Amtrak Photo Archive
an unofficial Amtrak site

the UA Turbos

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The blue number may open a very large image if available

White sections are the newest additions

A single three car set was built in 1969 by United Aircraft for US Department of Transportation as demonstration project. Two more sets ( Amtrak 54,55 & 56,57 and their cars ) were purchased from Canada's VIA.
54, 55 cars 76, 77 were wrecked / destroyed in July 20, 1973. The rest were retired in 1976.

While running for Penn Central they set a record of 170 mph ( not in regular service) This is still faster by 2 mph than then recent Acela test of 168 mph.

  Location & Information  Date  Photo Credit
 NEW  South Boston Station
pre Amtrak - note NH and PC cars in background		  September 1970  Joseph Testagrose
50      Ohio Rail Group
50 Chicago IL May 16, 1971  unknown

 50

 Washington DC
out of service
less than 10 years old
a bold experiment

 May 10 , 1978

 from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
   51      Bob Redden

 51 Boston MA     Bob Redden
 51  Boston MA     Bob Redden
 51 New London CT  1973  Bob Redden

 51  Washington DC
out of service		  1978  Bob Redden
52 PHILADELPHIA, PA
30th Street Station Yard
Out of Service,		 1982?  Mitch Goldman
 5? PHILADELPHIA, PA
30th Street Station Yard
Out of Service,		 1982?  Mitch Goldman
detail  PHILADELPHIA, PA
30th Street Station Yard
Out of Service,		 1982?  Mitch Goldman
 57 PHILADELPHIA, PA
30th Street Station Yard
Out of Service,		 1982?  Mitch Goldman
52 & 57  Providence RI  June 1974  Joseph Testagrose
56 Washington DC
out of service		  January 26, 1978  James Claflin
56  Washington DC
note Amtrak painted out		  April 2, 1978  Mel Lawrence

 56

 Washington DC

 May 10, 1978

 from the
collection of
Jim Hebner

56

 Washington DC
this side is not painted out

 May 10, 1978

 from the
collection of
Jim Hebner

57

 Washington DC

 May 10, 1978

 from the
collection of
Jim Hebner

   The drawing shows the pendular suspension of the Turbo Train cars. The design allowed the carbodies to lean into curves, thereby improving passenger comfort. This allowed the train to operate at faster speeds through curves than conventional passenger trains. The tilting was passive, in that the car acted like a pendulum with the sideways force swinging the carbody out in a curve. No actuators were required to make the train tilt.


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Contributions welcome and credited.

Most of the photos on this site are from original photos/slides or submissions. Some photos are from the web - I have tried to get permission to use on all of them, but a few may have slipped through. Please, let me know if that has happened.

 

 

This archive was first accessed August 1996