Fort Pitt (train)

The Fort Pitt was a 117-mile (188 km) daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Fort Pitt was a so-called Section 403(b) train, meaning that its operation was subsidized by the state of Pennsylvania.

Fort Pitt
Last run of the Fort Pitt at Altoona in January 1983
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleWestern Pennsylvania
First serviceApril 26, 1981
Last serviceJanuary 30, 1983
Former operator(s)Amtrak
Route
StartPittsburgh
Stops4
EndAltoona
Distance travelled117 mi (188 km)
Average journey time2 hours 37 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)37-39
On-board services
Class(es)Unreserved coach
Catering facilitiesOn-board cafe
Technical
Rolling stockAmfleet coaches
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Track owner(s)Conrail

The Fort Pitt operated in tandem with the Pennsylvanian, then a Pittsburgh—Philadelphia service. The westbound Pennsylvanian, after arriving in Pittsburgh in the evening, would be turned around and east to Altoona. The following morning, that trainset returned to Pittsburgh as a westbound Fort Pitt, then ran eastbound to Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) as a Pennsylvanian. This allowed Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to operate two routes with the same two equipment sets. A typical consist was three to four Amfleet coaches pulled by an EMD F40PH locomotive.[1] Amtrak added Pitcairn as a stop in mid-1981 to supplement the Pittsburgh—Greensburg Parkway Limited commuter train.[2]

The Fort Pitt began operation April 26, 1981, and was withdrawn on January 30, 1983, when PennDOT declined to continue funding the train. On average, the Fort Pitt carried 30 passengers daily, set against a subsidy of $547,453.[3]

References
  1. McCann, Tom (April 15, 1981). "Amtrak expands service: Western Pa. to get 3 full runs". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  2. "Commuter train to start new schedule". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 29, 1981. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  3. "Train serving Latrobe, Greensburg finished". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 24, 1982. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
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