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Does any manufacturer of Amtrak.   O guage cars ever think about making a Viewliner Sleeper Car?  Every long distance Amtrak train has one or two. In order to maintain a complete consist, it would behoove the manufacturer to make them in Railking, Premier, and the 21" versions. What does the forum think? 

Last edited by ICRRE8
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ICRRE8 posted:

Does any manufacturer of Amtrak.   O guage cars ever think about making a Viewliner Sleeper Car?  Every long distance Amtrak train has one or two. In order to maintain a complete consist, it would behoove the manufacturer to make them in Railking, Premier, and the 21" versions. What does the forum think? 

Well, according to Scott Mann of Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot, enough reservations/orders for virtually anything Amtrak, are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain in order to initiate production.

I made a reservation for Amfleet passenger cars with Golden Gate Depot almost a year ago and still have not heard that there are enough orders to commit to production. I'm surprised that there isn't more interest in Amtrak models but, from the response to the Amfleet cars, it seems unlikely that there would be adequate demand for Viewliner sleepers. I would buy two or three examples of the Amtrak ACS-64 electric locomotive but, for whatever reason, it still has not been produced in O gauge/O scale.

MELGAR

Only time will tell.  I.M.H.O. manufacturers maybe waiting for a whole train"set" by Amtrak and possibly some commuter lines/ via rail before committing thousands of dollars to make the viewliner style of cars. Seriously, look at Lionel making the HHP8 only to find out the hard way that Amtrak and Marc Commuter we're the only ones who purchased the locomotive and in it's short 15 yr lifespan, only had one paint scheme for each rr. Now what? Fantasy paint to make up for the tooling costs?

If you want one badly, you can always scratch build one and/ or have someone scratch build one for you. Plans are available in various model railroad magazines. 

Last edited by prrhorseshoecurve

I find the arguments that Amtrak doesnt sell, incorrect.  Even Mr. Mike Wolf when I met him in person and I tried to persuade him to make Viewliners told me " We do sell a lot of Amtrak."  

MTH has made Amfleet and Superliners for decades and keeps making them.  Recent Amtrak locomotives by MTH have all sold out. I know because I just ordered the last pair of E8 in stock.  The AEM7 has been made repeatedly by MTH and Atlas. 

Lionel was remiss in offering the HHP8 in MARC colors.  They also made a really crappy first version with cheap motors.  Later version was improved.

Viewliners are available in N and HO by several manufacturers.  A 5 car set by MTH will sell well, and continue to sell again and again.  Think of the decades of Amfleet, Superliner and Heritage cars that MTH has made, that can mix well with Viewliners.

GGD is a niche market and high price point more restrictive to many.  I do not pretend to know Mr. Mann's business, if he says he gets no orders, I do not doubt him.  But ive been in the hobby and an avid Amtrak fan and collector, and never knew he made Amtrak sleepers and slumbercoaches until after the fact by chance. I now do, and have obsorbed a good number of his Amtrak cars on the secondary market.  I have ordered 15 Amfleet cars. A well placed pic of an Amtrak consist in an advertisement here or there,  Rapido style helps to bring that customer in. 

I bet a Cities Sprinter locomotive,  Charger locomotive, or Viewliner sets will sell well.  

The Amtrak only argument is off base.

Amfleet is Amtrak only.  Superliner is Amtrak only.  Yet many thousands of sets by multiple makers keep selling.

 

ICRRE8 posted:

Does any manufacturer of Amtrak.   O guage cars ever think about making a Viewliner Sleeper Car?  Every long distance Amtrak train has one or two. 

Actually, Viewliner sleepers (or other long-distance cars) are only used in the east. The rest of the country, including the Auto-Train, use Superliner cars (which are double-deckers). The plus for the Viewliner sleepers is that each roomette has a sink/toilet...the Superliner roomettes do not.

Last edited by Joe Hohmann

I have the  Atlas Zepher cars and  K-Line super liners.  I would really like a east of Mississippi long distance train. I also have a nice set of Atlas Horizon cars. Have 5 Amfleet on order,  want the others to make up the Lakeshore. Be nice to have the latest paint schemes. Still would really like another MTH Genesis in blue / gray.

Clem

What will be interesting is that Amtrak is soliciting bids to replace Amfleet1 and Metroliner club cars. The bids are due by March of 2019? The choices are Briteline type of coaches or Viewliner coaches. Once that choice is made, there maybe a market push to make Viewliner sets as now there are prototypes for:

baggage

Diner

Sleeper 

and the American View" Observation/ Inspection" car

Joe Hohmann posted:
ICRRE8 posted:

Does any manufacturer of Amtrak.   O guage cars ever think about making a Viewliner Sleeper Car?  Every long distance Amtrak train has one or two. 

Actually, Viewliner sleepers (or other long-distance cars) are only used in the east. The rest of the country, including the Auto-Train, use Superliner cars (which are double-deckers). The plus for the Viewliner sleepers is that each roomette has a sink/toilet...the Superliner roomettes do not.

Correct, however, Viewliner baggage cars are on all Superliner consists now.  Thus, MTH addon baggage cars for Superliner sets would add to potential sales for MTH or whomever.

ICRRE8 posted:

Does any manufacturer of Amtrak.   O guage cars ever think about making a Viewliner Sleeper Car?  Every long distance Amtrak train has one or two. In order to maintain a complete consist, it would behoove the manufacturer to make them in Railking, Premier, and the 21" versions. What does the forum think? 

ICRRE8

Are you the one Looking for the MTH Amtrak Transitional Superlinner?

I have this one if you are interested!

I tried to answer you on the FOR SALE Forum, but wouldn't work!  ALSO Yu do not have an E-Mail listed in your "PROFILE"

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Last edited by Fredstrains
Joe Hohmann posted:
ICRRE8 posted:

Does any manufacturer of Amtrak.   O guage cars ever think about making a Viewliner Sleeper Car?  Every long distance Amtrak train has one or two. 

Actually, Viewliner sleepers (or other long-distance cars) are only used in the east. The rest of the country, including the Auto-Train, use Superliner cars (which are double-deckers). The plus for the Viewliner sleepers is that each roomette has a sink/toilet...the Superliner roomettes do not.

Ever sleep in one of those viewliner roomettes?  It’s like using the bathroom in the middle of your bedroom! Nothing to write home about. 

The Viewliner II sleepers will not have toilets in the roomettes .

As for models, it is my opinion that four or five-car sets are too much of a hard sell to people of potentially limited space who already have Amfleet trains, and besides Viewliner coaches have yet to even exist as a design yet.

My suggestion to MTH (which they did say made sense) would be that such hypothetical Vewliners be offered as sleeper/sleeper and sleeper/diner add-ons to existing Amfleet sets, perhaps with VL baggage cars offered invdividually. That way you don't have to build an overwhelming consist just to add VL's to your existing Amfleet trains (in a realistic manner), and those wanting to make all-VL trains (as unrealistic as it would be) can simply buy one of each set.

---PCJ

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