Amtrak California Locomotives and Cars
Amtrak California Equipment
Many of the locomotives and cars used by Amtrak in California are common to the entire Amtrak system. They are found on Amtrak's "Basic System" trains: California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, and Sunset Limited.
But as Caltrans and Amtrak continued their expansion plans in the 1980's, it became clear that Amtrak would not be able to do so in California without outside help. The major transportation bonds of 1990 and 1991 provided funds for the California Department of Transportation to design and build equipment for California service.
Most of Amtrak California service is operated with this fleet. In order to meet continuing growth and demand for service, Caltrans has leased a number of reconditioned Superliner cars which have been painted in Amtrak California colors and operate with the original California Cars. In addition, one round trip on the Pacific Surfliner route operates with other Amtrak equipment.
California Cars
Each of the 88 cars in the Amtrak California fleet is named for a prominent California physical feature. Cars in the 8000 series were the first order of equipment, which were delivered beginning in 1996. The second series of cars (beginning with number 6000), began delivery in 2001 and continued into 2002. The cars are of four types:
Dining Cars -- Cars containing a galley for food preparation downstairs and table seating for passengers upstairs.
Cafe Coach -- Cars with coach seats upstairs, and a snack bar downstairs.
Baggage Coaches -- Cars with seating for passengers and storage space for luggage and package express.
Coaches -- Cars with coach seating only
Cab Cars -- Two types: coaches or baggage coaches from which the train can be operated.
Locomotive type
The locomotives commonly known as California Locomotives were built by General Motors Electro Motive Division (EMD) at the La Grange, Illinois and London, Ontario, Canada plants to specifications developed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
Their official designation is F59PHI , a streamlined and enhanced F59PH, a reliable and proven locomotive type. Maximum speed is 110 mph (177 km/h) from a single 3200 horsepower diesel electric power plant. Power for train lighting, heating and cooling does not come from this power plant, but from a separate plant generating 600 kilowatts of power.
Among the special features of this locomotive are a lightweight yet strong skin of composite materials and steel, fuel injection which results in low emissions (the cleanest burning diesel engines in America, some experts say) and reduced fuel consumption, and a cab isolated from the noise and jolting usually associated with locomotives.
The State of California Department of Transportation owns 15 of these locomotives, (and two General Electric Dash 8 locomotives purchased from Amtrak in 1994). Amtrak and several commuter agencies also have purchased F59PHI locomotives. You may see them in service in other parts of the state and the nation.