This is one unit of the new "Roadrailer" units that allow U.S.Mail and other express shipment trucks to be connected directly to an Amtrak passenger train. The truck is directly connected to the train without any need for a flatcar. When a truck is attached to this unit, the tires on the truck rise several inches above the track bed and they do not sit on any surface. They just sort of hang down from the truck in mid-air. This avoids having to transfer materials to and from conventional enclosed box cars and avoids having to load trucks on top of flatbed cars. Unlike conventional freight cars, the roadrailers can be attached onto the end of higher speed passenger trains.
The photos in this slide show were taken in the mid-1990's by Steve Grande on his Amtrak travels throughout the nation. The size of the photos is purposely smaller as disk space was expensive and download speeds were slower at that time.
