Metroliner Service train passing a track crew, 1978.

The Metroliners were high-speed Budd electric cars designed for use on the Pennsylvania Railroad's busy mainline between New York and Washington. The cars generally operated as married pairs, meaning that trains had an even number of cars. Luxurious interiors and fast running times made the Metroliners a viable competitor to regional airlines.

Under Amtrak, Metroliner Service frequencies increased to keep up with demand, and trains often reached speeds of up to 110 mph. In the late 1970s, Amtrak refurbished and reconfigured part of the Metroliner fleet after it had run more than 1.5 million miles of service.

In this image, the train passes a crew performing maintenance work on the adjoining track. Interestingly, the visible Metroliner cars wear different paint schemes. The cars on the left wear the patriotic red, white and blue scheme installed by Amtrak, while the car on the right still has the original design - gray body with red pinstripes - employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Photographer: Unknown for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.