A Journey Into the Future, 1977

September 21, 2012

Amtrak began efforts to modernize train travel in the 1970s. The Turboliner trainsets were based on the French ANF gas-turbine T 2000 RTG "Turbotrain" trainsets. A trainset refers to a combination of cars and locomotives that is permanently or semi-permanently coupled together to form a unified set of equipment. The Turboliner service referred to in the brochure ran along the route of the Adirondack, in New York state, as well as the Water Level Express route to Buffalo, N.Y. Turboliners ran in New York state from 1973 to 2002.

The RTL Turboliners (one trainset pictured below) were delivered between 1976 and 1977 by Rohr Industries. These differed from the RTG series by having American-style couplers throughout and American-standard (480 volts/60 hertz) head end power as well as a different design powercar cab. These also operated in upstate New York into the 1990s.