The first was #552, northbound. The lead locomotive was a Surfliner unit, blue, rather than the Cascades green.
At the rear was the usual green F40 cabbage car.

The second was #753 southbound. As you may know, the cabbage car is always at the south end of the train. This one had it, but in front of the cabbage car was an Amtrak Dash-8 leading the train. At the rear was the usual F59PH. Both the Dash-8 and the F59 seemed to be under power. I was near the rear of the train as it pulled out of the station. I saw exhaust from the Dash-8 and heard the rumble of the engine in the F59 as it went past me. Usually this is pushing the train southward on its own.

I'm wondering if the F59 was only supplying electrical power to the passenger cars, while the Dash-8 was doing the actual work of locomotion. Anyone know for sure?

This was also my first close-up look at a Talgo train. I knew they were articulated, but I was surprised to see only one wheel on the trucks between cars. I expected to see two.

Maybe next time I get up here I will have a chance to actually ride one of these things.

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

These are one-time F-40's that have had their "prime movers" and traction motors removed. Some of the units were equipped with overhead doors with intent that they were going to be used as a baggage compartment. Hence the railfan term "Cabbage" = Cab and Baggage.

Several of these units have been assigned to the Talgo sets, and have been painted in their Cascade Green color scheme. Others elsewhere on the system simply retain Phase III or IV colors. They bear road numbers 902xx, 90 having been added to their previous F-40 road number.