Conference Car 9800

gallja02 wrote:Yesterday at South Station there was what looked like an Amfleet/Cab Car (no pantograph) labeled First Class/Conference Car with I think the number 9800 (no platform so I don't think it was Beach Grove). It was in front of the overnight regional (which had 2 AEM 7's) but was not attached. It was also plugged into the ground power at South Station.

Does anyone know what it was doing here? What is the history of this car? Any interior pics?

Thanks!

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=701562
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/r ... ?4,1204877
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/r ... ?4,1034168
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20030 ... 619172.jpg

Should be all your information in those links.

9800 isnt Beech Grove. Its a conference/cab car. 10001 is Beech Grove, 10002 is the Corridor Clipper, and 10003 is the Acela Geometry Car.

I put up some pictures of the 9800 at North Station in 2003. I was have some interior pictures Enjoy!

http://sery2831.smugmug.com/gallery/3208256#176965854

9800 is the only original Metroliner car of the cafe car variety still in use.

What does Amtrak currently do with this car? Or better yet - with business people travelling more than ever on the NEC how should Amtrak be using this car?

hsr_fan wrote:9800 is the only original Metroliner car of the cafe car variety still in use.

I did not know that!!

Not sure about the present moment, but there was a thread on here a few months back about 9800 losing its cab car status, its desktop missing a radio and a few controls.

Thanks for all the great info and pics!

yes they should on a buisness service





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I thought Amtrak had an Amfleet style car that could be rented out containing a conference table/chairs (for like 10 people) and additional seating that could be rented out for either businesses or group travel?

I remember seeing pictures of the interior of this car (sort of retro 80's look) in an Amtrak related book. Moreover, I thought I had heard it had been updated to a more modern look. It largely roamed the NEC.

Reason I ask is that upon a call to Amtrak's group reservation department, they have never heard of such a car? So does this car still exist and does Amtrak still "rent it out" or have they discontinued such?

Edit - for clarity on "Amfleet style car"

jp1822 wrote:I thought Amtrak had an Amfleet style car that could be rented out containing a conference table/chairs (for like 10 people) and additional seating that could be rented out for either businesses or group travel?

I remember seeing pictures of the interior of this car (sort of retro 80's look) in an Amtrak related book. Moreover, I thought I had heard it had been updated to a more modern look. It largely roamed the NEC.

Reason I ask is that upon a call to Amtrak's group reservation department, they have never heard of such a car? So does this car still exist and does Amtrak still "rent it out" or have they discontinued such?

Edit - for clarity on "Amfleet style car"

the car is still used for company officials, I never heard of it being used for groups to rent out. I know that this car was on obama's inaugeration train.

Gilbert B Norman wrote:Mr HI, from a review of Mr. Almeida's video, such does not appear to be the case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgwUtsK1eVg

ahh it was the last train, the press train that had the conference car. You can tell by the balcony on the end.

As Mr. Norman noted, it was not considered part of Amtrak's "business fleet" (i.e. Beech Grove or the renovated Heritage Crew Cars etc.). It's also not the "Corridor Clipper" that was also part of the Obama trains, I believe. This was a completely separate car that was available for rent/charter service from Amtrak. There's pictures of it around, either online or in various publications.

does anyone have any interior shots of the beech grove?? I saw it in person for the first time a couple weeks ago at NYP