I've thought about lowering the cars, but to me they should be the same height as the other Heritage cars I have. The newer Amfleets are lower, but too low to couple properly. (Then there's that working diaphram...Oy!) So I'll live with a little high riding. Besides, they look good next to the Walther's platforms. Art
Okay, what did you bash them from? Details, man, details!!:tb-tongue: I've got a set of ElCap cars coming that'll be Amtrak about 2 days after being here. But I do have some stuff that'll be Phase I that I need power for. Art
My one and only Amtrak adventure. I had to have it because it's the "local" passenger train. I have the latest Amtubes from Bachmann and even after removing the wipers from all the axles, my P42 would only haul 3 of them plus cabbage up my grades. In order to run the 4 prototypical coaches, I had to repower the cabbage.
Art, I started with the Athearn FP45 (ATSF style) and reworked the pilot and rear platform. I also did some work on the cowling mid-body. It isn't perfect but it is pretty close. I have pictures, but will have to post them later (I'm at work on my lunch break). I will also being doing some of the Kato El Capitan's into Amtrak. I ordered two sets and will be doing some Phase III, Phase IV (to do a Heartland Flyer) and some Phase I like you. I am super excited for these. We'll have to discuss as we work our projects. Chris
I'm sorry, is that "US Transportation pariah"? I love Amtrak because it'll someday provide the nucleus around which America will once again start riding the rails, but I've always wished their equipment wasn't so "Postal Service" looking. I'd love to see them adopt something a little more traditional for a paint scheme, but I suppose that they don't want to resemble the past. -Dave
Art, Here are the rest of the SDP40 Photos. You can see the front has been modifed here. I used styren to cover the top of the platform to square it off. I also used styren on what use to be steps to make it look like the prototype. I then used a Kato F40 plow for pilot. If you look back just before the large pointless arrow logo, I filled the window on the door. Here is a better shot of the detail work in front of the leading truck Here is a shot of the modifications to the rear platform. I squarded it too. The prototype's platform extends to the edge of the body. You can also see a blanked out door in this shot. Here is another blanked out window on the rear side door. I hope these help! Let me know if you have any other questions! Chris
Mike, Where did you get the Down Easter decals? If you made them, can you send the file to me? I'd love to model this train! v/r Chris
Cabbage decals Chris, My cabbage is, obviously, a Life Like version of the F40. The Kato would have been a good power match for the P42 but, I didn't want to operate on the frame to make room the the baggage doors. I still might do it someday,if I get brave enough to hack up an expensive loco. For the "basic" Amtrak striping on the cabbage, I used Micro Scale decal set # 60-971. I will PM you further info.
Yes. I agree, it should be the starting point of real public transportation in the US. But, until someone *really* steps forward with a serious plan for it instead of more of the same "pennies a day" policy, it'll be a pariah. Doesn't have anything to do with paint or anything. It has to do with funding and direction. In the mean time, it's up to us modelers to make sure people know what an Amtrak train looks like. So let's see more models! laugh: Art
Sweet Chris! It does give me some ideas! I think I have a few Lima FP's buried away somewhere that I should dig out and play with. I'll be interested to see how they look when your done! Art
Good work Dick. I have a Cabbage in a box somewhere I need to finish. I may have to get it done before the Kato ElCap cars show. Art
I'm still pondering... ...when and how I can back date a set of Bachmann Metroliners to PC!!! Then I'll worry about how to make 'em run better. Mark - I like a corridor for my trains.
That cabbage looks tasty. Okay, I really want to do one of these. Two questions, what decal set did you use and what did you use for the roll up door?
Richard, The basic decal set I used is MicroScale 60-971, Amtrak Ph.IV. The actual "Downeaser Logo and herald" were made by a friend on his printer. The ONLY available decals for a cabbage are made by Highball Graphics but are, unfortunately HO. You can find them on their site. I think my roll up doors came from my "junque" box but are readily available from several parts suppliers. Good luck.... happy to answer any questions you may have.
The local switching job sits on the siding while the “Lost Coast Limited” boards passengers at Red Bluff its last stop before crossing the mountains to Eureka.
Now that I'm awake, I'll answer this correctly. More trains. It's a busy corridor. Maybe they'll even run it over Tehachapi and into LA, which would be great! Art
More and more people are taking the SJ's...they just don't have the equipment to run bigger trains...by getting the stuff and refurbishing it, they can get cars now, instead of having to wait for them for God knows how long...with the current problems in Sac, that could be years...new eqpt. has been agreed on, but the process is mind bogglingly slow...thus, the fishing expeditions back east...I see them doing this a lot more..though the superliners need to be gotten rid of off the Cal service....that one door is useless....
