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Amtrak Questions

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  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Ridgeville,South Carolina
  • 1,294 posts
Amtrak Questions
Posted by willy6 on Sunday, February 5, 2017 9:06 AM

Does Amtrak have any F40PH's or GE Dash 8's still in service? Also, I read at the start of Amtrak they used fallen flag passengers cars, does Amtrak ever use fallen flag passenger cars for service today? Thank you in advance.

Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Potomac Yard
  • 2,761 posts
Posted by NittanyLion on Sunday, February 5, 2017 10:19 AM

No operating F40PHs. They're all converted to baggage cars with big roll up doors. Really. They retain the controls, though, so they can be used as control cabs. 

Handful of Dash 8s. Most are exiled to yard jobs, but a few see road service in the East. The Pennsylvanian often has one. 

Nothing in the old colors any more. Not since the late 70s. The overwhelming majority of the fleet was bought new and anything old enough has been rebuilt so extensively that they've seen the paint shop. 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • 3,231 posts
Posted by NorthWest on Sunday, February 5, 2017 12:08 PM

The first round of GE Genesis (P40DC) are technically Dash-8s as well. The Dash-832BWHs see service on the Coast Starlight pretty frequently.

Amtrak is still operating a few diners from predecessor railroads, but they are soon to be retired when the Viewliner II diners finally arrive. The final bagagge cars, some rebuilt from coaches, were retired a couple of years ago.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,427 posts
Posted by dknelson on Sunday, February 5, 2017 1:10 PM

Amtrak 406 is unpowered but does not have the "garage door" on the side (and can provide HEP) so it is probably the closest there is to a regular looking F40PH on the roster, and is probably the one that could be returned to original status if the money could be found to do it.  It is often seen as part of the exhibition train consist.

There might be a few of the old baggage cars still around but as noted above, they were due for total replacement.  I believe the former GN Great Dome is still owned by Amtrak. 

Dave Nelson 

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