Amtrak rolling stock

Amtrak operates 425 locomotives (351 diesel and 74 electric) and a variety of railroad cars, both passenger and service stock.

Locomotives

Diesel

Inherited from other railroads

These locomotives were inherited from many of the Class 1 railroads that joined Amtrak. Several examples of each type survive.
*EMD E9
*EMD E8
*EMD FP7
*EMD F7
*EMD F3B

Electric

Twenty Acela Express trainsets provide popular high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor between South Station in Boston and Union Station in Washington D.C. This service has been so popular that supporters claim the Acela trains even cover their "above the rail" costs (operating expenses, but not capital to maintain infrastructure). These trainsets have not been without problems. In April 2005, all were removed from service to repair cracked brake rotors. They returned to service by September of that year.

Former

*GE E60 - Two examples has been preserved, 958 in the NJT CP guise and 603 in rebuilt MA form.

Inherited from other railroads

*EMD FL9 - Most have been sold to commuter lines.
*PRR GG1 - inherited from Penn Central. Several examples survive.

Rolling stock

Amtrak's 2,142 railroad cars include 168 sleeping cars, 760 coach cars, 126 first class/business class cars, 66 dormitory/crew cars, 225 lounge/café/dinette cars, 1 dome car, and 92 dining cars. These include:
*Superliner I and II
*Amfleet I and II
*Horizon Fleet
*Viewliner
*Heritage Fleet
*California Cars
*Surfliner Cars
*Talgo Cars
*dome car

Baggage cars, autoracks for Auto Train service, and maintenance of way rolling stock make up the remainder of the fleet.

Private cars

Private railroad cars may also be hauled by Amtrak trains if suitably certified and equipped with head end power (HEP). Groups such as the American Association for Private Rail Car Owners, Inc., (AAPRCO) represent the interests of car owners in dealing with Amtrak. These private cars may be used by their owners or chartered by individuals for private travel behind scheduled Amtrak trains.

All non-Amtrak cars, including those of the Department of Transportation, receive car numbers in the 800000 series for tracking purposes. In the early years of Amtrak's existence, it required that private cars be marked in the "Pointless Arrow" scheme as the neophyte company worked to stamp out "rainbow" trains with a system paint scheme, but this policy was abandoned as Amtrak matured, allowing car operators to use personalized or heritage schemes.

References