in the 1950s, the government acquired 12 coaches from the american budd company. unlike old wooden coaches used until then, the american wagons were made of steel and came with comforts such as air conditioning and double glazing to insulate the passengers from noise, arm chairs, bars and restaurant carriage. those trains had been specially designed for the chesapeake and ohio railway. a high-speed 6000 hp baldwin locomotive had been also designed to tow that train, since the original project was to run as an express service between washington and cincinnati. nevertheless, c&or withdrew the purchase due to increasing competition with air travel, therefore budd co. sold the trains on.