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       Some differences between the Prototype and Production Viewliners, which were build by Amerail in

1995-1996, include that the prototypes only have in room audio equipment, while the 50 Production Viewliners feature both audio and video equipment.  Also the sides of the Attendants Room and Shower Room were switched in the Production Viewliners. In the Prototype there is only one chair in the attendants room.

        The each car consists of 12 Standard Bedrooms, 2 Deluxe Sleepers, and 1 accessible sleeper for passengers with disabilities. All rooms have a toilet and sink, and hold two passengers. The Deluxe and Accessible bedrooms have an enclosed toilet and shower. For Passengers in Standard sleepers there is a shower at the end of the car. The unique identifying feature of the Viewliner is its two sets of windows, one set for each berth

      Eventually, Amtrak ordered 50 Sleepers from Amerail, which had shops in Hornell, NY and Chicago. The order was originally for 100 Sleepers, but had to be reduced, for lack of funding. To date no diners or any additional Viewliners have been ordered.

       At first Viewliner 2301 along with its sister 2300 made regular runs on the Capitol Limited.  Later  2301 had been assigned to the Twilight Shoreliner, and had the window curtains associated with that train, but also had on the Boston Section of the Lake Shore Limited. Diner 8400 had been operating on trains, particularly the New York- Miami, Silver Service, but had been pulled for problems, mainly the Air Conditioner and lack of parts, in June 2002, and was put into “Dead Storage” in Beech Grove, Indiana in July 2002. A problem with the prototypes is that they often require expensive, parts that sometimes come from overseas, causing them to sit up to a month.

      Viewliner 2301 was renumbered to 62091 in 2001, due to the delivery of new P-42 Diesel Locomotives. 62091 has been acting as a crew dorm, but also is going through problems like 8400, mainly Air Conditioning failures.  It has made one revenue run on the Silver Star.

      The only way 8400 could come back out is if they retrofit the Air Conditioning units or replace the temperature control system and wiring to a standard unit, from an Amfleet II or a Viewliner. 8400 is now in "Dead Storage" in Amtrak's Main Shops in Beech Grove, Indiana

      Viewliner 2300 was put into Storage in Amtrak's Bear, Delaware Shops (DPF) in 1998, and presumably has been renumbered 62090.  It is still believed to be stored there, but has yet to be confirmed

- Special Thanks to "Miami Joe" an Electronic Technician in Miami, for the Amtrak Silver Service Trains.