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an_ex-GN_MountainView_ElPasoTx_Jan81.jpg
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ex-GN Mountain View on the Sunset Limited at El Paso.
An interesting car -- ex Great Northern dome-buffet lounge Mountain View built by Budd in 1955 for the Empire Builder.
Here it is on the eastbound Sunset Limited at El Paso , shortly before the Superliners took over.
January 1981
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exSPcoach_4842_FtWorth_Dec76.jpg
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Amtrak #4842 was an ex-SP coach built by P-S in 1954 for the Coast Daylight is at Ft.Worth - equipment probably used on the InterAmerican.
December 1976
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exSPcoach_4844_FtWorth_Dec76.jpg
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Amtrak #4844 built in 1954 by Pullman-Standard for the Shasta Daylight is at Ft.Worth - equipment probably used on the InterAmerican.
December 1976
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LoneStar_OkCity_Dec76a.jpg
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Prototype ATSF Hi-Level on the Lone Star.
I was riding the southbound Lone Star from Chicago-Houston when I got a chance for a few shots during the stop at the Santa Fe station in Oklahoma City.
One of the two experimental Hi-Level cars built by Budd for the Santa Fe in 1954 is behind the baggage car (I wish the train had moved up about a car length).
Later, after being removed from service, I believe both cars were stored at Beechgrove. Also both cars were later stored at and are (or were) for sale at Illinois Transit Assembly -- www.iltransit.com
December 1976
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prototypeHiLevel_OkCity_Dec76a.jpg
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A comparison between the prototype and the regular production line Hi-Levels on the Lone Star at Oklahoma City.
December 1976
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prototypeHiLevel_SunsetLtd_Houston_Jan81.jpg
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Prototype Hi-Level car on the Sunset Limited.
Here is #9901 (ATSF #527 -- built in 1954) on the eastbound Sunset Limited arriving at Houston. This was one of the last conventional steam-heated consists on the Sunset before the Superliners took over.
January 1981
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SunsetLtd_StaffordTx_Dec76.jpg
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An interesting Sunset Limited is eastbound just entering the Stafford area outside of Houston.
This was during the era when an ex-California Zephyr observation on the rear was the norm (this one was the Silver Solarium).
Also, 4 sleepers were on this train (plus a deadheaded sleeper behind the engines).
The first one ahead of the observation was back on home rails and its namesake train - it was #2692 - ex SP #9015 - a 10-6 sleeper - part of an order built by Budd in 1950 for the Sunset.
The next sleeper was #2501 - the Blue Grove - a 10 roomette 3 double bedroom 2 compartment car built in 1947-48 by Pullman-Standard for the Santa Fe and the Super Chief. I assume Amtrak sold the compartments as double bedrooms.
The Astrodome can be seen above the observation.
December 1976
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GulfBreeze_inAla_Dec90.jpg
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Amtrak Gulf Breeze in Alabama
The Gulf Breeze is northbound on CSX ex-L&N trackage near Flomaton,Al.
This train ran between Mobile and Birmingham from 1989-1995 (connected with the Crescent in Birmingham).
I rode it a couple of times and it was an enjoyable ride -- heritage equipment and fast running.
#201 was part of the first order of F40PH units delivered to Amtrak (numbering started at 200).
December 1990
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AmtrakatChicago.jpg
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(1) Steam heated cars at Chicago
I've missed the passenger cars with steam heat.
Here, Amtrak workers are trying to cope with another rough winter in keeping the cars warm and thawed out before the next run.
December 1976
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AmtrakatChicago2.jpg
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(2) Steam heated cars at Chicago
More cars in the coach yard before Amtrak rebuilt the area.
December 1976
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Eagle_KosseTx_April90a.jpg
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(1) Amtrak Houston section of Texas Eagle
Treated shabbily at times by the SP -- the Houston section waits to head north in the siding (quite a while ) for an SP freight with a SD40-2T headed south at Kosse (+- 145 miles north of Houston).
April 1990
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Eagle_onSP_April90a.jpg
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(2) Amtrak Houston section of Texas Eagle
Amtrak operated a Houston-Dallas section of the Texas Eagle from 1988-1995. It split from the main section at Dallas and ran to Houston on the SP.
The Houston section is on the SP (Houston and Texas Central) line probably near College Station.
April 1990
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EagleatHearneTx_April90a.jpg
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(3) Amtrak Houston section of Texas Eagle
The northbound section passes the depot in Hearne (built in 1901) - crossing the former Laredo-Texarkana Missouri Pacific line.
The last regularly scheduled passenger train through here was on the MP about 1969. The last passenger trains on the SP were in the late 50's.
April 1990
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exCZ_SilverPenthouse_SunsetLtd_Houston_Dec78.jpg
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ex-CZ Silver Penthouse at Houston
Ex-California Zephyr dome-lounge observation (with 1 drawing room and 3 double bedrooms) is on the rear of the eastbound Sunset Limited as it is being serviced at the Houston stop. The ex-CZ observation cars were often assigned to the Sunset during this period.
The car was purchased by the BNSF in 1993 and later basically redone inside and is permanently? at the headquarters in Ft.Worth -- now called the Prairie View.
December 1978
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ex-NYC_dineratChicago_Dec76a.jpg
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Ex-New York Central diner-tavern-lounge is moved around the Amtrak yards in Chicago.
Amtrak #8336 (ex-NYC 461) was built in 1948 by Budd as a 24 dining seat and 22 seat grill-section car.
Amtrak used the 22 seat grill area as a tavern-lounge.
As usual, an interesting group of cars in the yard including a couple of ex-PRR P-70 coaches used on the Valparaiso commuter run.
December 1976
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AMT249_StLouis_June90a.jpg
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Amtrak at St.Louis
Just south of the Amtrak station and almost opposite Union Station this train is probably headed to Kansas City.
June 90
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Amt451 on the SunsetLtd at Houston -- Nov91a.jpg
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Amtrak F69PHAC #451 on the Sunset Limited.
One of the more unusual looking engines that Amtrak used (as short a time as it was) #451 leads the Sunset Limited eastbound at West Jct in Houston.
Along with #450 these engines were built in 1988 but were off any roster by 1993. A good sight for more history on these engines is at -- http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtF69PHAC.html
November 1991
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Amtrak shops in Chicago_Dec75.jpg
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No one seemed to mind my hanging out in the vestibule on the arriving Broadway Limited - so I did all the way to the station.
The shops and yards had changed little in the 4.5 years since Amtrak started up - but in a few years they would be completely rebuilt.
Here are the engine shops with a lot of interesting trailers scattered around on the right.
December 1975
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Amtrak shops in Chicago2_Dec75.jpg
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The Amtrak Chicago shops before rebuilding.
The E8 on the right was #349 (ex-CB&Q)
The two Penn Central GP9 units were used on the Chicago - Valparaiso commuter run.
#421 was an ex-UP E9
December 1975
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Amtrak629-584_Denver Union St_Nov76.jpg
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Amtrak SDP40F #629-584 at Denver.
Steam generators working on a chilly day (pop off valves?) as these units pull into Union Station to be swapped out with the power on the soon to arrive San Francisco Zephyr.
November 1976
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Dallas_section_LoneStar_onTP_Oct76a.jpg
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Racing east between Ft.Worth and Dallas on Texas & Pacific trackage is the Dallas section of the Lone Star.
An ex-Santa Fe sleeper and Hi-Level car were switched out of the main section at Ft.Worth (it continued to Houston).
I believe the Santa Fe had a Dallas section from the Texas Chief but it took a different route to Dallas.
October 1976
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ex-CBQ Siver Hyacinth at New Orleans -- Aug80.jpg
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The Silver Hyacinth -- #2152 (CB&Q #462) was an interesting sleeper.
Built by Budd in 1952 for the American Royal Zephyr -- it had 6-roomettes,4 double bedrooms and 6 sections.
I don't believe Amtrak ever sold the sections as sleeper space but they were used as dormitory space.
Nice skirts!
August 1980
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Inter-American at TaylorTx -- July77.jpg
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(1) The northbound Inter-American has just departed the Missouri Pacific station at Taylor,Tx and is on the transfer track to the MKT line. It will run on the Katy to Temple (about 40 miles) then transfer to the Santa Fe.
The MKT station is to the left with the interlocking signal for the Missouri Pacific crossing just past the station.
The Inter-American has run from Laredo on the MP to this point.
The Texas Eagle uses the same route today (from San Antonio)
#367 was ex-UP.
July 1977
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SanFranZephyr_atDenverUnion_Nov76a.jpg
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Getting a ride and moving cars around on the San Fransisco Zephyr at Denver Union Station.
The car the crew is riding on was an ex-Atlantic Coast Line tavern-lounge observation car built by Budd in 1947 for the Champion.
November 1976
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SFZephyr at Denver Union_Nov76.jpg
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Since the baggage car is at the other end this must be the westbound San Francisco Zephyr at Denver Union Station.. The passengers will ride backwards to Cheyenne where the engines will run around to the other end and head west.
The SCL E3 (ex-Atlantic Coast Line) engine was built in 1939 (and later rebuilt to a E6?) is now at the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
November 1976
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