(Phase 2)
(Phase 3)
(Phase 4)
| Type | Superliner 1 Coach/Baggage |
| Road Numbers | 31000 - 31047 |
| Notes | The phase 4 car shows how Amtrak replace the baggage compartment windows with steel sheeting, as a security measure. |
| Type | Superliner 1 Coach/Baggage |
| Road Numbers | 31000 - 31047 |
| Notes | The phase 4 car shows how Amtrak replace the baggage compartment windows with steel sheeting, as a security measure. |
| Type | Superliner 1 Smoking Coach |
| Road Numbers | 31502 - 31545 (not continuous) |
| Notes | The small baggage compartment in the Baggage Coach became redundant as most Superliner trains began to carry baggage cars. With this in mind, Amtrak converted many of the baggage compartments on these cars to smoker's lounges. Over half of the Baggage/Coaches were converted, and these cars were identified by adding 500 to the car's 31000 series road number. |
| Type | Superliner 1 Sleeper |
| Road Numbers | 32000 - 32069 |
| Type | Superliner 2 Sleeper |
| Road Numbers | 32070 - 32118 |
| Notes | The Superliner 2 cars used GSI drop equalizer trucks. Note that the side is all unpainted stainless steel, with no silver decal. |
| Type | Superliner 2 Deluxe Sleeper |
| Road Numbers | 32500 - 32505 |
| Notes | These six cars were built with all deluxe accommodation (usually there's only one deluxe room per car). They were intended to run in the Auto Train, between Washington DC and Florida. They're externally identical to the 32070 class sleepers, depicted above. |
| Type | Superliner 1 Lounge/Cafe |
| Road Numbers | 33000 - 33024 |
| Type | Superliner 2 Sightseer Lounge |
| Road Numbers | 33025 - 33049 |
| Notes | These cars have a different arrangement on the lower level, compared to the type 1 cars. A large buffet, on the left side, replaced the small snack bar. This caused a rearrangement of the windows and doors. |
| Type | Superliner 1 Auto Train Lounge |
| Road Numbers | 33100 - 33104 |
| Notes | Five former dining cars were converted for use as lounge cars, on the Auto Train which runs from Washington DC to Miami FL. This conversion included adding passenger space in the former kitchen area, on the lower level of the car. |
| Type | Superliner 1 Coach |
| Road Numbers | 34000 - 34101 |
| Notes | As with the baggage coach above, the window behind the luggage rack on the lower level, was plated over, to prevent thieves from breaking into the car and stealing luggage. |
| Type | Superliner 2 Coach |
| Road Numbers | 34102 - 34139 |
Type |
Superliner 1 Snack/Coach |
| Road Numbers | 35000 - 35010 |
| Notes |
These cars are externally identical to the 34000 series coaches (see above). Internally, they have several seats on the lower level removed, and replaced by a snack bar. They are used on trains that don't have Lounge/Cafe or Diner service. |
| Type | Superliner 1 Diner |
| Road Numbers | 38000 - 38038 |
| Notes | The earliest diners still had the two window openings above the doors, but the frames were filled with steel instead of glass. Later cars had no openings in these locations. |
| Type | Superliner 2 Diner |
| Road Numbers | 38039 - 38068 |
| Type | Superliner 2 Transition Sleeper |
| Road Numbers | 39000 - 39046 |
| Notes | These cars have standard level diaphragm at one end, to interface with standard level equipment. They also have dormitory space, for the onboard crew. |
| Type | Heritage HEP Baggage cars |
| Road Numbers | 1200 - 1249 (left) 1250 - 1272 (right) |
| Notes | These cars were re-built from Santa Fe baggage cars in the 3500, 3650, and 3450 series. Modifications included removal of steam piping, installation of 480 V pass-through cables, and removal of courier facilities from some cars. |
(Phase 4)
| Type | Material Handling Car |
| Road Numbers | 1400 - 1479 (left) 1500 - 1559 (right) |
| Notes |
In the early '80s, Amtrak began to expand it's express (package freight) business. By 1986,
they were running short of baggage cars to carry all this freight. There were no more "heritage"
baggage cars available in North America, but building new ones was considered too expensive.
A compromise was reached when Amtrak bought 80 Material Handling Cars from Thrall, a leading
manufacturer of freight cars. These MHCs resemble modern boxcars, except that they have
exceptionally low roofs. Their 13' 6" height matched that of a standard passenger car, but
was much shorter than the average boxcar (for example the mid-'50s PS1 measured 15'). The MHCs had other unusual features, like the 5' 10" wheelbase trucks (which came from old Railway Express Agency refrigerator cars), and the side mounted hand brake (normal freight cars had the hand brake on the end, while passenger cars had it mounted inside). In 1988, Thrall delivered a second order of MHCs. These cars were numbered in the 1500 series, and featured several differences from the 1400 class. Most noticeable was the use of new GSI trucks (due to the lack of more recycled express trucks). |
| Type | Heritage Baggage Car (Converted Coach) |
| Road Numbers | 1701 - 1740 |
| Notes |
By the mid '90s, Amtrak was in need of baggage cars again. This time they decided to convert
a number of 85-foot Budd coaches to baggage service. These cars were made surplus by the
arrival of the Superliner II cars. The interior was cleaned out, all windows plated over,
and a roll-up baggage door was cut into the center of the side. Several cars were later
dedicated to mail service, and re-numbered into the 1750 series. The coaches used for the conversion were originally built for four different railroads, between 1950 and 1961. The image represents a car converted from a Santa Fe "chair car" from the 2800 class, built in 1953. |
