Amtrak F40PH Baggage

So I thought these were scrapped. I had never seen one in person before. I was on Track 6 in Union Station and over yonder was this on the rear of what the board said was the Empire Builder:

 

I believe the Downeaster uses a Cabbage on its multiple daily runs between Boston and Portland, ME.

 

Every single Cascades train runs with an F40 Cab on one end. Not baggage though, so I guess it technically doesn't count.

 

The Heartland Flyer between OKC and Ft Worth uses or did use a cabbage car.

 

I don't think Amtrak is in a position to scrap anything that is in any way a baggage car right now anyway.

 

The Amtrak "Cascade" trains use a F59PH on one end and a former F40PH on the other. The "Cabbage" units vary a bit. Some have a roll up door on each side while others use side pannels that open.
Before the "Cabbage's" were added the F59PH's were used in the pull mode and were turned at both Portland & Seattle. This left the "fins" sticking up on the end of the train. The Cascade trains got the name "Bat Train" as a result.

 

The reason that the cab cars are not used for baggage or express is that the side door to the old moter compartment is to high to load and unload baggage and pallets of express, there fore it is a safety issue. The cab cars are used on the Talgo sets for 1. the need for a way of running the trains with out having to turn the train sets at the end of each run so that the loco is in front and 2. the talgo sets do not meet FRA crush standers and there fore need to have a loco or cab car at each end in case of a crash.

 

I am confused by your statement. The Cabbages I've seen had their side (baggage) doors at about the same height as the side doors on Heritage baggage cars. So loading and unloading baggage and pallets should not be a problem.

 

The Cascades cab cars don't actually have the large baggage doors that a normal "cabbage" does.