Amtrak engineer Scot Kimberley is at the throttle as Amtrak train 785, a Pacific Surfliner heading from San Diego to Los Angeles, skirts the Pacific Ocean - which, of course, explains why the Santa Fe called this line the Surf Line. Leading this "Surfliner" on this late summer day is one of Amtrak's four pieces of equipment honoring America's Veterans and, specifically, the many Vets that Amtrak has employed. Amtrak 90208 is the former F40PH diesel locomotive 208, which was rebuilt in October 1997 into a Non-Powered Control Unit (NPCU). The F40s diesel engine and electric traction motors were removed, along with the fans on the roof, and the car body was turned into a baggage car (which explains the roll-up doors on each side). These are, essentially, cab cars as the engineer can still control the train's locomotive (in this case, P42DC 206) from this end. These have been nicknamed "Cabbage," combining "cab car" and "baggage." (August 25, 2018)
