Amtrak Photo Archive
the Rainbow Era E units
E-units before they were repainted Platinum Mist


While the E is Platinum Mist, the F behind it is borrowed BN 9740, and a mix of passenger cars.
That is what the colorful Rainbow Era was all about

When you get the page loaded, click on the image or
engine number to view a larger image

   E #  Location  Date  Photo Credit
PC 4075  see photo for information    
 200   Williamsburg. VA.
with a GN dome and B&O combine car 1351 Eastbound on Amtrak #98, the Newport News leg of the George Washington		  April 19, 1972  GR Harper
  1439
(200)		 The Newport News leg of the James "Will-it-come" Riley
(HMM was it still called the Geroge Washington that early? )Train #99 at Williamsburg VA
en route to Richmond
and Charlottesville
The track the train is on was pulled up in Spring 1975, making it a single main line thru town.		    GR Harper
201  Chicago IL   June 23, 1973   from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
204  Nashville TN  Nov 9, 1973  Ed Bowers
  206  Washington DC  March 1973  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
206 unknown unknown   from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
  206  Washington DC  March 1973  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
206 unknown unknown   from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
209  Amqui TN Sept 15, 1973  Ed Bowers
209  Miami FL  April 1974   from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
1471
(212)		  approaching
Williamsburg VA
This is on the eastbound Newport News leg, #98
This is what the rainbow era is all about C&O 1471 and a lone Great Northern Dome		 1972 GR Harper 
1471
(212)		  C&O 1471 was never
renumbered 212,
built Jan 52- by Feb 75 was stored out of service
retired 5-28-75		    
  1471
(212)		  Swanton MD
on a 17 mile grade - this Washington Parkersburg was derisively called Staggers Special, or Harley's Hornet for Sen. Harley Staggers who supported Amtrak legislation as long as in went thru WV - it even saw a turbo later		  February 1973  Bill Hakkarinen
215 Nashville TN
ex RF&P 1006		 Dec 13, 1972   Ed Bowers
  223  Miami FL  April 1974   from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
224 Miami FL
ex L&N 794
click here for a larger image 		  March 1973  Bob Olesski
  224 Chicago IL  June 20, 1973    from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
  no
228		 no E numbered 228    
  no
229		 no E numbered 228    
243    Feb 12,1973  unknown
   249  Washington DC Jan 21, 1973    from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
249

Sanford FL
passing AutoTrain Facility
note trailing E7

May 6, 1973  from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
     
on the northbound Silver Star.
passing thru Powhite Parkway highway construction in Richmond, VA Amtrak #245.A pocket instamatic effort.		 Feb. 18, 1973    
 259  Rensslaer NY  February 1976  Joseph R Quinn
262  Rochester NY
Train 63 Empire State Express		  July 20, 1975  David Monte Verde
265  in black Penn Central paint    from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
  265  Buffalo NY April 1976  Bill Dechau 
  265 Hudson NY  August 1976 Dick Leonhardt
   265  Hudson NY  August 1976 Dick Leonhardt
  266  Buffalo NY Sept 28, 1975  Bill Dechau 
266  Buffalo NY  Sept 28, 1975   Michael Tedesco

267

 Harmon NY

 Nov 7, 1977

 Dick Leonhardt
   269  Route128 MA
former Penn Central 4054
retired May 28, 1975		 August 1974  Dick Leonhardt
  272  Renesslear NY  July 30,1975   David Hamley

273
 Ft. Erie ON Canada
note the NYC paint coming thru the PC paint		  October 1976  from the
collection of
JL Hunt
 

276
 Buffalo NY  March 27,1976  from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
 

282
Boston MA
former Penn Central 4274
retired October 29, 1975		 June 1974   Dick Leonhardt
287  Chicago IL  July 30, 1972  John Kuehl
288  Chicago IL  July 30, 1972  John Kuehl
 

289
New Haven CT 
former Penn Central 4281
retired May 28, 1975
283 is the trailing unit		  June 1974  Dick Leonhardt

292
 Wellesley Farms MA
former Penn Central 4284		  August 1976  Dick Leonhardt
 

294
 Chicago IL  November 1974  from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
 

295

Harrisburg PA

ex Penn Central 4282 

 Aug 12, 1973  Charles W Houser Sr.

297
Chicago IL  May 5 1973  Paul Hunnell

297
 Boston MA  June 7, 1975 Ralph Phillips 


   E #  Location  Date  Photo Credit
303  Boston MA  July 21, 1974  Ralph Phillips
  308  Chicago IL  Sept 1974  Ronald A Plazzota
309  Middletown PA
PC 4302 shown before being renumbered 309 pulling the Washington/Harrisburg section of the Broadway Limited		  October 1972  Bill Hakkarinen
311  East of Newport PA  April 28, 1974 from the
collection of
Jim Hebner 
313  Buffalo NY  March 15, 1975 Bill Dechau 
314  Boston MA
SouthStation		  December 26, 1975  Dick Leonhardt
314  Wellesley Farms MA  August 1976  Dick Leonhardt
316 Harrisburg PA 
ex Penn Central 4308		 July 18, 1973   Bob Wilt
316  Wellesley Farms MA  August 1976  Dick Leonhardt
319 Chicago IL   June 16, 1973 Mel Lawrence 
321  Harrisburg PA
ex Penn Central 4315		  March 23, 1975 unknown 
327  Chicago IL Feb 12, 1974  George Horna 
331  Gainesville TX
The train is the "Texas Cheif"		  July 6, 1972  G C Parsons
 331  Chicago IL June 21, 1973    from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
331 Chicago IL July 7, 1973   Paul Hunnell
 335  Portland OR  October 1973  from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
337 Denver CO March 24, 1974  John Tudek
351  Chicago IL  Sept 1, 1973  from the
collection of
Joseph Testagrose
352   Chicago IL   April 21, 1973   from the
collection of
Albert Phleep
352 unknown location  June 1973 from the
collection of
JL Hunt

415 Sacromento CA  March 20, 1974  David Stanley
420  Tampa FL
ex Amtrak 1420
ex UP 943A		 Jan 1973  RE Fall 
422  Denver CO
ex UP 945A		  Aug 13,1973  John Tudek
  422 Chicago IL  July 15, 1973  Paul Hunnell
426  Denver CO
ex UP 952A		  June 18,1973  R R Harmen
426      
  426  Sacromento CA  July 15, 1973  Mel Lawrence
  427    June 1972  
427  unknown location
ex Amtrak 1427
ex UP 953A		  October 1972  
  427  Chicago IL April 14, 1973  Paul C Hunnell 
427      
  428  Cleburne TX  Mach 18,1974  Bruce Barrett
428  Cleburne TX March 26, 1973 John Arbuckle 
432  Denver CO
former UP 959
built Sept 1955		  unknown  from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
450  Chicago IL
ex Amtrak 259, Penn Central 4041 New York Central 4041		 Sept 10,1977  Paul Hunnell 
 

1327
 unknown location  June 1972  unknown
 

1327
 Chicago IL  August 1972  
 

1331
 Houston TX
later became 327?		  July 11, 1972  Ralph Back
 

1412
  June 1972  
 

1427
  June 1972  
1414  Fort Worth TX
future Amtrak 414 - ex UP909A		 July 8,1972 William I. White
1428      
1471  Chicago IL
taken before its Amtrak number (212) was applied
retired 5/28/75		 June 1973  from the
collection of
JL Hunt


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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