The Future of Amtrak is Here: Phase 7 Amtrak 174 leads California Zephyr

Special thanks to John for the heads up on this one. Also, story time, so buckle up.

Many of you know I'm not as much into paint schemes as I am more into horns. However, one exception to that is Amtrak's paint schemes. I've been following Amtrak's liveries since 2010, as I've always found the transitions between the different phases fascinating, mainly because it's not just locomotives, but it's also the cars as well. At that time, Amtrak was just finishing its transition to Phase 5 and 6 from 3 and 4.

I was then excited in 2013 when I found out Amtrak was painting the brand new Viewliner II cars into a rebranded Phase III scheme, which featured the Amtrak America branding. This seemed to be the new scheme going forward for Amtrak's long distance services, so I eagerly awaited other cars to start receiving this branding. In 2016, 1 Viewliner I sleeper, 62043, got the Phase III scheme, followed by 8400, the prototype Viewliner diner. Then, months passed by, and nothing else got Phase III, except for the P32AC-DMs in the northeast, which was their own little thing. By late 2016, Joseph Boardman retired, who was the one who spearheaded the Amtrak America branding, and next CEO expressed no interest in continuing the branding, so that scheme was dead. Needless to say, I was very disappointed.

Fast forward to 2021, and Amtrak unveiled two new paint schemes for their upcoming ALC-42s. The first being Phase 6, which seemed odd since it was a very different Phase 6 than what was on the cars. But then, Phase 7 was also introduced, which featured a red cab, and Midnight blue and Amtrak blue along the carbody. This was a very different bold look for Amtrak going forward. It took me a bit to appreciate the new scheme, but by April 2022, the first Phase 7 ALC-42, #309, was released from California. At that point, I was all in.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, I was waiting to see if Amtrak would repaint any of their older engines or cars into Phase 7, but was continually disappointed to see repainted P42s coming out in Phase 5 (including the former Phase IV heritage unit, 184). I was on the fence whether 7 would only be on new engines and cars or if one day P42s or other older cars would eventually start getting it.

Fast forward to December 2023, when it was discovered one of Amtrak's "new" GP38-3s, 740, was released from Georgia in Phase 7. This took everybody by surprise including me, but it invigorated new hope that 7 would soon be appearing on older rolling stock. I kept watching for the westbound Cardinal on Mondays, as that was when Amtrak transferred newly overhauled and repainted equipment from Beech Grove back to Chicago to be put back into service. Going into January 2024, there were still no signs anything in 7.

On January 29, 2024, I woke up that morning and immediately checked my phone on the CSX Monon Sub Facebook group to see if anybody posted about Amtrak 51 yet. I saw a text saying "Amtraks Cardinal crossing Rt2 in Lowell with a great looking #174." I immediately scrolled down, to see 174 had been repainted into the Phase 7 paint scheme. I nearly jumped out of my bed when I saw that. My dreams were coming true. It started making the rounds online and almost everybody seemed to love it. It spent the next month out east on the Capitol Limited, Cardinal, and Northeast Regional trains. During that time, Amtrak Brand Communication Manager Matt Donnelly revealed that Phase 7 would be coming to older cars start later this year, which I would guess to be around summer, but we'll have to wait and see.

Finally, on March 1, 2024, I got a heads up from John that 174 was leading Amtrak 5 and that it was coming my way. This actually isn't the first time I saw 174, as I caught it 6 days prior on the Cardinal while I was visiting my dad, but this is the first time it's gone out west. As I state in the intro, not only is this the first time a Phase 7 P42 has led on the Mendota Sub, but the first time any Phase 7 or 6 engines have led at all on this line. The only time an ALC-42 led was in August 2022 when Amtrak 301 led the Zephyr, which is the Day 1 heritage engine. Like I say at the end, I'm very excited for the future of Amtrak, and can't wait to see more P42s and the cars start getting 7 later this year.

Amtrak #5 WB California Zephyr, Locust St., Wyanet, IL, BNSF Mendota Sub
Amtrak 174 = P42DC - Phase VII - Hybrid NF K5LA (1 2 3 4A 5)
Amtrak 163 = P42DC - Phase V
Amtrak 71 = P42DC - Phase V
Amtrak 61013 - Phase III Amtrak America
Amtrak 39034 - Phase VI
Amtrak 32034 - Phase VI
Amtrak 32041 - Phase VI
Amtrak 38068 - Phase VI
Amtrak 33027 - Phase VI
Amtrak 34515 - Phase VI
Amtrak 31045 - Phase VI

Filmed March 1, 2024.

Camera used: Panasonic HC-V800