Passing the station I saw an Amtrak rail car which looked very much like a metal box car...only a bit sturdier. It was sitting out on the western most trackage at the station. The Amtrac logo which was just made up with the letters "Amtrac" in white was located at the top left on the side of the car. The overall color of the car was a kind of reddish grey concrete looking color. Very dull looking. There were some numbers on the car but I of course was not prepared to take down numbers nor do I carry a camera. What was really very interesting about this Amtrak freight looking car was that instead of having a "Katy Bar" on the side door....if in fact it was a door on the side....but that it had a fairly large diameter circular metal wheel with spokes in it ....apparently for use in opening up the side of the car. I have never seen an Amtrak box car before. I have never seen a box car such as the one I saw that day. It was indeed a very strange looking railway car. Oh, it was also standing by itself about 25 to 30 feet to the rear of an Amtrak passenger train which was sitting on the same track. I believe it was the "Surf Liner" which runs between San Diego and Los Angeles. The time of all this as I recall was between 4:30 and 5:00 PM. Sorry, I don't recall what day it was.
What all of this is leading up to is a question. And, the question is, does anyone know what kind of a car I saw? Was it truly an Amtrak freight car? If so, what kind of freight car was it with such strange construction, color and side door mechanism? And, it was sitting there all by itself. It was not hooked up to any other train. I had always thought that Amtrak was a passenger operation and had no connection to frieght operations.
Doug Vernon
San Diego, CA
[This message has been edited by Douglas (edited 02-16-2003).]
However, boxcars such as those will continue to haul US mail on Amtrak trains, as that has not been disruptive to train operations and has actually been profitable.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
[This message has been edited by Eric (edited 02-17-2003).]
Secondly, I guess if you desire to matriculate at Clark State Community College, it could well be a "plus" to put your railfan credentials "on the table' at your interview.
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 02-17-2003).]