The AMTRAK version of the Gas Turbine Railcar 

Ref: 8988, 5892, 5893, 5894

Prototype information

 

 

 

 

 Conceived just after the delivery of the last ETG, the Gas Turbine Trains (RTG) were the second generation of turbotrains delivered to the SNCF. Among the innovations was a second power car thus doubling the power of the trains. The sets were lengthened with the addition of an extra trailer, which made them up to five cars thus offering additional capacity. These trains worked from the beginning in multiple and were gradually converted to work in multiple with the ETG's. One coach was all first and to improve comfort, the seats are spaced at 2 + 1. The other innovation was air-conditioning which improved the comfort of these trains considerably during the 1970's. The first sets delivered in 1973 were sent to work the Lyon-Strasbourg, Lyon-Nantes or Lyon-Bordeaux routes.

The original 12 RTG sets used by AMTRAK were imported into USA from France and called Turboliners in USA and were used on three lines around Chicago namely Chicago to St Louis, Chicago to Milwaukee and Chicago to Detroit

However, the utilisation of these trains at lower speeds due to the number of stopping points (it was planned to run at 110 mph over the long distances) and their small number all based at the same depot, meant that they had a high-cost operation which led to their withdrawal from the service in 1981. They were re-used thereafter on the Empire Corridor. New York – Albany- Schenectady – Syracuse-Buffalo and Niagara Falls

Later another version (RTL) was built  by ROHR in USA under licence from ANF and used on The Empire Corridor running between New York – Albany - Schenectady – Syracuse - Buffalo - Niagara Falls and were later joined by the RTG sets displaced from Chicago. However following a number of serious operational incidents which occurred in 1994, this rolling stock was no longer used after 1995 except for one train on the route between Schenectady - Albany - New York.

See Wikipedia's page here for more information about their fate and a link to more pictures

 

Type: 

 Turbotrain TBDu 2038 (Turboliner) Gee whizz!

French-built at Chicago 1975

AMTRAK

Exhibition

Unknown

In service

Unknown

AMTRAK Turbotrain

Chicago December 1975

Allan Trotter

AMTRAK Turbotrain

Kalamazoo December 1975

Allan Trotter
Max speed 175 km/h (110 mile/h)
Weight 62 tonnes (driving car) 225t (train)
Introduced 1975
Builder ANF