In the past week, Amtrak has scrapped the three ex PRR MoW boxcars located for years along the NEC south of Newark in the maint. yard. All three lacked trucks.

Rob

This is but the latest in a LARGE number of rolling stock that should be of interest to preservationists that has been scrapped under David Gunn's tenure. Amtrak differentiates between how it disposes as equipment labeled as scrap (things that preservationists are interested in) and items that may have furhter use (like locomotive, cars, etc). The later category is advertised in public bids - I am unclear how items identified as scrap are identified.

Jeff Lubchansky has many photographs of this equipment on his website:

http://jefflubchanskycpa.com/AMTRELICS.html

One piece that I would call everyone's attention to is a surviving MPB-54 mu car (i.e. a combination coach baggage car)

http://jefflubchanskycpa.com/AMT16307YDLYPA-AU1-3DG1149.jpg

Does anyone here have a roster of Amtrak NE corridor MofW equipment, either all time, pre Gunn, or what survives now?

Could somebody here go through the photographs on Jeff Lubchansky's site and identify what exists (and where) and what has been scrapped?

Tom Cornillie

I would guess that Amtrak's mechanical department makes a determination if the equipment is safe to move on its own wheels. If not, then it would probably be viewed as scrap metal. Not all scrap dealers care to travel around cutting equipment, so Amtrak may have a short list of companies known to do this work who are in proximity to the equipment in question.

I know in recent years Norfolk Southern has refused to move older equipment (heavy bad orders, friction bearings, etc.) and has bid such cars to scrappers to be dismantled "on site". A number of elderly PRR cars have recently met their demise in the Altoona area in this manner.

In general, the railroads have become very reluctant to move anything that is not in full compliance with current AAR interchange rules, even for short distances.

Alan Maples

Tom,

Thanks for the link. Amtrak has scrapped a lot in NJ the last few years, including some great express reefers.

Looking at Jeff's list here are some notes:

#17006 EX PRR BOX CAR 497315 is one of the ones scrapped in Newark 4/05. I have to look again, but I think the baggage cars were cut up, too.

Rob

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I've looked into this car a little bit and I'm pretty certain it's not an MPB-54. I believe it might actually be a PB-70 combine rebuilt for wire maintenance service. There are quite a few differences between the MPB-54 and the PB-70, as can be seen in the diagrams available through the PRR Technical & Historical Society website:

PB-70: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/passengerbaggage//sm_PB70R_PB70_PB70C-E29583.gif
MPB-54: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/motorpassengerbaggage//sm_MPB54-.gif

Unfortunately the photo of the Amtrak car is at an extreme angle so it's hard to tell for sure exactly what it looks like. The only MPB-54's that I know for sure are still around are two LIRR MPB-54C's: 1391 at RMLI and 1398 in use as the Port Jefferson Station - Terryville Chamber of Commerce on Long Island.

LIRR 1391 at RMLI: http://www.nycrail.com/images/riverhead_8_25_02/P8251359.JPG

So I stayed awake to Newark this morning ;-)... the three MoW boxcars were joined by two baggage cars. All have been scrapped. The only older stock left at the site is one silver ex Navy boxcar (on trucks) and a PRR cabin car apparently still in service.

Rob

Dave Gun was quoted as saying that he had caused about 5 miles of old equipment to be removed from Amtrak for cash. Does this mean that all the Heritage passenger cars held in reserve have joined the cars at the head of this topic?

Most heritage cars found buyers among tourist railroads, individuals wanting them for PV conversions, and other purposes. I have not seen any data on heritage cars being scrapped - but I am sure that some cars that were wreck damaged or cannibalised for parts were scrapped.

On another note - is there any PRR catenary maintenace equipment preserved anywhere? Whatever the orgins of the aforementioned mystery passenger car, it is significant for its role in supporting catenary maintenance.

Tom Cornillie

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the "New York Central" lettering above Amtrak coaches while coming into Chicago last year.

On the departure trip, a young guy asked me what I was taking a picture of and why.

"It's piece of history, kid."



It's not there anymore. Now it really is history.

-Kelly Lynch

I really haven't heard of too many Amtrak cars actually being cut up - not that it doesn't happen, but it's not particularly widespread or an Amtrak policy. If you wonder what ever happened to them all, if they aren't on YOUR railroad, check out Illinois Transit Assembly's web page. I've never seen so many Budd cars in one place at one time in my life including 11 domes. The great majority of the Santa Fe El Capitan hi-levels were out there last year. The Heritage cars that survived this long were some of the best, and even in the retired state are amazingly good stuff.

I've had several clients pick up recently-retired 'heritage' Amtrak cars. Some of the all-stainless ones like the Congressional cars had some sill cracking that had to be repaired, but basically a pretty darn solid car after this many years. They often are retired just before a PC2 rebuild is necessary, so the trucks are always suspect, but if you don't need that level of work, hey.

The boxcars on the west side of the Hunter connection are gone, too. Believe one as NYC. That's two baggage car and 4 boxcar bodies cut up there this month.

Rob

Hello all,

Thanks to very informative responses from the Yahoo Passenger Car List group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PassengerCarList

I have learned that this is indeed a converted PB-70, not an MP-54 variant. The key spotting features are that MP-54 series cars were flat across the end and did not have diaphragms. The PB-70 had the typical arched end of many passenger cars. Additionally, this car is too high to be a MP-54.

However, this does not diminsh this car's potential to be used to interpret the PRR's catenary maintenance.

Tom Cornillie