Passenger Coach Heating

[flyingmech]

Do present day passenger coaches still use steam heat provided by steam generators in the locomotive?

[passengerfan]

flyingmech

Do present day passenger coaches still use steam heat provided by steam generators in the locomotive?

Todays Amtrak cars are all electrically heated with the diesel or electric supplying the power to the cars for heat, AC and lighting.

Al - in - Stockton

[schlimm]

flyingmech

Do present day passenger coaches still use steam heat provided by steam generators in the locomotive?

 

Transit coaches use HEP also to power lighting, heat and AC.

[daveklepper]

Most tourist/historic lines that heat their coaches still use steam heat.

[BNSFwatcher]

Good question!  In the U. S., I'd say "No".  In Canada, WC's "Algoma Central" and VIA's Hudson Bay service might.  Dunno about Alaska Railroad, even though it is in the U. S..  They might, on some trains.  I'll have to check it out.  I loved the smell of the escaping steam on the old trains.  Anyone?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The last regularly scheduled passenger trains with steam heating were on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line (the former NY&LB).  This was necessitated by the motive power change at South Amboy.  This lasted until the GG1's and E8's were retired in about 1985 when the catenary was extended.

The earliest use of HEP of which I am aware were the NH and B&M lightweights handled by the FM Speed Merchants (P12-42's).  The HEP was drawn from an alternator attached to the prime mover.  C&NW began using HEP in 1958 with the re-equipped bi-level "Peninsula 400" and "Flambeau 400".  C&NW began re-equipping its suburban service shortly afterward with bi-levels which were equipped for HEP.  The other Chicago suburban operations followed suit although RI kept non-air-conditioned and steam-heated coaches in rush hour service until about 1977 or so.  Amtrak began its conversion to HEP with the acquisition of the first F40PH's in 1976.

[wjstix]

One of the reasons the "Friends of 261" group is able to break even is that all their vintage passenger cars have been updated to meet Amtrak standards with HEP heat etc. so the cars can be leased out to other groups for fantrips, or even to businesses or private parties to use. The cars can be moved in a scheduled Amtrak train.

[BNSFwatcher]

As an Associate member of the "American Association of Private Rail Car Owners" (AAPRCO), I have access to the member's list and the cars that they own, as well as the car's "home base".  Interesting.  Cars are listed as 'Amtrak Compliant', or not.  It takes 'big bucks' to make an old PV compliant for Amtrak travel and one has to jump thru a lot of hoops.  There are still a lot of non-compliant cars out there, i.e. steam heated/battery powered, but you won't see them on Amtrak trains.  The recent ex-SP 4449 cross-country steam (OR-MI-OR) trips were actually Amtrak moves, with an Amtrak loco providing the HEP.  4449 rarely needed any help from the Genesis unit, not even crossing the Rockies!  Cool trip!!!

Hays --  [e-mail]