Amfleet

Infobox Train
name = Amfleet

---

imagesize = 250px
caption = Amfleet I coaches at Iselin, NJ
Manufacturer = Budd Company
yearconstruction = 1975-1978, 1981-1983
Operator = Amtrak
LinesServed = Northeast, South and Midwest United States
MaxSpeed = 125 mph, 200 km/h
Capacity = up to 84
numberbuilt = 492 Amfleet I 150 Amfleet II

Amfleet are a series of intercity railroad passenger cars built for Amtrak by the Budd Company in two series during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Today, "Amfleet" cars are used extensively throughout the Amtrak system outside the western United States.

History

The cars were built in two series from 1975-78, and 1981-83 for Amtrak by the Budd Company. Totaling 492 Amfleet I cars (406 coaches and 86 cafes) and 150 Amfleet II cars (125 coaches and 25 lounges). The Amfleet cars were intended to replace many of the variety of aging, sometimes incompatible, streamlined passenger cars inherited from Amtrak's predecessor railroads. Amfleet cars were constructed in varying layouts known as the "Amcoach", the "Amcafe", the "Amdinette", the "Amlounge" and the "Amclub".

The cars are aerodynamic in appearance, with some of the engineering work based upon the 1969 Metroliner design. This car was designed to work in the Northeast Corridor at speeds up to 125 mph (200 km/h). (High speed rail, by American standards, is generally about 90 mph (145 km/h) and up. [Federal Railroad Administration, [http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/199 High-Speed Rail] , accessed March 22, 2008] ). [Source: [http://www.banksofthesusquehanna.com/MMamflt.html Banksofthesusquehanna.com] ]

Amfleet rolling stock mostly disappeared from service in California when the "San Joaquins" switched to the Horizon Fleet in the 1990s and then to "California Cars" in the late 90s. The "San Diegans" also stopped using the "Amfleet" when their Pacific Surfliner cars were delivered (with the exception of a single trainset that runs during the Del Mar Racetrack season) , and the Pacific Northwest "Cascades" now use Talgo train sets.

Car types

Amtrak currently operates Amfleet I and Amfleet II cars.cite book | author=Solomon, Brian| title=Amtrak| publisher=MBI Publishing| location=St. Paul, Minnesota| year=2004| editor=| id=ISBN 0-7603-1765-8] Amfleet I cars generally come in two types, "Amfleet Coach" or "Amcoach" cars, and Amfleet Lounge cars, both having several variations. Originally, there were two main Amcoach variations, 84 seat cars for use on shorter routes, and 60 seat cars for use on longer (generally overnight) routes. The 60 seat cars have all since been converted either to coaches or business class cars, having been displaced from longer routes by the Amfleet II Coaches.

There are currently two types of Amfleet Lounge. All lounges have 6 tables at one end, a snack bar in the middle, followed by either 18 business class seats, or another 8 tables. Amtrak also historically operated "Amcafe" cars, which had 53 Coach seats with a snack bar in the middle of the car; "Amdinette"s with 23 coach seats, a snack bar in the middle, and 8 tables, seating 32 passengers, at the other end of the car; and "Amclub" cars that had either 6 tables or 23 coach seats, a snack bar in the middle, and 18 Club seats. The Club seats were more spacious and usually required an upgrade to "Business Class" or other deluxe service. Some cars also were in a full club layout, with Business Class seats at both ends.

Amfleet cars proved successful enough for Amtrak to contract with Budd for additional cars. This second series of cars are known as "Amfleet II" cars. In 1981-83, Budd delivered 125 Amfleet II Amcoaches and 25 Amlounges. The Amfleet II cars were intended to replace rolling stock on Amtrak long-distance trains, featuring larger windows, more legroom, and a vestibule (door) at only one end of the car. Because Amfleet cars can fit through the tunnels and under catenary of the northeastern United States, Amtrak uses them heavily in that area. The "Amfleet II Coach" seats between 55 and 59 Coach passengers per car, while the "Amfleet II Lounge" contains 17 Lounge Seats with 8 tables that can serve a total of 32 passengers from a snack bar located in the car. Some Amlounge IIs have had tables or a smoking section added where the lounge seats once were.

Paint schemes

The Amfleet I cars are the only Amtrak rolling stock to have carried all five normal paint schemes. These paint schemes are referred to as "Phases". Phase I-painted Amfleet cars had large red and blue stripes around the windows with thin white stripes on each end of the pattern, and featured the Amtrak "Pointless Arrow" on one end of the car. Amtrak's Phase II paint scheme eliminated the arrow logo, allegedly due to the reference of "Pointless Arrow." The information ('Amtrak' logo and coach number) was printed in white. Phase III paint is still in service on some Amfleet cars. It also features stripes that borders the windows, and had the red, white and blue stripes, however only in same-sized increments rather than the large blue and red and small white bands on the Phase I and II cars. The Phase III paint scheme switched to black Amtrak symbols and coach numbers to improve readability at a distance.

Phase IV (aka "NortheastDirect") paint had a different design than the striped ones. While it was still striped, its color scheme contained a blue stripe outlining the windows, and a smaller red and then still-small white stripes along the top of the blue one. This Phase is also still in use. The most recent of the Phases is Phase V paint, also known as the Acela Phase. As a result of the varying paint schemes, Amfleet trains could be seen with a mix of Phase III, Phase IV and Phase V/Acela cars, although now almost all active cars have been painted in a modified form of Phase IV. The Acela paint scheme contained different colorations depending upon the type of car it was. These cars had "Splotches" on them. The Coach class car was decorated by a turquoise window stripe and a darker-shaded turquoise splotch, and the Business class car was decorated by a navy blue window stripe but a light-turquoise splotch. Cafe cars were decorated with light-turquoise splotches and navy blue window stripes, and instead of a window where the snack bar is, there's a splotch of Spring Green (Color).

pecifications and build

An Amfleet car is 12 feet 8 inches tall (relative to the railhead), 10 feet 6 inches wide, and 85 feet in length over the vestibule diaphragm faceplates. The carbody itself is built up from spot-welded stainless steel sections, resulting in an exceptionally strong structure that is resistant to corrosion. Due to the length of the car, a noticeable arch is built into the carbody to prevent sagging when carrying a full passenger load.

A cafe car weighs about 110,000 pounds, while a coach weighs approximately 116,000 pounds. Amfleet seats have swing-down tray-tables for at-seat food service (similar to that on a commercial airliner), and all cars (including cafes) are equipped with a restroom. Electric heating and air conditioning, operated by hotel power from the locomotive, are used to maintain passenger comfort. [ [http://www.trainweb.com/accommod/amfleet.html Information Sheet Produced in 1977] ]

A feature inherited from older Budd-built cars is the use of dual disc brakes on each axle, with electronic anti-slide controls to prevent wheel lockup during full service or emergency brake applications. Although this braking system is more costly that the traditional wheel tread shoe braking design, experience has shown it to be a better-performing and lower maintenance alternative.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://hebners.net/amtrak/ Amtrak Photo Archives]
* [http://www.banksofthesusquehanna.com/MMamflt.html Graphics showing Amfleet]