Heritage Fleet (Amtrak)
| Heritage Fleet | |
|---|---|
Amtrak #8553, a former New York Central diner, on a Lake Shore Limited consist in 2004
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| In service | Most retired, some remain in service |
| Manufacturer |
Budd Company, Pullman-Standard, St. Louis Car Company |
| Constructed | 1946–1964 |
| Operator(s) | Amtrak |
Amtrak's Heritage Fleet consisted of the rolling stock provided to it when it assumed passenger service on commercial railroads. The name was applied to a program begun in 1977 to convert the older, mainly streamlined, cars from steam heating to head end power. Head end power conversions were performed at Amtrak's Beech Grove Shops, outside of Indianapolis. The program was completed by the mid-1980s. Most Heritage Fleet cars have been retired from Amtrak service.
The rebuild cost $300,000 per car. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway handled the conversion of the Hi-Levels in its Topeka, Kansas shops.
Several Heritage cars are still in use, mostly baggage cars, and dining cars on the single-level trains serving the Eastern U.S. out of New York City. The "Pacific Parlour" Hi-Level lounges are still used on the Coast Starlight. One former Great Northern Railway full-length dome car is occasionally used on special trains. The dining cars and baggage cars are intended to be retired by the Viewliner order that was placed in 2010, with delivery starting in 2014.
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