The Fleet as it stood prior to the ordering of the Viewliner fleet: (Italicized are the cars retired between 2009 and now. Active cars in bold. Some retirements may have slipped by me.)Considering that the Viewliner Baggage cars are said to be going into service tomorrow, I figured now is as good a time as any to start tracking the retirement of Heritage baggage cars.
It's probably a case of Amtrak moving to retire almost all of them over the course of a few months. I count 71 baggage cars above, versus I believe 80 bags/bag-dorms Amtrak bought in the Viewliner II order (55+25 turned to 65+15 IIRC). Honestly, Amtrak is probably going to move them all to Beech Grove and then evaluate which (if any) it wants to hold as spares/backups in the event that an issue arises with the Viewliner IIs over the next 2-3 years.Surprised that Budd bags would be put out to pasture before the rattletrap coach conversions, but what do I know. (See username.)
Current order: 70 full baggage cars, 10 baggage-dorm cars, 25 diners, 25 sleepers.It's probably a case of Amtrak moving to retire almost all of them over the course of a few months. I count 71 baggage cars above, versus I believe 80 bags/bag-dorms Amtrak bought in the Viewliner II order (55+25 turned to 65+15 IIRC). Honestly, Amtrak is probably going to move them all to Beech Grove and then evaluate which (if any) it wants to hold as spares/backups in the event that an issue arises with the Viewliner IIs over the next 2-3 years.Surprised that Budd bags would be put out to pasture before the rattletrap coach conversions, but what do I know. (See username.)
You would and will know when the mAnyone know how many Viewliner II Baggage cars and Baggage dorms have been deployed to date? On our last couple of trips we have only seen many Viewliner II Baggage cars and no Baggage dorms. When we left denver on Aug 9 the EB CZ arrived delivering a Viewliner II to Denver Union Station. We departed and the Baggage car remained on the far siding. We had no idea what this was all about but again we saw these cars on various Amtrak trains at that time.
I believe they're also in service on the Capitol Ltd. At least I see one on the Superliner trainset setting in the Ivy City yard every morning on the way to work.57 baggage cars have been delivered. 0 bag-dorms. I believe they are in service on all Eastern trains and the Empire Builder.
I saw a derelict on the back of what I presume was the CL as I was boarding the south bound Illinois Zephyr in Chicago yesterday. But how would that get it to Beach Grove?Baggage car 1234 is enroute to Beech Grove via the Capitol Limited right now.
The way that they are chopping up the AEM-7's, I doubt it. Probably check them out and see if there are any worth selling and scrap the rest as soon as they can.It's probably a case of Amtrak moving to retire almost all of them over the course of a few months. I count 71 baggage cars above, versus I believe 80 bags/bag-dorms Amtrak bought in the Viewliner II order (55+25 turned to 65+15 IIRC). Honestly, Amtrak is probably going to move them all to Beech Grove and then evaluate which (if any) it wants to hold as spares/backups in the event that an issue arises with the Viewliner IIs over the next 2-3 years.Surprised that Budd bags would be put out to pasture before the rattletrap coach conversions, but what do I know. (See username.)