The car bodies were then shipped to Seattle where Pacifica Marine, a local company, completed final assembly. This helped Washington State obtain world-class trains while keeping tax dollars and jobs in the local economy. If the current program of track, safety and service upgrades is continued, about 15 Amtrak Cascades trains will be needed over the next 20 years. The tail fins are purely aesthetic. Amtrak Cascades trains are sleek and low-slung.
Current locomotives are seven feet taller than the train cars.
The tail fins were designed and built onto the trains to make a smooth visual transition from the low trains to the taller locomotives. They make Amtrak Cascades trains look faster and more attractive.