Rail Excursion Management Co. has acquired three Amfleet cars, becoming the first private owner of the first cars built for Amtrak after its inception in 1971. The two coaches and a café car, built by the Budd Co. between 1975 and 1977, are of a type that remains a backbone of Amtrak’s equipment fleet.
The history and importance of these cars cannot be overstated, says Railexco CEO Adam Auxier: “These are the cars we grew up riding, but more importantly these cars represent a sea change in American passenger railroading. We’re proud to showcase these cars as examples of the next generation of living, rolling railroad history.”
The cars will be moved from an Amtrak facility on the east coast, and drafted into service almost immediately at a midwestern tourist railroad, the company says.
Budd built a total of 642 Amfleet cars, based on shell of the Metroliner electric multiple unit it built for use on the Northeast Corridor by Penn Central and Amtrak, in two orders. There were 492 cars in the initial order; the remainder came in the Amfleet II order completed in 1983.
