Phase VII car repaint status

[Cal]

Two out of three white "swooshes" are truncated by the windows:

View attachment 38580

There are many train and plane liveries that have elements of them cut off due to windows, I don't think this happened because they forgot there are windows. I do think that they could have done better though.

Now this is more interesting:

LOVE that.

 

[JermyZP]

Follow-up thought: maybe the red is unique for first-class or other elevated service levels. I guess we won't know until we see more of it rolling out.

Edit:
Answered my thought, it is going to indicate service by color:
https://railfan.com/amtrak-releases...qPBuMYwEiuDwS7SWyg_aem_q8RxBHMcPX8RkrUTyse08g

I noticed that with the new livery, it specifies what type of car is it. No more looking at the car number or type of livery to know what type of rail car it is.

 

[Cal]

I noticed that with the new livery, it specifies what type of car is it. No more looking at the car number or type of livery to know what type of rail car it is.

What do you mean? As in VI or VII? Or sleeping car, etc? Because the different type of car layout (lounge, coach, etc) has always been displayed on cars.

 

[Goldspike_Railfanning]

Red will denote first class. Light blue will be business and green coach. It sounds like the plan is indeed to get this out on everything except basically the Avelia liberty sets.

All in an effort to provide a wayfinding color for each class, though I have mixed opinions on green for coach… it doesn’t feel like Phase VII like the red, white, and blue that we usually see. Another person I spoke to even suggested not giving coach a wayfinding color and just keep it blue like an Airo car since it’s a more basic class. Guess we’ll have to see how it turns out.

 

[Tom C]

It was on the Floridian last night. Here is how it looked next to a Viewliner II on the Elkhart Virtual Railfan camera.

 

[JermyZP]

What do you mean? As in VI or VII? Or sleeping car, etc? Because the different type of car layout (lounge, coach, etc) has always been displayed on cars.

As in Veiwliner 1, Viewliner 2, Superliner 1, Superliner 2, and ect.

 

[mfastx]

Follow up thought: maybe the red is unique for first class or other elevated service levels. I guess we won't know until we see more of it rolling out.

Edit:
Answered my own thought, it is going to indicate service by color:
https://railfan.com/amtrak-releases...qPBuMYwEiuDwS7SWyg_aem_q8RxBHMcPX8RkrUTyse08g

Oof, the timelines in that article. Only 44 cars by the end of next year? That's a pretty sobering number.

 

[Seaboarder3023]

Oof, the timelines in that article. Only 44 cars by the end of next year? That's a pretty sobering number.

Really? That's 90% of the still-serviceable VL-1 fleet.

 

[jis]

Really? That's 90% of the still-serviceable VL-1 fleet.

Those are all of the VL-1s that are not in mothballs.

 

[Seaboarder3023]

Those are all of the VL-1s that are not in mothballs.

I just reread the article and realized I misunderstood. I thought it was saying they plan to have 44 cars refurbished by the end of next year, not that 44 total would be operational.

 

[Fenu S]

Some new pics from my friend "HHP-8 is in Phase VII"

 

[cocojacoby]

I had to look this up. From Wikipedia:

Amtrak conversion to cab cars

In an effort to extend the life of its existing fleet until the arrival of the Airo fleet, Amtrak began testing a converted HHP-8 locomotive as a cab car in 2023. These converted units are designated as HHP-8C.[20][21]

The project initially aimed to convert two locomotives for expanded Ethan Allen Express service in 2022. While the first conversion (originally numbered 691, initially renumbered 90691 and later 9750) faced initial setbacks, it was ultimately successful. As of July 2024, Amtrak is considering expanding the program to include up to eight total conversions.[21]

 

[Cal]

I had to look this up. From Wikipedia:

Amtrak conversion to cab cars

In an effort to extend the life of its existing fleet until the arrival of the Airo fleet, Amtrak began testing a converted HHP-8 locomotive as a cab car in 2023. These converted units are designated as HHP-8C.[20][21]

The project initially aimed to convert two locomotives for expanded Ethan Allen Express service in 2022. While the first conversion (originally numbered 691, initially renumbered 90691 and later 9750) faced initial setbacks, it was ultimately successful. As of July 2024, Amtrak is considering expanding the program to include up to eight total conversions.[21]

Yep, same thing has happened for F40s, and even one P42 has been turned into an NPCU (Non-powered control unit).

 

[mfastx]

Really? That's 90% of the still-serviceable VL-1 fleet.

I thought they were repainting the entire fleet, not just Viewliners.

 

[TommyBNSF]

The 2nd car was released this morning from Beech Grove.

Viewliner I
AMTK 62032 Iroquois River - 12/12/24
AMTK 62037 Kissimmee River - 1/11/25

 

[nickeljoshua]

All in an effort to provide a wayfinding color for each class, though I have mixed opinions on green for coach… it doesn’t feel like Phase VII like the red, white, and blue that we usually see. Another person I spoke to even suggested not giving coach a wayfinding color and just keep it blue like an Airo car since it’s a more basic class. Guess we’ll have to see how it turns out.

Actually the airo cars are also green on coach cars. It is just a lot more subtle than what they are going to do on the older cars. Here is the first car that was part of the press conference back in 2023.

 

[Anderson]

Oh, great, a new paint job...

I wonder if the toilets are reliably working yet?

 

[Cal]

Oh, great, a new paint job...

This is the Phase 7 that has been being put on P42's, ALC-42s, other engines, and now passenger cars. It's not just another new paint job.

 

[Goldspike_Railfanning]

Actually the airo cars are also green on coach cars. It is just a lot more subtle than what they are going to do on the older cars. Here is the first car that was part of the press conference back in 2023. View attachment 39039

I am aware, but this is much less green than what it sounds like for older rolling stock if we’re basing it off the red marks for First Class on the Viewliners. It looks fine in smaller amounts at least.