When Amtrak began operations in May 1971, it acquired some distinctive rolling stock from its member railroads. These included the United Aircraft Turbotrains then operating in New York-Boston service on the Penn Central.

Amtrak added to its Turbotrain fleet by purchasing two four-car consists made surplus by Canadian National. One of these sets was destroyed in a mishap prior to delivery, but the other set became a fixture on the old New Haven main line.

Here is the ex-CN set on is way up to Boston accelerating out of Union Station in Providence, R.I. after a station stop.

The view here is distinctively different since the early 2000s, when Amtrak electrified the former New Haven into Boston. Turbotrains, old E-units hauling conventional cars, and even later F40PHs have given way to high-speed Acela trainsets, and the Providence depot was replaced by a newer facility.

Photographed by Thomas McCann, April 27, 1975.
Added to the photo archive by Thomas McCann, June 6, 2010.
Railroad: Amtrak/Northeast Corridor.

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