Viewliner
Engineer
I know that today trains use Head End Power, which is from the locomotives, but what about steam heat? What was Steam Heat like? How did it Work? What were the advantages/disadvantages.
Are you talking about the Heritage Cars?Miami Joe said:I wasn't around for the steam era but I did ask the "old timers" about it. While we no longer have the boiler on site, the steam pipes are still overhead at the Hialeah facility.
Everyone who worked with it says it was very dangerous working with live steam. When the steam lines were connected and disconnected, it was common to get small burns, even with heavy gloves on. Every now and then, a cut-off valve would break internally and while it looked closed, the person disconnecting the line would get burned from the steam and require medical treatment.
B)
I think we can agree that they weren't referred to "Heritage Fleet" pre-Amtrak. However between 5/1/71 and the HEP change the name is unknown.Amfleet said:Wait, the cars weren't called Heritage until they got converted to HEP, I though. I knew that the "streamliners" had been using steam up to the late 70's.
Let's not forget the Hi-level ex-Santa Fe "El Capitan" cars that were often included in Superliner consists.Steve4031 said:The Heritage Fleet consisted of single level diners, coaches, dome coaches, sleepers, and on a few runs, slumbercoaches. They operated only east of Chicago, and before the superliners were put on the City of New Orleans, on that train too.
Good example, however Amerail is gone to the best of my knowledge.Miami Joe said:The name wasn't given to Amtrak.
It's the name of a series of cars, like when Budd gave the name "Amfleet" to it's design. AmerRail could design a new car and call it the "GrandView". If Amtrak sold it's V/L's to VIA, they would still be V/L's.
When Alaska RR bought the FFT cars, the consist is now the "GrandView". The cars are still refered to as Rader II cars.
There are a few cars from different manufacturers that have been "adopted" and fall into the Heritage catagory.
B)
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