GG1 4877 posted:Nate,
In the time between me posting my original post and your response, I bought one of the shells. eBay has them for $65.00 and here is a link to the manufacturer's website. It will be a long term project for me and I have to decide whether or not to go New Jersey Transit or Amtrak. Ideally I'd like one of each. I have an SD60 Chassis which also works even if the trucks have the wrong side frames that I was going to sell anyway.
https://www.bigdawgoriginals.c...shell-o-scale-trains
One item to note is that this is the E60MA, which represents the remanufactured version post 1986-1988. I've always wanted a scale version and have a kitbashed nearly scale Williams version I found for about $25 a number of years ago, but this one is more accurate and much less work to complete than the shell I have.
As for the GG1 - You may be correct, I have issues on 0-72 curves with the pantograph nearly slipping off the trolley wire and I simply have the less than ideal RailKing system. That will be replaced when my 2 rail layout becomes a reality perhaps sometime in my lifetime.
My AEM7 just has been run nearly to death. The screw fell out for the front coupler which I'll convert to a Kadee anyway to start. I also believe I have a broken linkage in the mechanism, but like you with so many projects it's not high on the priority list. I have lots of Amtrak engines, however not many electrics in O scale beyond my fleet of GG1s.
Hi Jonathan:
That shell is what I saw. Now you got me thinking. The pantograph from an MTH E44 is a reasonable match...and most of the other details shouldn't be hard to find. I'd need to find some decent decals; there aren't that many good ones in Amtrak.
Have you run your AEM7 off the catenary? I have plenty of spare parts for Atlas AEM7s. If you need something, let me know.