Amtrak selling surplus locomotives and cars

[AmtrakLocomotiveEngineer]

I'm surprised (and relieved) that the 10001 isn't on the list as it's currently in Bear on the dead line.

[R36 Combine Coach]

Some commentary:

Noticed the F40s for sale are the final 1987 series. Of the entire F40 fleet (1976-87), why were the lower 200 series favored for NPCU conversion?

The Horizons I could see several buyers. NCDOT might want to add to their 1965 coach fleet (KCS/Pullman and UP/St. Louis coaches), given these are the oldest coaches in Amtrak service (either Federal routes or state funded corridors). Caltrans could add them to their Comarrow fleet, which already has Horizon dinettes teamed up with the Comarrow coaches, with the climate more favorable than what the Horizons experienced in Chicago.

The 1500 series MHC boxcars are 1988 Thrall build, not 1990. Morristown & Erie bought quite a few 1400s and many Heritage baggage cars (including the Adirondack, Vermonter and Ethan Allen cars, being St. Louis built U.S. Army conversions).

[DutchRailnut]

believe all the Horizon stuff is wreck or fire damage.

[superstar]

Generally "as is/where is" means "this is scrap, someone please take it off our hands." I doubt anyone could cobble a functioning fleet out of the equipment on the list, let alone one with any consistency.

[Leo_Ames]

Noticed the F40s for sale are the final 1987 series. Of the entire F40 fleet (1976-87), why were the lower 200 series favored for NPCU conversion?

Older and a lot more miles. Some of the oldest surpassed the 3.5 million mile mark before retirement as powered locomotives.

With a limited market for heavily used F40PH's, the younger and more reliable examples had a better chance of getting a higher sale price. Those that were the oldest, most unreliable, and most in need of an expensive rebuild were only likely to be resold for scrap/parting out, yet still could be useful for Amtrak as cab cars.

The 400's for instance were young enough that the high-voltage cabling didn't even require replacement when they were rebuilt. Their young age and relatively low mileage was why they were prioritized when Amtrak started rebuilding F40PH's back around 2000 for their short-lived National Growth Strategy.

[mtuandrew]

The Horizon coaches are indicated as stored dead according to On Track On Line, and have been for close to 20 years. The dinettes are wreck damaged, besides which full-table 58100 was used for interior design layout. Not sure if any of them could roll even with work.

[jp1822]

Folks, the "commuter clubs" are long gone from main stream. They were very nice to have once a upon a time. The commuter railroads need flexibility with train sets so dedicating one train set with a commuter club car got hard for government operated commuter trains.

One club left only that I know of - based out of Chicago. I would presume that once the car goes, the club goes too. That's what have taken out all the ones in the past.

Superstorm Sandy took out the Jersey Shore Commuters Club in 2012 - a NJT Comet car that the Club paid to have specially outfitted in the early 2000's. Re-conditioned Amtrak Metroliner seating was best feature. Car was flooded in storm. Demise of that Club left just the one commuter club out of Chicago.

[mtuandrew]

If I ran a modern commuter club, it would ride on two to three axles and stop at my driveway. It would definitely not involve a wreck-repair Horizon!

Still paging the State of Indiana though.

[kitn1mcc]

are flat cars the ones that been sitting in cedar hill for ever

[DutchRailnut]

just replace the word "surplus" with " wreck"

[mtuandrew]

This equipment by the numbers, with photos on a railroad picture archive site:

Horizons
-58100 last pictured 2011, in service
-54506 last pictured 2014, in service
-54520 last pictured 2007, in service
-54528 last pictured 2012, in service
-54538 last pictured 2014, in service
-53502 last pictured 2011, in storage @ BEE
-54564 last pictured 2013, OOS and in disrepair at WIL

54564 looks in bad shape, and I can’t tell with 53502. The others, who knows? I don’t have access to more current photos.

[David Benton]

I would imagine that now there is a "pretty much off the shelf" new car amd loco available(Siemens), why would you even bother looking at rebuilding old and damaged equipment?

[east point]

The only reason we can see for rebuilding damaged equipment is that the rebuilding can be accomplished faster than acquiring new equipment. If all trains had enough equipment then why rebuild. But with the chronic shortage of equipment during high travel times ???

Cost of rebuilding is also a very important consideration. #100K or $ 200M ? age of rebuilt equipment ??

[electricron]

The only reason we can see for rebuilding damaged equipment is that the rebuilding can be accomplished faster than acquiring new equipment. If all trains had enough equipment then why rebuild. But with the chronic shortage of equipment during high travel times ???

Cost of rebuilding is also a very important consideration. #100K or $ 200M ? age of rebuilt equipment ??

Faster or cheaper. Why repair when it is cheaper to buy new?
Even our auto insurance companies know when it is best to total our wrecked cars and trucks.

[mtuandrew]

“Faster” isn’t really a good argument anymore either, between turnkey Amtrak consists available for a price, some Heritage cars floating around, and commuter cars being replaced by MLVs. Cheaper, certainly, and the Horizons and P40/42s are definitely equipment that Amtrak could maintain for you with ease.