover in 1971 were built in the 1930s:
-ATSF dining cars 8030-34 were built by Budd in 1937. 
-8000-8003 were built for SAL by Budd in 1939
-coaches 4460-62 were pre-war (ATSF)
-Milwaukee Road coaches, which were not purchased, but leased, were almost all pre-war cars.  
lounges 3800-02, 3810-12 were pre-war for SAL
lounges 3330-3333 were pre-war for ACL 
baggage-dormitory cars 1500 - 1516 were built for various railroads before WW2

All were built by Budd and had stainless steel bodies.  

Sp1110 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What was the oldest car that Amtrak inherited in
> 1971?

Well for starters, Amtrak didn't inherit anything. The railroads sold the cars and locomotives to Amtrak.

P70s were used on Amtrak NEC trains during holiday periods in the early 1970s.  The Adirondack also had at least one ex-Erie upgraded heavyweight coach before the Turbos took over.  In neither case were these cars owned by Amtrak.

Dave

Is there a resource online that says what each railroad contributed and what credit Amtrak gave in return towards their buy-in fee? And what the total fee to join was?

Each railroad that joined Amtrak was given stock in the corporation. The federal government allowed the freight railroads to have a permanent stake in Amtrak.

Posted from iPhone

I am aware of this.  I'd like to see where it said ATSF sold / contributed / whatever you call it car 1234 for $xxxxx and car 3456 for $yyyyy while PC sold them E8A 4293 for $zzzzz.  And the joining fees (based on prior year losses) was x for IC and y for ATSF.

I presume these are a matter of public record.  It would be cool if someone put it online somewhere.

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Numerous cars at Amtrak takeover in 1971 were
> built in the 1930s:
> -Milwaukee Road coaches, which were not purchased,
> but leased, were almost all pre-war cars.  
>
> All were built by Budd and had stainless steel
> bodies.  

The Milwaukee Road coaches that Amtrak used - mainly on Chicago-Milwaukee service - were all built by the Milwaukee Shops post war in 1947-49.

Best source I know:

https://ctr.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/1971-trains.pdf

It is a contemporary listing and may not really represent the final info.

ATK paid an average of $14,000 (70 or 71 $)

Two Santa Fe cars listed were 1937, a lounge dorm and a baggage dorm.

Several other cars from the 1930's, some other ATSF and SCL coaches and specialty cars.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/20 17:13 by wilewil.

A suggestion:  buy this book for $2.99 on Ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Amtrak-Car-Spotter-A-Guide-to-the-New-Amtrak-Car-Numbers-and-Pre-Amtrak-1972/402316935895?hash=item5dabf542d7:g:HnMAAOSwwcVfAiQ~
The 1972 Amtrak Car Spotter book.  That will answer any questions you have about the initial Amtrak fleet.