American Orient Express Roster

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:00 pm

MRLX1020 wrote:

The 4700 was never named "Tohatchi" (Tohatchi is former Amtrak clocker 7620)

Rainier Rails wrote:

I had the #7620 as being named Tolani (#800721), so is the Tolani name applied to a different car?

MRLX1020 wrote:

Tolani is the 800721 - was Amtrak 4705, originally ATSF 2822. Amtrak to Rail Journeys West as "El Capitan" - sold to IFE in 2004, renamed Tolani.

Not exactly sure the lineage of the 7620, but the 4705 was still a 48 seat car, while the 7620 was converted to Clocker service with the B end lounge removed.

Thanks, MRLX1020, for the info!

All 3 of the ex-AT&SF cars in question were built by Budd in 1953 as 48 seat leg rest chairs:

AT&SF #2822 to AMTK #4816 (1971) to HEP #4705 (1980) to Rail Journeys West El Capitan (1995) to IFE Leasing Tolani (#800721) (2004)

AT&SF #2823 to AMTK #4817 (1971) to HEP #4700 (1980) to MRRT (1995) to MRLX Kayenta (was this car acquired by IFE with MRLX reporting marks?) (2004) to Chooch & Warbucks (2007) and moved to Heart of Dixie

AT&SF #2824 to AMTK #4818 (1971) to HEP #4706 (1980) to 88 seat Clocker coach #7620 (1982) to MRLX Tohatchi (2003)

mmp70160 wrote:

On Thursday 18 September 2014 Blackmon Auctions sold off 13 GEENBRIER EXPRESS at Pottstown, PA; and the READING EAGLE newspaper has reported that most went to the UP, with a few going to either NS or NCDOT.

From the GBX auction thread (http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37133), here's some additional info as posted by Topfuel:

Topfuel wrote:

I believe the UP actually bought 5 cars.

NCDOT did buy 2 as noted.

BNSF bought one.

WM Scenic bought one.

The others did go to various private owners/companies. I don't believe any of the remaining winning bidders got more than one car each.

One anonymous bidder (who was not in attendance) purchased the diner. A few rumors about who it might have been, but nothing confirmed.

rrpreservation · **Joined:** Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:40 pm **Posts:** 45

My company, Marcus Rail, LLC (MCRX reporting marks) was fortunate enough to purchase the former Union Pacific Twin unit diner 5106 which ran on the City of Denver. They were last known as the Vancouver and Jasper cars.

I was able to place the car-set on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. It was the first Union Pacific passenger car(s) on the Register.

If anyone might know the whereabouts of the tables and chairs, however, that would be great. When the car was transferred to Grandluxe, I guess the tables and chairs were removed and left in Washington State.

Also, as a note, for those not familiar (how ever many), Anschutz Corporation was the entity behind American Railway Express. Anschutz Corporation also owns Xanterra, which owns the Grand Canyon Railway. Hence, the Ex-AOE cars that have ended up there.

Daniel Quiat
303-579-1506

rrpreservation · **Joined:** Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:40 pm **Posts:** 45

The SAL diner in Washington State was ultimately scrapped. The car had a cracked centersill and was heavily vandalized. The same fate occurred for the former Union Pacific coach (5491?) sitting there as well.

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:04 am

Thanks, Daniel, for all the info!

rrpreservation · **Joined:** Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:40 pm **Posts:** 45

You're welcome! If I can find out any other info, I will post it.

oaksmodelrr · **Joined:** Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:03 pm **Posts:** 12

800301 American Railway Explorer Crater Lake was brought up by SEPTA from Abrams Yard Saturday morning and is currently in the Pennsylvania Northeastern Yard in Lansdale PA, presumably heading for New Hope. Still marked as "Lot 196" from the auction earlier this year of the Greenbrier Express equipment in Pottstown, it looks like it was not touched since it was acquired from ARE in 2011, still in very good condition.

From the auction literature

"Amtrak #800301 – 1949 ACF Aluminum former UP Car – Zurich
- Interior – As Received -Diner Car – Original café lounge, then lunch counter diner lounge, AOE 46 Seat Diner - HEP Not Removed - 344,936 Miles – PC-2 in 2003, PC-2A in 2012, PC-2A Interval 350,000 - No Gen Set - HVAC Condenser – New 10-Ton Installed. Connected & Wired. Kitchen condenser reconditioned - OSH Two Axle Trucks – Overhauled & Passed Amtrak PC-1 - Central Bearing Center Plate -26-C TFM Disc Brakes - Wheels – None less than 38/16” Rim and not less than 18/16” Thickness - Under Frame Overhauled & Passed Amtrak PC-1 - New 10-Ton Evaporator & Kitchen Reconned - New Design Buffers & Support Rods, Overhauled Stem Rods - Asbestos – Removed, Isolated or Encapsulated"

steamtown observer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:11 pm **Posts:** 371

Former AOE car #800297 Istanbul was seen being delivered to the Delaware Lackawanna Railroad yesterday by Norfolk Southern at Slateford Junction, PA. It had reporting marks of DLW 103.

co614 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:45 am

Yes, the Crater Lake was acquired by the NH&I at the GBX auction and will be placed into their 1st. class fleet once it receives some interior upgrades.

The interior contains some beautiful custom woodwork including Rosewood inlays in Honduras mahogany depicting some of No. America's most famous birds.

Included in the cars history are photos of Presidents Eisenhower, Carter and GHW Bush dining in the car at different stages in its career.

It will make a very nice addition to the NH&I fleet and I'm sure be well cared for.

Ross Rowland

speeder3 · **Joined:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:06 pm **Posts:** 52

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has recently leased four cars from the Tacoma Municipal Belt Line (aka Tacoma Rail) that apparently had been the property of AOE. They are:

TMBL 40010 (ex-MRLX #7603, exx-Amtrak #7603, nee-PRR #1580), Budd, 1952, 76-seat coach.

TMBL 40020 (ex-Amtrak #7004) (no other old reporting marks found, but assume was MRLX #7004), Budd (date unk.), 72-seat coach.

TMBL 40030 (ex-MRLX #7000, exx-Amtrak #7000), Budd (date unk.), 70-seat coach. AOE inspected car in 2003.

TMBL 40040 (ex-Amtrak #3111)(no other old reporting marks found, but assume was also MRLX), Budd, 1948, 56-seat Heritage Lounge.

I would very much like to find out more information about these cars. If you can fill in any of the missing info, it would be much appreciated!

Brian Wise
General Manager
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad

jmlaboda · Updated 8/9/17 with 8,402 new links

The roster information is compiled from the roster developed by Mike Palmieri and should be accurate. Any who may have the book, Amtrak By the Numbers can check to see if this is what is in the book.

Quote:

TMBL 40010 (ex-MRLX #7603, exx-Amtrak #7603, nee-PRR #1580), Budd, 1952, 76-seat coach.

This should be ex-MRLX 7603, exx-Amtrak 7603, exxx-AMTK 7401, exxxx-PC 1580, nee-PRR 1580. Built by Budd as a 60-seat coach - 14 seat smoker between 11/51 and 12/51. To AMTK in 1976, rebuilt to 88-seat coach with HEP 1981 and renumbered to 7603.

Quote:

TMBL 40020 (ex-Amtrak #7004) (no other old reporting marks found, but assume was MRLX #7004), Budd (date unk.), 72-seat coach.

This should be ex-MRLX 7004, exx-Amtrak 7004, exxx-7404, exxxx-PC 1573, nee-PRR 1573. Built by Budd as a 60-seat coach - 14 seat smoker between 11/51 and 12/51. To AMTK in 1976, rebuilt to 85-seat coach with HEP 1981 and renumbered to 7004.

Quote:

TMBL 40030 (ex-MRLX #7000, exx-Amtrak #7000), Budd (date unk.), 70-seat coach. AOE inspected car in 2003.

This should be ex-MRLX 7000, exx-Amtrak 7404, exxx-7404, exxx-PC 1569, nee-PRR 1569. Built by Budd as a 60-seat coach - 14 seat smoker between 11/51 and 12/51. To AMTK in 1976, rebuilt to 85-seat coach with HEP 1981 and renumbered to 7000.

Quote:

TMBL 40040 (ex-Amtrak #3111)(no other old reporting marks found, but assume was also MRLX), Budd, 1948, 56-seat Heritage Lounge.

According to a report in the Surviving AT&SF Lightweight Cars this car, as Amtrak 3111, was stored by AMTK in 2000 and sold to Tacoma Rails in 2003, but this has not been confirmed. This car's history should be ex-AMTK 3111 Budd lounge, exx-AMTK 8102 Budd dining car, nee-ATSF 1557 Budd dining car. The car was rebuilt by AMTK to a HEP lounge car in 1981.

I look forward to seeing pix of these cars ('course I look forward to seeing good pix of any passenger cars) once these cars are in service.

speeder3 · **Joined:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:06 pm **Posts:** 52

Jerry,

Thank you for that information! I had joined an Amtrak group on Yahoo that gave me the same information, except there was no mention of the cars being MRLX (Mid-America Car Leasing).

Some of the cars have inspection paperwork in them from AOE at Tenino, WA (Western Junction), but now I'm under the impression that AOE didn't own the cars, they simply inspected them before they were delivered to Tacoma Rail.

Brian

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2014 6:28 am

oaksmodelrr wrote:

800301 American Railway Explorer Crater Lake was brought up by SEPTA from Abrams Yard Saturday morning and is currently in the Pennsylvania Northeastern Yard in Lansdale PA, presumably heading for New Hope. Still marked as "Lot 196" from the auction earlier this year of the Greenbrier Express equipment in Pottstown.

Was that actually a CSXT move?

oaksmodelrr · **Joined:** Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:03 pm **Posts:** 12

JimBoylan wrote:

oaksmodelrr wrote:

800301 American Railway Explorer Crater Lake was brought up by SEPTA from Abrams Yard Saturday morning and is currently in the Pennsylvania Northeastern Yard in Lansdale PA, presumably heading for New Hope. Still marked as "Lot 196" from the auction earlier this year of the Greenbrier Express equipment in Pottstown.

Was that actually a CSXT move?

No, SEPTA took an engine to Abrams and brought the car up the Stony Creek Branch in the dead of the night, arriving Lansdale about 01:00.

jmlaboda · Updated 8/9/17 with 8,402 new links

ARE sleepers GRAND TETON and MESA VERDE, ex-AOE SAVANNAH and CHARLESTON, were photographed in Raleigh, N.C., Christmas day... (not my shots)

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4070061
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4070060

mmp70160 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 28, 2014 6:17 pm

Jerry, back in May you reported here that 800741 SAVANNAH (GRAND TETON) was going to become NS 14 MISSOURI, and this car WAS NOT listed in the brochure for the GREENBRIAR auction in September.

After the auction it was reported that 800753 BAR HARBOR (GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS) and 800754 CHARLESTON (MESA VERDE) went to NCDOT.

If RNCX 400015 is ex-800741 SAVANNAH (GRAND TETON), then is NS 14 ex-800753 BAR HARBOR (GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS)? Both of these are ex-UP SLC coaches, so maybe neritage got mixed up somewhere! At this point, it may be impossible to determine the background on most of these cars.

Happy New Year!!

Mike Palmieri – Fort Worth, Texas