Riding Amtraks OLDEST Passenger car: Metroliner Cab Car

[@CRtrain]

Great video! I see these cars every day as I live around the corner from the station. Grew up with these ML cars. My only wish is that they are given their long overdue retirement. We need those Airo sets!

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

Thats cool! 🚅

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

I saw every train you filmed! I was out railfanning that day and saw all three of the cab car trains you filmed. I was filming in Windsor, so you weren’t on the two you took when I filmed them, but still that’s so cool!

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Great video, and good to see several Metroliner cab cars in daily use !

[@ROKMAN1445]

The Springfield line has always had interesting equipment - from the NH era using Fairbanks-Morse C liners and H16-44s, to early Amtrak using rebuilt RDCs, the former NH Roger Williams cab units, and HEP equipped E8s, and now these cab cars on top of CDOT's Mafersa coaches and rebuilt P40s. I see them pass by my workplace everyday and have ridden them dozens of times, I've become desensitized to seeing them but it's always nice to see others hyped about their existence

[@Davids_Hobbies]

The Budd Metroliner Cab Car is one of the reasons why I started railfanning at Metropark in NJ. I've seen quite a few of them including both 9649 and 9636.

[@paulgracey4697]

I was at the Hartford station on the very first day of Amtrak service in 1971. Not to ride, but just to see what they were going to run up to Springfield. There was only a locomotive and one passenger car for that train. I also got to ride the metroliner under Amtrak's auspices just once.

[@himbourbanist]

I had no idea they used the ML cabs on the Hartford Line! I see them on the Keystone Corridor here in PA regularly. The Metroliner has such an interesting history and it's incredible that components are still in use to this day. They're such an odd part of Amtrak's fleet and even though they're really old, it'll be a bit sad to see them go when Airo launches in the coming years.

[@willnewberry9605]

Hoping the Metroliner cab cars are still on the Keystone when I head up to ride in spring of 2025!

[@himbourbanist]

@@willnewberry9605 I suspect that they very likely will be. I think that Amtrak is planning on subbing some out with gutted HHP8's they've converted to cab cars, but I'm sure some will still be in use for the near future until Airo trainsets start being delivered. The Cascades is set to get Airo first in 2026 I believe and I expect other corridor services will get them in the years following. you have a little bit of time here

[@workinghardusa]

Great video, well done!

[@trainsplanesmore]

Amfleet cars are still the best cars.

[@chief1b]

I love the Metroliner cab car. I see them once a week on the NEC going to Washington.

[@marengtech313]

These cars were deigned to look like airplanes, hence the curved sides, to invoke a feeling of modernity back in the 50's. Who knew 70 yrs. later they still be rolling along.

[@Sidthedentist]

Hope to get a ride on one soon, kind of ridiculous they pretty much always close the cab cars.

[@Loso1131]

I work for mechanical I see that 174 P42 every day lol

[@saulschlapik6818]

I'm not positive but I believe Amtrak's Piedmont trains in North Carolina still use heritage equipment. If so, the cars were probably built in the 50s. The Metroliner was the first Amtrak train I ever rode in November 71 from DC to NY when I was 14. The engineer let me ride in the cab for a little while.

[@bdub215]

its supplied by NCDOT.

[@THEFINALHAZARD]

@@bdub215yup exactly. Amtrak just provides booking and staffing save for the ByRail volunteer

[@PeaceToAll-sl1db]

the trains Amtrak uses in Michigan feel like they are out of North Korea - they are old, dirty and slow

[@supermarioworld04]

Bell sounds like a Metra cabcar

[@IowaTrainGay]

A 2 car train with only 1 car open?? Wow, NE states really do get whatever they want and leave the rest if us with crumbs for service.

[@MrMarshmallow26]

Seems pretty easy to operate when you own the tracks.

[@PhillyBagel]

It might be time to think about ending Amtrak service on this line except for the Vermonter and Flyer. CT Rail can pick up the slack.

[@MichiganCentralLines]

@@IowaTrainGay this was filmed on a holiday, so the demand was not there. It made sense for the first train to only have the coach open at least between New Haven and Hartford

[@ELAlcoRS3]

@@PhillyBagel I think it might be state supported (BOTH CT Rail and Amtrak) on this line.

[@bennythepenny5831]

Are you sure you’re not talking about the AmFleet 1?

[@MichiganCentralLines]

@@bennythepenny5831 this is a former metroliner cab car. These are what amfleets were ultimately based on. They are the only pieces of equipment you can ride on that predate Amtrak. Ordered by the PRR and delivered to the PC

[@davidstewart5694]

No passengers lol.

[@jeffreysheridan5205]

The Mets were junk from day 1.

[@floridaactor]

At the end of December 1978, we were visiting the east coast and took the Metroliner from Philadelphia to Elizabeth, New Jersey. We were in the cab car and the conductor allowed me to visit the Engineer's compartment. Very interesting!