When Amtrak® commenced operation as America's first national rail carrier in 1971, it inherited a vast fleet of cars from legacy railroads. Many of these were life-expired, and variations in design proved costly to maintain. To resolve this issue, Amtrak® turned to the Budd Company, which had recently delivered Metroliner® electric multiple units to Penn Central. These units would serve as the basis for an all-new locomotive-hauled passenger car suitable for use across the Amtrak® system. 492 Amfleet® cars were purchased - the largest single order for passenger equipment in American history - with delivery starting in 1975. Now in its 5th decade, the Amfleet® I series has recently been overhauled for continued service on regional trains, sporting Phase VI paint and a modernized interior. Bachmann's N Scale Amfleet® I has likewise been updated to complement the arrival of our Charger series locomotives, featuring Amtrak’s Phase VI scheme, updated graphics, and an enhanced external appearance. Coach class, Business class, and Cafe examples are included in this release, arriving with fully detailed, lighted interiors, functioning marker lights, and E-Z Mate® Mark II knuckle couplers.
