HEP = Head End Power, or the power for lights, AC, heat, toilets, dining car appliances, etc.
Amtrak Express Box Cars
- Thread starter printman2000
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From what I have read the boxcars were not stable at speed, even with the addition of shock absorbers they were marginal. That said from a passenger safety standpoint a truck deraliment of a trailing boxcar would not likely create a catrastopic incident, one behind the loco might. By the time the running gear is upgraded to passenger standards and the communication and HEP systems installed its likely less expensive to build a new "box" baggage car style.
IMHC if Amtrak ever figures out how to run express service at a profit, and I think there might be a niche market where they could, then it would make sense to modify boxcars with passenger trucks and HEP/communication pass through, or simply have enough "head end" (baggage) cars available to do the job.
IMHC if Amtrak ever figures out how to run express service at a profit, and I think there might be a niche market where they could, then it would make sense to modify boxcars with passenger trucks and HEP/communication pass through, or simply have enough "head end" (baggage) cars available to do the job.
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