List of Amtrak rolling stock explained

Amtrak operates a fleet of 2,142 railway cars and 425 locomotives for revenue runs and service, collectively called rolling stock. Notable examples include the GE Genesis and Siemens Charger diesel locomotives, the Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotive, the Amfleet series of single-level passenger cars, the Superliner series of double-decker passenger cars, and 20 Acela Express high-speed trainsets. Amtrak also operates 196 locomotives and railcars owned wholly by state partners.^[1]

The railroad is currently working to replace its fleet, spending $2.4 billion on 28 Avelia Liberty trainsets for its flagship Acela service and $7.3 billion for 65 Airo trainsets for other Northeast Corridor services. Additionally, California, North Carolina, and a group of Midwestern states purchased Siemens Venture trainsets for use on routes operated by Amtrak in their states, which started entering service in 2022. In 2023, Amtrak announced it had made a request for proposals, looking to replace hundreds of railcars used on long-distance routes.^[2]

Current

Locomotives

Amtrak operates diesel, electric, and dual-mode (diesel or electric) locomotives. Its electric locomotives are confined to the Northeast Corridor and the Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line, dual-mode locomotives are only used in the Empire Corridor between Albany and New York, and the diesel locomotives are used in all other areas across in the United States.

Model	Thumbnail	Road numbers	Active fleet	Year	Power type	Owner
Road power
			17	1991		Amtrak
		800–843	10	1993
		1–207	154	1996–2001
		700–717	18	1995
Siemens ACS-64		600–665, 667–670	67	2014	Electric
Siemens Charger ALC-42		300–424	49 (125)	2021	Diesel
State-owned road power
		2051, 2052	1	1991	Diesel	Caltrans
		1810, 1859, 1869,1871, 1984, 1893	6	1988		NCDOT
EMD F59PHI	100x100px	1755, 1797	2	1998
		2001–2009	8	1994		Caltrans
		2010–2015	5	2001
Siemens Charger SC-44		1400–1401, 1403–1408	8	2016		WSDOT
		2101–2124	22			Caltrans
		4601–4633	30			IDOT
Non-Revenue/Switcher Locomotives
		787	1	1941	Diesel	Amtrak
GE 80-ton switcher		1100	0	1952
EMD SW1000R			794, 796	2			1952	1952
		530–539	7	1970
		541	1	1970
		569	1	1974
		520–527	8	1966–68
		720–724	5	1976
		725–754	20	1960s/70s
		570–579	10	2004
		590, 592, 593	3	2010–2013	Diesel Genset
		591	1	2010
NRE 2GS12B		597, 599, 792, 793, 798	5	2014–2020
Sources:^[3] ^[4] ^[5] ^[6]

Passenger cars

As of late 2018, Amtrak rostered 1,408 passenger cars of various types. These include coaches, lounges, dining cars, sleeping cars, baggage cars and crew/dormitory cars.

Model	Thumbnail	Road Numbers	In service	Year built	Owner
Metroliner cab car		9632–9651	15	1967–1970	Amtrak
		43346–48196, 81500–82999	454	1975
Amfleet II		25000–28024	141	1981
		31000–38034	221	1979
		32070–39046	169	1993
		53501–58108	89	1988
Viewliner (prototype)		2300–2301; 8400	1	1987
Viewliner I		62000–62049	49	1995
Viewliner II		61000–69009	119	2015
		6300–6908	37	2000
F40PH NPCU		90200–90413	14	1977–1981
HHP-8C NPCU		9750–9751	2	1999
		9200–9279	77	2005
State-owned cars
		8001–8814	65	1996	Caltrans
		6351–6965	22	2002
		5001–5014	14	1968
North Carolina Fleet		400001–400205	20	1952–1965	NCDOT
F40PH NPCU		90252–90253, 90340	3	1977, 1980	ODOT
F59PH NPCU		101–105	5	1988–1990	NCDOT
Siemens Venture		4001–4020, 4101–4134, 4201–4217, 4301–4317	70 (97)	2022	IDOT

Model	Thumbnail	Road numbers	In service	Year introduced	Notes
Acela Express		2000–2039	40	1999	Electric locomotive; each one is semi-permanently coupled to each end of a trainset.
		3200–3559	120		Unpowered trailer cars; six (four business class, one first class and one cafe) per trainset. 20 trainsets in total.
		7110–7911	33	2013	2 trainsets used on Amtrak Cascades, owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Unpowered; 13 cars per trainset.
		2100–2155	0 (56)	(2024)	Not yet in service. 56 electric locomotives on order.^[7] ^[8] ^[9]
		3250–3927	0 (252)		Not yet in service. 28 nine-car unpowered trainsets.
		9000 series 9301-9307 (cab cars)	6 (49)	2023^[10]	7 seven-car unpowered trainsets for San Joaquins. Trainset will include a cab car. Owned by Caltrans.
			0 (48)	(2026)	Not yet in service. 8 six-car unpowered trainsets for Amtrak Cascades. Trainset will include a cab car.
Airo			0 (75)	(2026)^[11]	Not yet in service. Electro-diesel locomotive. Motors can be powered by energy generated by diesel engine, drawn from overhead lines by Airo power car, or by charge in Airo battery car.
Airo (Venture)			0 (156)		Not yet in service. 26 six-car trainsets for Carolinian, Downeaster, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian and Vermonter. Trainset will include cab car and power car, which will draw power from overhead lines and feed to motors.
			0 (256)		Not yet in service. 32 eight-car trainsets for Northeast Regional. Trainset will include cab car and power car, which will draw power from overhead lines and feed to motors.
			0 (102)		Not yet in service. 17 six-car trainsets for Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express and Maple Leaf. Trainset will include a cab car and a battery car that will supply electricity to the motors.
			0 (4 sets)	(2027)	Not yet in service. Hydrogen multiple units for use on the San Joaquins.^[12] ^[13]

Business cars

In addition to its regular fleet, Amtrak owns several business and track geometry cars:

• #10001 Beech Grove, an "Amfleet office car"^[14] used for official business by the Amtrak president and other VIPs. This unique car has an open observation platform, lounge seating area, dining room, kitchen and 2 sleeping accommodations, as well as lights, GPS equipment and a camera to inspect tracks for defects. The car was repurposed in 2020 with a LiDAR Laser Measurement System.
• #10002 Corridor Clipper, an Amfleet I-based track geometry car. It is periodically attached to the end of a diesel or electric revenue-running train or is hauled by a locomotive only. The car previously had a special pantograph that was used to test and measure overhead lines.
• #10003, an unnamed Acela-based track geometry car. It is periodically inserted into an Acela Express consist between a power car (locomotive) and the nearest end car, resulting in a train with two power cars and seven intermediate cars rather than the normal six.^[15]
• #10004 American View, a Viewliner-based "inspection car"^[16] with rear-facing seats and large glass window at the end of the car that allows passengers to observe the tracks. The car can also be used by maintenance crews to visually inspect the tracks for defects and by the Amtrak president and other executives for official purposes. Originally numbered #2301, the American View is one of the three prototype Viewliner cars and was the last passenger railcar produced by Budd.
• #10005, an unnamed catenary measurement car. Like car #10002 Corridor Clipper, this car has a special pantograph that is used to test and measure overhead lines.
• #10020 Pacific Bend, a heritage Pacific-series 10-6 sleeper formally used by Union Pacific, now converted for crew use on special trains. Four roomettes remain for staff use, five roomettes have been converted to storage areas and one has been converted into a shower. The bedrooms have been removed and replaced with a crew lounge.
• #10021 Pacific Cape, a heritage Pacific-series 10-6 sleeper now converted for crew use on special trains. It is usually used along with the Beech Grove for official business by the Amtrak president and other VIPs.
• #9800 Metroliner, a former Metroliner electric multiple unit cafe converted to be used as a first-class conference car. Primarily used on charter services on the Northeast Corridor. The car is broken up into 3 areas, one end of the car has 12 business class seats in a 2+1 configuration, the middle has a cafe, and the other end has conference areas (a large private conference room with 8 seats around a large table, 2 medium-sized semi-private conference sections with 4 seats around a table and 2 small semi-private conference sections with 2 seats around a table).^[17] The car at one time had cab controls that have since been removed.

Former (Amtrak purchased)

This is a partial listing of locomotives and rolling stock formerly operated by Amtrak. This does not include equipment inherited from private railroads (see

1. Inherited

)

Locomotives

Builder	Model	Thumbnail	Road numbers	Years of service	Power type
Road power
			500–649	1973–1987	Diesel
			700–724	1975–1991	Diesel
			200–229, 410–415	1976–2003	Diesel
			230–409	1977–2003	Diesel
			450–451	1989–1993	Diesel
			950–975	1974–2003	Electric
			650–664	1999–2014	Electric
			900–953	1978–2016	Electric
			450–470	1998–2019	Diesel
Switchers
			44, 46, 47, 59, 62		Diesel
			100–144		Diesel
			746		Diesel
			730–745	1976	Diesel
			550–567	1984–2008	Diesel
			575–599	1984–2003	Diesel
			760–762, 769, 771–784		Diesel
			763–768, 770		Diesel
			650–664	1991–1993	Diesel
			1, 3, 747–750		Diesel
			7		Diesel
			5, 6		Diesel
			599	2006–2008	Diesel

Trainsets

Builder	Model	Image	Road numbers	Years of service	Power type	Notes
			58–69	1973–1995		Semi-permanently coupled trainset.
			150–163	1976–2002		Semi-permanently coupled trainset.
			38, 39 (power cars)	1980–1982	Diesel	Leased by Amtrak, returned to Bombardier.
			7100–7905 (52 cars)	1998–2020	Unpowered (locomotive-hauled)	Five 13-car trainsets for Amtrak Cascades, Two trainsets (Mt. Hood and Mt. Olympus) owned by Amtrak, three (Mt. Adams, Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier) owned by WSDOT. Mt. Adams trainset destroyed in 2017 Washington train derailment, others retired on recommendation of the NTSB.^[18] ^[19]

Express cars

Amtrak has fielded four different types of specialized cars to support its mail and express business. These included material handling cars (MHCs), roadrailers, express boxcars, and ExpressTrak refrigerator cars. Although express cars are traditionally called "head end" cars; the MHC express boxcars were the only cars equipped with lines for head end power, allowing them to be located between the locomotive and passenger cars. All others were found on the rear of the train, behind the last passenger car. Most of the fleet was retired in 2003 when Amtrak exited the express business, save for parcels carried in baggage cars.

Former (inherited)

Locomotives

Amtrak inherited numerous locomotives from private railroads on its formation in 1971. Most of these were retired by the end of the decade, if not earlier. These locomotives are enumerated below, with their original owners.^[20]

Builder	Model	Road numbers	Years of service	Notes
				Ex-,
		155–156	1971–1975	Ex-,
		660–665		Ex-
		100–107	1971–	Ex-,
		150–151	1971–	Ex-,
		152–154		Ex-,
		160–164		Ex-
		110–123	1971–	Ex-
		200–210	1971–	Ex-
		211–212		Ex-,
		213–223		Ex-
		224–225		Ex-
		226–227		Ex-,
		230–231		Ex-,
		232–237		Ex-,
		238–245		Ex-,,
		246–254		Ex-,
		255–276		Ex-,,
		277–324		Ex-, PCC
		325–331		Ex-
		332–352		Ex-,
		436		Ex-
		370–374	1971–	Ex-
		400–403	1971–1980	Ex-
		404		Ex-,
		405–410, 434–435		Ex-
		411–433		Ex-
		446, 453–470	1971–1980	Ex-
		450–452, 471–472		Ex-
		231–242	1971–	Dual-mode. Ex-,,
		500-507^[21]	1987-1991	Ex-, Ex-,
		900-929	1971–1980	Ex-,

Trainsets and multiple units

Builder	Model	Road numbers	Original owner	Years of service	Notes
		50–53	USDOT via,	1971-1976	Gas turbine trainset.
		10–20, 27–29, 36	via		Diesel multiple unit
		30–32, 40–42	Ex-,
		34	Ex-,
		43	Ex-,
		800–830, 850–869, 880–889		1971-1988	Electric multiple unit. 860 preserved. Many remain active as de-motored cab cars.

Passenger cars

See main article: Heritage Fleet.

Builder	Model	Road numbers	Years of service
Various	Baggage cars	1000 series	1971–2017
	Sleeping cars	2000 series	1971–2007
	Lounge cars	3000 series	1971–2000
	Coach cars	4000–7000 series	1971–2002
	Dining cars	8000 series	1971–2017
	Dome cars	9000 series	1971–2019
	Hi-Level cars	9000 series 39000 series	1971–2018

Generator cars

In its early years, Amtrak also rostered some generator cars rebuilt from older locomotives and rolling stock.^[20]

Original builder	Model (as built)	Type (on Amtrak)	Road numbers	Years of service	Notes
	E8A	Steam generator car	672-676		Ex-Amtrak,,
ACF	Baggage car	Head-end power car	693-696	Mid-late 1970s	Ex-,
St. Louis	Kitchen car		1300, 1304-1307		Ex-US Army
PS	Coach		1297-1299		Ex-
EMD	F3B	Steam generator car	1910-1915	1971–1975	Ex-,
	E9B		1916-1921		Ex-Amtrak, ex-

See also

• Amtrak paint schemes
• Budd SPV-2000, Connecticut-owned diesel multiple units which Amtrak operated in the 1980s–1990s

External links

• Amtrak Photo Archives
• Fleet Revitalization Plans, Page 3

Notes and References

1. Web site: January 18, 2019 . Amtrak Five Year Equipment Asset Line Plan . May 14, 2020 . Amtrak.
2. Amtrak Starts the Process for New Overnight Trains . January 19, 2023 . Amtrak.
3. Web site: November 1, 2018 . Motive Power Roster . November 6, 2018 . On Track On Line.
4. Web site: Sutton . Harry . Warner . David . On Track On Line – Amtrak Motive Power Roster . September 28, 2018 . on-track-on-line.com.
5. Web site: May 1, 2020 . Amtrak By the Numbers: Updates . May 15, 2020 . On Track On Line.
6. https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/businessplanning/Amtrak-Service-Asset-Line-Plans-FY22-27.pdf
7. Web site: September 23, 2015 . Amtrak selects Alstom for Northeast Corridor train contract . September 23, 2015 . Railway Gazette International.
8. News: August 26, 2016 . Amtrak orders Alstom trains for Northeast Corridor . .
9. Web site: August 26, 2016 . The Next generation of Amtrak High Speed trains . August 26, 2016 . Amtrak.
10. Web site: 2023-12-30 . Top 10 stories of 2023, No. 4: Amtrak's ongoing capacity issues . 2024-01-24 . Trains . en-US.
11. Lustig. David. Avoiding Amtrak Airo Surprises. 9. January 2024. 84. Trains. Kalmbach Media.
12. Web site: Fender . Keith . September 21, 2022 . California orders 29 hydrogen trains for inter-city services . September 30, 2022 . International Railway Journal . en-GB.
13. Web site: September 27, 2022 . California Orders 29 HFC Trains for Intercity Services (UPDATED) . September 30, 2022 . Railway Age . en-US.
14. Web site: AMTK 10001 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150218072633/http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2991540 . February 18, 2015 . April 11, 2014.
15. Web site: AMTK10003: Acela Inspection Car . https://web.archive.org/web/20021204121513/http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2540/testcars/03/index.html . December 4, 2002 . September 10, 2010.
16. Web site: American View (AMTK 10004) . April 11, 2014.
17. Web site: Search Results 9800 . April 11, 2014 . Railpictures.net.
18. News: Lindblom . Mike . May 22, 2019 . WSDOT to replace its Talgo railcars like those in the 2017 Amtrak crash near DuPont 'as soon as possible' . en-US . July 7, 2020.
19. Web site: Warner . David . July 1, 2020 . On Track On Line - Amtrak Trainset Roster . July 7, 2020 . on-track-on-line.com.
20. Web site: August 29, 1990 . All-Time Amtrak Diesel Locomotive Roster as of 8-29-90 . November 19, 2011.
21. Web site: Schmidt . Brian . Amtrak E44 electric locomotives . . 7 July 2024 . 23 June 2023.