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Anderson

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Obviously, one of Amtrak's more obnoxious problems has been the fact that they've had to retire cars (due to age, damage, EPA rulings, etc.) and haven't been able to arrange replacements (until recently at least somewhat justified by low, stagnant demand). The fact that there aren't gobs and gobs of reallocated sleepers floating around from various trains and that the Nite Owl had to have its sleeper cut a few years back is testimony to this. With that said, does anyone know what the long-term trend has looked like in terms of sleepers and coaches?
 
I'm going to bump this...with a second question added: How much equipment does Amtrak have in long-term storage? Seeing as they've kept a number of food service cars (and at least a few sleepers, etc.) in storage, I'm just wondering how much is in there.
 
There are still some Amfleet I's in storage and a few more P40's, but the Stimulus brought much of it back to life. There are no Viewliner sleepers in storage and while there are still a few Superliner sleepers, coaches, etc that were wrecked sitting around, it is inclear if they are just sitting around for insurance and/or parts purposes or if they are actually restorable assuming funds can be found to do so.

You may find this page somewhat helpful regarding the Superliner situation. I'm not aware of any other similar pages that might help detail the rest of the fleet's disposition.
 
Some website shows something called the Heritage Sleeper. Are any of those in use, or if not, in stock somewhere?

None are in use, nor can they be, because they have the old-fashioned 'hopper' toilets that flush directly onto the tracks (and whatever else) below them. Amtrak was forced to stop using them by the Feds, and all "heritage' sleepers were then retired from service.
 
A website listing the current Amtrak fleet equipment is at http://www.on-track-on-line.com/amtrak-roster.shtml This website has tables showing the Heritage diners, baggage cars, and the stored crew-dorms, and some of the more recently retired equipment.

The On Track On Line site also has a page on the status of the stimulus funded equipment restorations at http://www.on-track-on-line.com/amtkrinf-stimulating.shtml

But the OP's question is about Amtrak's overall rolling stock numbers for sleepers and passenger cars through the years. I would think there must be a rail fan website that provides a summary for that, but I don't have a link for it.
 
None are in use, nor can they be, because they have the old-fashioned 'hopper' toilets that flush directly onto the tracks (and whatever else) below them. Amtrak was forced to stop using them by the Feds, and all "heritage' sleepers were then retired from service.
I believe a number of (a dozen to 15 or so) 10-6s were converted to Dorm-Lounges, where the Lounge part was never completed. All that was done was the "6" part was removed creating an empty space. Most of those are still on property. Pacific Command and Pacific Bend (on the anniversary train) are from that stock. There has been some talk of bringing upto 11 of these back into service to release Viewliner space for commercial use. But now it looks like this may not happen since the additional revenue that was going to be used for this is likely tied up for actually funding the new Viewliners and electrics. Afterall those are now just 18 months away from progressive deployment. But in any case, bringing things back to the topic of the thread. There are about a dozen of those in relatively easily recoverable form lying around in storage.
 
Alright, practical question: If the hopper toilets (found in all heritage sleepers/dorms) were banned, how was Amtrak able to keep the Heritage dorms in service until 2006? Was the law only regarding "revenue service" cars?
 
Alright, practical question: If the hopper toilets (found in all heritage sleepers/dorms) were banned, how was Amtrak able to keep the Heritage dorms in service until 2006? Was the law only regarding "revenue service" cars?
I suspect that the in room toilets were removed and two common retention toilets were installed?

At least Pacific Command seems to be that way AFAIR. We can find out how Pacific Bend is setup on the 25th in Strasburg by asking the crew of the Anniversary train. I know someone who is on that train staff. I'll try to catch him in Strasburg.It also has a clothes washer/dryer installed in one of the cubicles in the space vacated by the "6".
 
I work in aircraft design and have retrofitted self contained lavatories with ones that are serviced externally. I don't see it to be a huge undertaking to retrofit the heritage hoppers with something more contained. Many aircraft still use "blue water" lavatories - a totally self contained toilet that recirculates the water from the containment tank to flush.

Yeah, it's gross, but you're not dumping on the tracks...
 
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I've wondered if there was not some way that Amtrak could have kept the Heritage sleepers going by converting the hopper toilets, but I guessed that the powers that be thought it was not worth it for some or all of the following reasons: 1)too expensive; 2)too difficult (because of all the in-room toilets) to winterize a modified system; 3) the cars were considered too old to spend the cash on; 4)Viewliners were coming into service at the time the Heritage sleepers were being retired and were considered their replacements; 5) there was not enough demand for sleeping cars to justify doing anything with them.

But in thinking about this, it does make me wonder;

1) Did/do the 'heritage' diners have holding tanks for waste water from the kitchen. If so, were they retrofitted?

2)what about old Private Varnish? Do they (can they) still use hopper toilets? I just rode in PV last month and should have paid more attention or asked, but I didn't. :blush: It seemed like the toilet I used was a vacuum style, so I'm GUESSING it was retrofitted...

I do miss the Heritage sleepers. Guess I need to head North!
 
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