Union Pacific Cars Sold To Amtrak
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This page was last updated on October 28, 2015.
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Overview
Amtrak purchased a total of 163 former Union Pacific passenger cars. Of those 163 cars, 144 were purchased directly from UP (120 in the initial purchase in November 1971). Of the other 19 cars, which Union Pacific had sold in the 1968-1971 time period, Amtrak purchased seven from Auto-Liner Corporation, six came from Penn Central, four came by way of Great Northern, and one each came from Alaska Railroad and Overland Rail Travel Corporation.
After the startup of Amtrak operations on May 1, 1971, Amtrak had until August 1, 1971 to notify the member railroads which equipment (cars and locomotives) the company required, and whether the equipment would be leased or purchased. (Trains magazine, August 1971, page 10)
By August 1, Amtrak must tell the railroads which pieces of equipment the agency requires. After that, Amtrak can either buy or lease them. Amtrak officials say the agency probably will get the best of the E8's and E9's, plus possibly some of the well-maintained Santa Fe F units. The last remaining Alco PA's, Delaware & Hudson's four, possibly will power an expected resumption of Albany-Montreal service. There is sentiment on the D&H to use the PA's as drawing cards for excursions if Montreal service is not resumed. Amtrak remains mum on its expected sources of passenger equipment, but the best guess is that most cars will come from Santa Fe, Seaboard Coast Line, Union Pacific, and Burlington Northern. Everything will receive extensive shopping and rebuilding. Amtrak then will begin buying its own locomotives and cars. New concepts will be explored in passenger cars and self-propelled units. The policy for locomotives will be high horsepower to cut down on the number of units needed. PC's GG1's may be in trouble. Amtrak originally decided to completely rebuild GG1's rather than go for a new electric locomotive, but General Electric has proposed a passenger version of its E60C electric, which will be in service on the Black Mesa & Lake Powell mining road in Arizona. GE says it can deliver the passenger version within a year after order, and Amtrak, which expects to run Northeast Corridor locomotive-hauled trains for some years, may feel the expense of new electrics would be less than long-term maintenance of GG1's. (Trains magazine, August 1971, page 10)
Operations began on May 1, 1971, with a bare-bones timetable. A second, but still minimal timetable was issued on July 12, 1971. These two early timetables were based almost entirely on existing schedules for Amtrak's member railroads. Amtrak's first "real" timetable was issued on November 14, 1971. (Trains magazine, January 1972, page 12)
A total of 23 Union Pacific 900-series E-units were assigned to Amtrak service in May 1971. (Extra 2200 South, May-June 1971, page 13, reported by Don Strack)
The following comes from "Amtrak By The Numbers" page 108:
Amtrak had to make do with the cars that were available at the time of its creation. A "wish list" was developed, based on anticipated requirements and desired types of construction and accommodation. All cars initially acquired by Amtrak (the "original purchase") were steam-heated. Out of approximately 3,000 passenger cars inspected, some 1,190 were selected. These did not include any Penn Central cars, since that company was going through bankruptcy proceedings at that time. As a result, its contributions would come later.
It should come as little surprise that over 90 per cent of Amtrak's initial rolling-stock selection came from five railroads: Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Seaboard Coast Line, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific. With the exception of SR these were the pillars of the remaining passenger carriers.
Additional cars were obtained from various sources as needs changed, especially purchases driven by the Arab oil embargo of the mid-1970s.
The cars that came from the freight railroads were assigned numbers following these broad demarcations:
Baggage (1000, including combine and express cars)
Sleepers (2000)
Lounges (3000, including snack cars)
Coaches (4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000)
Diners (8000)
Domes (9000-9500, 9800)
Hi-Level cars (9600 and 9900)
Under this original numbering scheme, the first two digits of the coach numbers denoted seating capacity.
November 1971
Amtrak purchased 1,190 cars from its member railroads. (Trains magazine, December 1971, page 16)
August 1972
Amtrak purchased 262 locomotives from its member railroads, including 232 diesels (E's and F's) and 30 GG-1's. An additional 10 GG-1's were to be leased from Penn Central, and 13 E8's were to be leased from Union Pacific. (Trains magazine, August 1972, page 13)
July 1973
Amtrak took delivery of the first of 40 new SDP40F locomotives from Electro-Motive, meant to replace 74 ex AT&SF F-units on various former AT&SF trains. The new locomotives were equipped with two steam generators, with the capability for later installation of two 375-kilowatt auxiliary diesel generators to furnish the planned 480-volt three-phase A.C. electrical system.
May 1977
After a severe winter in 1976-1977, which caused problems with its fleet of steam-heated passenger cars, Amtrak began the conversion of many of its steam-heated cars to be equipped for head end power, or HEP. The conversion included the installation of wiring and control circuitry for a 480-volt three-phase A.C. electrical system throughout each train, with power being furnished by auxiliary diesel generators and engine-driven alternators in locomotives at the head end of each train.
Head-End Power
Amtrak rebuilt most of the former UP cars with electrical power, replacing their original steam heat features.
(Read more about head end power, HEP)
The last Amtrak steam heated train left Washington on March 8, 1982. (Passenger Car List, message no. 74173, dated May 24, 2011)
Auto-Train
Many UP cars were sold to Auto-Train Corporation, which started service on December 6, 1971. Auto-Train operations ended in 1981. The service was re-started by Amtrak as Auto Train on October 30, 1983. (Wikipedia article)
Pacific Series
For the "Pacific" series, initially numbered as AMTK 2600-2642, after being converted to HEP, Amtrak gave them new numbers in the 2430-2441 series (12 cars); the 2880-2894 series (15 cars); and the 2900 series (13 cars). The 2880 and 2900 series cars had unaltered interiors, but the 2430 series cars had roomette 10 remodeled into a handicap accommodation by extending it into the area next to the vestibule that was previously occupied by the luggage racks. Fourteen cars in the 2880 series and the 2900 series were assigned as Amtrak Crew Dormitory cars and renumbered into the 2500 series. (part from Mike Palmieri, email dated November 12, 2011)
Sources
Coming to this number of 163 cars took an effort that required the help of many other people with a similar interest. Published sources include David Randall's six-volume series "Railway Passenger Car Annual," published in 1973 through 1984, and Fred Frailey's "Zephyrs, Chiefs, and Other Orphans" published in 1977.
This information was added to what had already been obtained from David Seidel, the source for the initial UP passenger car roster in 2004.
(There is some confusion about ex UP Baggage cars 6328 and 6331. This roster uses information from David Randall's "Railway Passenger Car Annual" volumes I through VI, published in 1973 through 1984. These are considered to be closer to primary, comtemporary sources than information presented in "Amtrak By The Numbers," published in 2011.)
More Information
Amtrak Cars at Railroad Picture Archives
Amtrak Heritage Fleet page at Wikipedia
Amtrak -- A separate index page about Amtrak, with information about its use of Head End Power (HEP)
Car Number Cross Reference
(163 cars)
| First Amtrak Number |
UP Car Number |
Car Type |
| AMTK 1075 | UP 5711 | Baggage (UP Postal Storage) |
| AMTK 1076 | UP 5728 | Baggage (UP Postal Storage) |
| AMTK 1077 | UP 6328 | Baggage |
| AMTK 1126 (3rd) | UP 6331 | Baggage |
| AMTK 1297 | UP 5351 | Chair (rebuilt to Power/Heater Car) |
| AMTK 1298 | UP 5364 | Chair (rebuilt to Power/Heater Car) |
| AMTK 1299 | UP 5332 | Chair (rebuilt to Power/Heater Car) |
| AMTK 1570 | UP 6002 | Baggage Dormitory |
| AMTK 1571 | UP 6003 | Baggage Dormitory |
| AMTK 1572 | UP 6005 | Baggage Dormitory |
| AMTK 1573 | UP 6007 | Baggage Dormitory |
| AMTK 2250 | UP "Star Bay" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2251 | UP "Star Crest" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2252 | UP "Star Leaf" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2253 | UP "Star Range" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2254 | UP "Star Scene" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2255 | UP "Star Vale" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2256 | UP "Star View" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2260 | UP "Placid Bay" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2261 | UP "Placid Harbor" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2262 | UP "Placid Haven" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2263 | UP "Placid Lake" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2264 | UP "Placid Meadow" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2265 | UP "Placid Scene" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2266 | UP "Placid Sea" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2267 | UP "Placid Vale" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2268 | UP "Placid Valley" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2269 | UP "Placid Waters" | Sleeper |
| AMTK 2600 | UP "Pacific Bay" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2601 | UP "Pacific Beach" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2602 | UP "Pacific Beauty" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2603 | UP "Pacific Bend" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2604 | UP "Pacific Cape" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2605 | UP "Pacific Castle" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2606 | UP "Pacific Command" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2607 | UP "Pacific Cove" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2608 | UP "Pacific Crest" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2609 | UP "Pacific Emblem" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2610 | UP "Pacific Falls" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2611 | UP "Pacific Forest" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2612 | UP "Pacific Forum" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2613 | UP "Pacific Gardens" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2614 | UP "Pacific Heights" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2615 | UP "Pacific Hills" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2616 | UP "Pacific Home" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2617 | UP "Pacific Island" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2618 | UP "Pacific Lodge" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2619 | UP "Pacific Meadow" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2620 | UP "Pacific Mist" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2621 | UP "Pacific Northwest" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2622 | UP "Pacific Ocean" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2623 | UP "Pacific Park" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2624 | UP "Pacific Patrol" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2625 | UP "Pacific Peak" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2626 | UP "Pacific Plateau" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2627 | UP "Pacific Range" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2628 | UP "Pacific Rest" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2629 | UP "Pacific Ridge" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2630 | UP "Pacific Sands" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2631 | UP "Pacific Scene" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2632 | UP "Pacific Shore" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2633 | UP "Pacific Skies" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2634 | UP "Pacific Slope" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2635 | UP "Pacific Spray" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2636 | UP "Pacific Sunset" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2637 | UP "Pacific Terrace" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2638 | UP "Pacific Trail" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2639 | UP "Pacific Union" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2640 | UP "Pacific View" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2641 | UP "Pacific Waters" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 2642 | UP "Pacific Waves" | Sleeper (Budd, 1949) |
| AMTK 3370 | UP 6201 | Lounge |
| AMTK 3371 | UP 6202 | Lounge |
| AMTK 3372 | UP 6200 | Lounge |
| AMTK 4400 | UP 5423 | Chair |
| AMTK 4401 | UP 5426 | Chair |
| AMTK 4402 | UP 5429 | Chair |
| AMTK 4403 | UP 5430 | Chair |
| AMTK 4404 | UP 5436 | Chair |
| AMTK 4405 | UP 5445 | Chair |
| AMTK 4406 | UP 5406 | Chair |
| AMTK 4407 | UP 5407 | Chair |
| AMTK 4408 | UP 5410 | Chair |
| AMTK 4409 | UP 5422 | Chair |
| AMTK 4440 | UP 5508 | Chair |
| AMTK 4441 | UP 5509 | Chair |
| AMTK 4442 | UP 5510 | Chair |
| AMTK 4443 | UP 5511 | Chair |
| AMTK 4444 | UP 5512 | Chair |
| AMTK 4445 | UP 5513 | Chair |
| AMTK 4446 | UP 5514 | Chair |
| AMTK 4447 | UP 5515 | Chair |
| AMTK 4448 | UP 5516 | Chair |
| AMTK 4449 | UP 5517 | Chair |
| AMTK 4450 | UP 5518 | Chair |
| AMTK 4451 | UP 5519 | Chair |
| AMTK 4452 | UP 5520 | Chair |
| AMTK 4453 | UP 5521 | Chair |
| AMTK 4454 | UP 5522 | Chair |
| AMTK 4455 | UP 5523 | Chair |
| AMTK 4456 | UP 5524 | Chair |
| AMTK 4457 | UP 5525 | Chair |
| AMTK 4458 | UP 5526 | Chair |
| AMTK 4459 | UP 5527 | Chair |
| AMTK 4549 | UP 5476 | Chair |
| AMTK 4550 | UP 5488 | Chair |
| AMTK 4551 | UP 5491 | Chair |
| AMTK 4552 | UP 5492 | Chair |
| AMTK 4553 | UP 5479 | Chair |
| AMTK 4554 | UP 5489 | Chair |
| AMTK 4555 | UP 5490 | Chair |
| AMTK 4556 | UP 5493 | Chair |
| AMTK 4557 | UP 5494 | Chair |
| AMTK 4558 | UP 5498 | Chair |
| AMTK 4559 | UP 5499 | Chair |
| AMTK 4560 | UP 5500 | Chair |
| AMTK 4561 | UP 5501 | Chair |
| AMTK 4562 | UP 5502 | Chair |
| AMTK 4563 | UP 5503 | Chair |
| AMTK 4564 | UP 5504 | Chair |
| AMTK 4565 | UP 5505 | Chair |
| AMTK 4566 | UP 5506 | Chair |
| AMTK 4567 | UP 5507 | Chair |
| AMTK 4568 | UP 5528 | Coach |
| AMTK 4569 | UP 5529 | Coach |
| AMTK 4570 | UP 5530 | Coach |
| AMTK 4571 | UP 5531 | Coach |
| AMTK 4572 | UP 5532 | Coach |
| AMTK 4573 | UP 5533 | Coach |
| AMTK 4574 | UP 5534 | Coach |
| AMTK 4575 | UP 5535 | Coach |
| AMTK 4576 | UP 5536 | Coach |
| AMTK 4577 | UP 5537 | Coach |
| AMTK 4578 | UP 5538 | Coach |
| AMTK 4579 | UP 5539 | Coach |
| AMTK 4580 | UP 5540 | Coach |
| AMTK 4581 | UP 5541 | Coach |
| AMTK 4582 | UP 5542 | Coach |
| AMTK 4583 | UP 5543 | Coach |
| AMTK 4584 | UP 5544 | Coach |
| AMTK 4585 | UP 5545 | Coach |
| AMTK 4586 | UP 5546 | Coach |
| AMTK 4587 | UP 5547 | Coach |
| AMTK 4588 | UP 5548 | Coach |
| AMTK 4589 | UP 5549 | Coach |
| AMTK 4590 | UP 5550 | Coach |
| AMTK 4591 | UP 5551 | Coach |
| AMTK 4592 | UP 5552 | Coach |
| AMTK 4593 | UP 5553 | Coach |
| AMTK 4594 | UP 5554 | Coach |
| AMTK 4595 | UP 5555 | Coach |
| AMTK 4596 | UP 5556 | Coach |
| AMTK 8092 | UP 4803 | Diner |
| AMTK 8093 | UP 4804 | Diner |
| AMTK 8094 | UP 4809 | Diner |
| AMTK 8095 | UP 4811 | Diner |
| AMTK 8096 | UP 4812 | Diner |
| AMTK 8097 | UP 4816 | Diner |
| AMTK 8340 | UP 5008 | Cafe Lounge |
| AMTK 8341 | UP 5010 | Cafe Lounge |
| AMTK 8342 | UP 5009 | Cafe Lounge |
| AMTK 8396 | UP 4001 | Cafeteria Lounge |
| AMTK 8399 | UP 4003 | Cafeteria Lounge |
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