MARC Heritage fleet

[Anonymous]

How much longer can we hope for these cars to last? they are cars like the former PRR "Carnegie Inn", streamlined cars from long past roads, still used in Maryland Commuter service. I hope to see them for a long while, but Im thinking MARC will eventually phase out single-level cars.

[daveklepper]

Many of the ex-PRR Budd-built cars were built originally for the Senator and Congressionals and continued to be used in long distance service by Amtrak. Amtrak reseated some for NY-Phila "Clocker" and Harrisburg "Keystone" service, and some ended up with commuter authorities. They are good cars and a natural for some dinner train and musuem and heritage services. Look at Via's "Candadian" cars, only slightly younger, ex-CP, still providing good service. The less good cars are the PRR coaches that were converted from sleepers. They are the ones with much less window area.

[SALfan]

If I'm thinking about the cars you're talking about, they were built as sleepers for the N&W in 1949-50, later sold to the Pennsylvania and converted to coaches. The windows are larger than normal, not smaller. Last time I rode them was 1997 - glad to hear they're still around.

[Anonymous]

Be glad these cars are around. I agree that they should somewhat be phased out but should never be totally retired.