National Railroad Passenger Corporation

Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) was created by Congress on May 1, 1971, to take over intercity passenger rail services from the nation's freight railroads. The new company inherited a diverse fleet of aging equipment from predecessor railroads and faced the challenge of rebuilding American passenger rail.

Over the decades, Amtrak has introduced new equipment including the Superliner bi-level coaches, Amfleet single-level cars, and the Acela Express high-speed trainsets on the Northeast Corridor. The railroad operates both long-distance routes like the Empire Builder and California Zephyr, as well as regional corridor services.

Amtrak's paint schemes have evolved from the original red, white, and blue to the current Phase scheme (currently Phase VII). The railroad operates over freight railroad tracks except for portions of the Northeast Corridor, which it owns.

For modelers, Amtrak offers the appeal of passenger trains with contemporary equipment, and the ability to model connections with freight operations on shared trackage.