Passenger Trains > AMTRAK Equip. sale ?

This appeared in Railswap

AMTRAK HAS AVAILABLE FOR SALE BAGGAGE DORMS, SLUMBER CARS, 10/6 SLEEPERS, LOUNGE CARS, TABLE CAR, BUFFET DINER, SANTA FE HI-LEVEL DORM-COACHES AND SANTA FE HI-LEVEL COACHES. INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD EMAIL HASTINB@AMTRAK.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A SALES OFFER WILL BE MAILED.

Aren't they short of equipment ... or is this junk ??

Hi there,

Probably just old worn out equipment. The ARR bought some cars from them last year. They didn't have money to refurbish one of the cars after they bought it, so it sits waiting in the yard up here in Anchorage. I think it was a food service car.

If it has to be trucked out, it may be junk. But if it can be pulled to its destination...

Bill in Texas

Don't count on having it shipped by rail - the wheels on these critters are probably too thin to be legal. Typically these cars have been stripped right down to the frame as far as anything valuable, and that includes brakes.

These are basically banged-up shells that are "an opportunity" for rebuild (and all the joys THAT entails!). The good thing is that they're stainless steel and that means you won't run into the side sill and collision post work.

Most of the equipment is from the heritage fleet. The hi-levels are obviously ex-ATSF. The heritage equipment are almost all stainless steel construction & HEP converted. But like all passenger equipment, it takes very diligent daily maintenance.

VIA provides that kind of maintenance for their Canadian fleet. Amtrak has never been willing to provide diligent daily maintenance. Their answer is to sell good cars. Sad...... And then they will buy new cars and run the wheels off of them.

No one ever did clarify what the cost would've been to convert the 10/6s to retention. But I still maintain that converting all 5 sleepers would cost far less than purchasing one new Viewliner. Does anyone know what the cost was of converting each toilet in the Heritage coaches?

Matt: << Does anyone know what the cost was of converting each toilet in the Heritage coaches? >>

I don't know the car's present status but the Austin Steam Train Association, operator of the Hill Country Flyer, had a car two years ago that they said they would like to get operating but it would cost about $30,000 to convert its toilets and add a diesel generator. If toilet conversion is all that is needed for the Amtrak cars, the cost should be less than that per car.

I believe the slumbercoaches should be repaired, too, to reclaim the lost "midnight" patronage along the routes of the Lake Shore Limited and the Three Rivers.

Bill in Texas

Wait until the 2003 going out of business sale. You'll have a better selection then.

>>>Wait until the 2003 going out of business sale. You'll have a better selection then.<<<

...and nobody to pull it for you!

-andrew

Dave Jansson said:

"The good thing is that they're stainless steel and that means you won't run into the side sill and collision post work."

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Budd stainless steel cars acquired from Amtrak often rquire extensive side sill and collision post repairs to pass a PC-2 or PC-2A inspection.

Budd cars may not rust, but they have their own unique problems associated with stainless steel.