Saturday, train 27 was nearly six hours late departing Spokane. I drove up the Columbia and photographed the Portland section of the Empire Builder in nice afternoon light entering Lyle, Washington on BNSF's Fallbridge Subdivision. A very pleasant surprise was finding AMTK 301, the "Day 1" heritage unit, pulling the train.
After I posted this photo elsewhere, a source I trust claims that it is an urban legend that a Penn Central E8 was hastily modified as AMTK 4316 for May 1, 1971. He said the locomotive was not painted until a few months after Amtrak began service.
In trying to confirm his claim, I have performed a lot of internet searches for AMTK 4316 and news coverage of Amtrak's startup. I have been unable to find any photos of the AMTK 4316 E unit taken on May 1, 1971. The oldest photo of it I found was taken in August 1971. So, my question is this: was the Day 1 locomotive actually done for May 1, 1971? If so, could you point me to a news article or photograph of it on Amtrak day, May 1, 1971?
Thanks in advance -
Greg Brown
Washougal, Washington
After I posted this photo elsewhere, a source I trust claims that it is an urban legend that a Penn Central E8 was hastily modified as AMTK 4316 for May 1, 1971. He said the locomotive was not painted until a few months after Amtrak began service.
In trying to confirm his claim, I have performed a lot of internet searches for AMTK 4316 and news coverage of Amtrak's startup. I have been unable to find any photos of the AMTK 4316 E unit taken on May 1, 1971. The oldest photo of it I found was taken in August 1971. So, my question is this: was the Day 1 locomotive actually done for May 1, 1971? If so, could you point me to a news article or photograph of it on Amtrak day, May 1, 1971?
Thanks in advance -
Greg Brown
Washougal, Washington