Warning Re: Amtrak's Pulled Horizon Fleet Cars

NJDixon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm **Posts:** 308

PMC wrote:

A bit OT, but related to Amtrak's issues, sadly not AI. Friends don't let friends buy locomotives powered by semi-truck engines: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaScenic ... 267577804/

The 301 seems prone to embarrassment. That was the unit that was supposed to lead on the Charger's service debut, only to suffer a PTC failure that required a P42DC to lead.

Ed Kapuscinski · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:00 pm

I wonder how many failures FTs had in their first few years.

Christopher Stone · **Joined:** Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:23 am **Posts:** 73

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

It's now being further reported to me that the crucial issue with the Horizon cars, if I may paraphrase, is that the vestibules, steps, and end sills are ready to fall off the cars on account of the huge amounts of salt/"snow melt" that was repeatedly dumped all over them in the winter months, on account of fears for liability should some passenger slip and fall.

These cars were not built with stainless steel like the Amfleet were. And they mostly saw service based out of Chicago and other "snow belt" areas.

And said vestibules let in snow like no other cars before or since. As weathertight as a doghouse.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2600

Restoration of Amtrak Cascades service to begin today: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... y-april-1/

EDM · **Posted:** Tue Apr 01, 2025 6:00 pm

They just don't build them the way they used to. Just compare the PRR GG-1 to Amtrak's HHP-8 Hippos. Or the PRR, RDG or DL&W MU cars to their replacements. Overbuilt and over engineered. or just planned obsolescence?

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1710

Were Horizons originally designed for use in California?

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Tue Apr 01, 2025 7:34 pm

Amtrak's Horizon cars are really NJT Comet cars with different trucks. The first Comet cars were built in the 1960's to replace Erie Stilwell and DL&W Boonton cars, The oldest are long gone.

SEPTA's Silverliner IV cars were built in the 1970's to replace PRR MP54 and RDG "old" cars. Almost all of them are still running with replacements being designed. The S-IV's are all stainless steel.

Phil Mulligan

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2600

A bit of clarification on what is affecting the Horizons, but still not clear what will be done with them: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -analysis/
On the Cascades fb page it also says that the Talgo set that hit a tree last winter is close to returning to service:
"Amtrak Cascades
The second Talgo train was damaged when it hit a downed tree earlier this winter. It is expected to be back in service in mid-April.
3d Reply"

Warning Re: Amtrak's Pulled Horizon Fleet Cars

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