I am reviving this thread because the subject of Amtrak baggage cars seems to be of some interest right now.
A large portion of the baggage car fleet are former Santa Fe baggage cars manufactured by Budd.
I doubt anything in US passenger rail history comes close to the continuous mileage the Amtrak baggage car fleet has amassed both prior to and now in Amtrak service.
But most of the former Santa Fe Budd baggage cars still look really good. A testament to Budd's shot welding process.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
In addition, I often see baggage cars that were converted from retired coaches (by blanking the windows and cutting roll-up doors into the sides) going along with their doors open, anywhere from a few inches to all the way. Until the new cars arrive and all the conversions are out of service, I would not consider checking my bags (if I were taking a trip, which is unlikely).
David
mdw From my knowledge of information, most Amtrak baggage cars were built in the 1940's or early 1950's, so they are the oldest in the fleet.
From my knowledge of information, most Amtrak baggage cars were built in the 1940's or early 1950's, so they are the oldest in the fleet.
The age of these baggage cars are becomiing a real problem. From the July performance report Amtrak is having to bring in early 4 baggage cars for major work at Beech Grove. Were supposed to be completed by end of the past Sept instead of FY 2012. It is all a matteer of parts availability. Cannibalization will probably occurr once new baggage or baggage doorms are delivered or maybe sooner.
Keep in mind the Roomettes will be more $$$'s then Coach but if you consider it's your Hotel Room with included Meal(s) then it's not as bad as it first looks. The Sleeper Car passengers also get priory seating in the Diner Car over Coach Passengers which is important on full trains if you want a real meal. It's also nice to be able to close the door to your room and not have all the noise you get in coach either throughout the day and night which makes the trip much more enjoyable as well.
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
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Thank you for all of the information that was given. Aside from the baggage car, the service was very nice. This was my first long distance train ride( I am 54 years old) I was going to go Greyhound, but the fare was more than the Amtrak fare and I was able to walk about. I plan to ride Amtrak again, next time in a sleeper as apposed to a coach.
Sam1It appears that many if not most of them were built in the 50s and 60s, as per this web page:
According to the Amtrak Fleet Strategy plan, all the remaining Heritage cars in service, which includes the baggage and single level diner cars lumped together into 1 group, started service from 1948 to 1956. The minimum age is 54 years. The average mileage on the Heritage fleet is 4.8 million miles since the 1970s, since Amtrak only has records from the start of their data record keeping in the 1970s. So there could be baggage cars with 7 or 8 million miles on them.
Amtrak has made it pretty clear in their published documents that they intend to retire all the Heritage baggage and diner cars from service when the new Viewliner IIs arrive. Some of the cars in better condition are likely to be put into storage as emergency backup, but the rest is likely to be offered to museums, for sale, or sold for scrap.
Dr.Fu-Manchu Just how old are the amtrak baggage cars? I rode on the California Zephyr to Chicago and my suitcase came out dusty and smelling slighty of diesel exhaust. Do they have a problem with keeping the cars dust free??
Just how old are the amtrak baggage cars? I rode on the California Zephyr to Chicago and my suitcase came out dusty and smelling slighty of diesel exhaust. Do they have a problem with keeping the cars dust free??
My observation of the baggage cars is two fold.
1. Some appear to be in very good condition.
2. Others I have seen cracks and openings in the car itself and there appears to be corrosion. I cannot remember if they were built by Pullman but would suspect such ?
Hopefully when the new baggage cars arrive these tired baggage cars can be put out to pasture.
Yes, Geno's Amtrak Roster site that Sam posted is the one I find the most useful and have supplied a few of my own photographs to him to use. Allot of the Amtrak cars are hand-me-downs from when passenger service via the major railroads ended. I tend to ride in the Sleeper cars in the small Roomettes and have my baggage in the room with me or on the lower level of the car so I can not say if the smell / dust issue is normal or not. Could be the Baggage Car door had a seal issue either do to age or not correctly closed. It could be something from the station and not the car as if I remember the Chicago station can be a bit dirty / smelly on the platforms where your luggage would have been off loaded.
It appears that many if not most of them were built in the 50s and 60s, as per this web page:
http://www.trainweb.org/amtrakpix/locoshots/baggage/BAGGAGE.html If this link does not work, type "Age of Amtrak's baggage cars" into Google. This is how I found the information.
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