I’m so glad I have these in hand now. This completes a Del Mar set single level Surfliner.
I like the Amtrak license logo on the box.
Viewliner II Diner detail
Viewliner II Sleeper:
Car length coupler to coupler:
Car body length:
These doo dads were included in each box. I'm not sure if they are extras or items that need to be installed. They are metal.
Unfortunately, upon closer inspection it looks like the coach car has the cafe interior and the cafe car has the coach interior. Not sure if it's just a simple switching of the car bodies or not.
I hope everyone who bought these cars enjoys them as much as I will! There are six Amtrak F40PH's, four P42's, a P40, a half dozen AEM-7 Toasters, an HHP-8, and three Dash-8's all jostling for position to pull these beauties! And a 44 Tonner to line them up at the station!!
The consist I assembled in this set are as follows:
4 Amfleet Phase VI Coaches
1 Amfleet Phase VI Cafe car
2 Viewliner II Phase VI Baggage Cars
2 Viewliner II Phase VI Sleeper Cars
1 Viewliner Phase VI Diner
Now I have to get some power to the tracks!! Videos will come after that.
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Wow, these cars look spectacular. Innovation and all, I am really happy for those of you that are interested in this era of equipment. How exciting! Unique and certainly top drawer stuff.
@Traindiesel posted:
Only in the OHHH gauges do you get.. " hey look it's 21" long, it must be scale... "
My N and HO scale buddies are always poking fun at my community, creative compression everywhere. These cars are scaled down from 1:1 to 1:48 granted the 1:29 couplers you guys use in 3RS might add another scale 3 feet.
NICE CARS SCOTT!
The Miracle Worker.
There are 12 sleeper car names. Yes. Someone ordered 12 sleepers and we needed unique names for each. This buyer is anonymous and and I wouldn't share it if I knew it. Good thing Amtrak has lots of great names to use on their River series sleepers!
@GG1 4877 posted:There are 12 sleeper car names. Yes. Someone ordered 12 sleepers and we needed unique names for each. This buyer is anonymous and and I wouldn't share it if I knew it. Good thing Amtrak has lots of great names to use on their River series sleepers!
Are the 12 sleepers all in a single paint scheme or split across several?
Looking forward to Friday's delivery. =)
Are the figures the normal GGD Little People or are they more modern looking?
There are 24 unique names and numbers spread across Phase 3 and 6 for the sleepers. Other cars we did less unique names/numbers based on the highest quantity from any single customer.
The little people are the same as always with 10 in each car. Supposed to be anyway.
Glad people are enjoying these. Hats off to Jonathan. He really single handedly delivered and checked the painting and lettering all the way through the process. Even Amtrak (Matt) was involved in the corrections process and sending information as design and production progressed. Looks like we will need to do a rerun of these along with Amfleet IIs and Viewliner Is.
@sdmann posted:There are 24 unique names and numbers spread across Phase 3 and 6 for the sleepers. Other cars we did less unique names/numbers based on the highest quantity from any single customer.
The little people are the same as always with 10 in each car. Supposed to be anyway.
Glad people are enjoying these. Hats off to Jonathan. He really single handedly delivered and checked the painting and lettering all the way through the process. Even Amtrak (Matt) was involved in the corrections process and sending information as design and production progressed. Looks like we will need to do a rerun of these along with Amfleet IIs and Viewliner Is.
Much appreciation to Scott and Jonathan on the project! Hats off to all of the team I have not had the chance to speak with. Looking forward to a future rerun and a chance to complete the run. Might take a few reruns given the scope of this set.
Seconded on the kudos and the call for a second run. I'm holding out hope that I may be fortunate enough to secure a standby unit or two, but I'm already regretting not ordering more ahead of time.
Well done, guys!
Glad people are enjoying these. Hats off to Jonathan. He really single handedly delivered and checked the painting and lettering all the way through the process. Even Amtrak (Matt) was involved in the corrections process and sending information as design and production progressed. Looks like we will need to do a rerun of these along with Amfleet IIs and Viewliner Is.
I'll be the first to put in an order for 5 Amfleet II's and a couple Viewliner I's in Phase VI!
Just got my sleeper--incredible job Scott. As its going to be a display piece for me does anyone know of a source for a plexiglass cover/display box?
@sdmann posted:There are 24 unique names and numbers spread across Phase 3 and 6 for the sleepers. Other cars we did less unique names/numbers based on the highest quantity from any single customer.
The little people are the same as always with 10 in each car. Supposed to be anyway.
Glad people are enjoying these. Hats off to Jonathan. He really single handedly delivered and checked the painting and lettering all the way through the process. Even Amtrak (Matt) was involved in the corrections process and sending information as design and production progressed. Looks like we will need to do a rerun of these along with Amfleet IIs and Viewliner Is.
Yea! Im in for phase VI Viewliner sleepers and Phase VI AmfleetII's!
BTW, the F.B. Amtrak group's smaller scale guys and gals are Jealous of us O scalers right now...until Rapido does them.
These cars are gorgeous! I'm sorry that I don't model AMTRAK. I've ridden on Viewliners since their inception and always liked them. Nice job by Scott.
I know that they're a lot of Amtrak detractors out there and on this forum that think that only passenger trains pre-1971 are worth running on their layouts, but I'm glad to see the unbridled enthusiasm over these GGD Amtrak units these past few months. If the PRR, NYC, Milwaukee Road and others had this much love towards them in the 1960s as they do now, they would have never went belly up.
It's been like a Christmas morning to many.
Is it another 1,237th version of a Warbonnet? Nope. Doesn't have to be. There is a dedicated market out there for Amtrak. Glad Scott and his group took this step.
I started out with heritage trains, then a mixture of heritage cars like early Amtrak, then heritage cars painted for Amtrak now the Amfleets and Viewliners. Tom Marsh, founder Overland Models, 40 years ago told me people model what they remember so the progression to modern Amtrak was inevitable. I watched the Powhatan Arrow in red then blue then stainless steel and blue...........now the red, white and blue of Amtrak. Thank you Scott Mann!!!
@Traindiesel posted:
Those doo dads are the end stirrups that you might want to install for terminal switching. The air line hoses is optional for 3 railers.
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i just got my set.. they look like well the same.
Did anyone on the forum get Phase I, II or IV cars? I'd love to see some photos of those.
I originally had thought about a Phase II set to go with E60s. Then Viewliners got announced and E60s got canceled. Lol.
@sdmann posted:There are 24 unique names and numbers spread across Phase 3 and 6 for the sleepers. Other cars we did less unique names/numbers based on the highest quantity from any single customer.
The little people are the same as always with 10 in each car. Supposed to be anyway.
Glad people are enjoying these. Hats off to Jonathan. He really single handedly delivered and checked the painting and lettering all the way through the process. Even Amtrak (Matt) was involved in the corrections process and sending information as design and production progressed. Looks like we will need to do a rerun of these along with Amfleet IIs and Viewliner Is.
As someone who commutes on the NE Corridor at least a few times a month, these are AWESOME. I'll be getting in on a potential Run #2.
I currently have no Amtrak engines on my layout, but looking out the window leaving Washington Union Station yesterday, I saw several not counting the plethora of old EMD switchers there. Can anyone shed light on which road locos might map to which Amfleet / Viewliner Phases, in real life and what's been done and / or currently available in 3 rail?
As an aside, and I know it would be likely limited interest -- MARC / Bombardier's bi-level cars would be really cool, and I'd sign up for a train of those as they've never been done in O (scale or gauge) to my knowledge.
Beautiful cars. This bodes well for the quality of the upcoming slumber coach. Any chance of more Heritage Equipment for Amtrak?
@GG1 4877 posted:Did anyone on the forum get Phase I, II or IV cars? I'd love to see some photos of those.
I originally had thought about a Phase II set to go with E60s. Then Viewliners got announced and E60s got canceled. Lol.
I ordered one of the Phase I sets, but I still did not get an e-mail to confirm the shipping label yet. I was probably one of the people who payed a little bit later after the first announcement of when they will arrive in America, so I understand.
@BlueFeather posted:I currently have no Amtrak engines on my layout, but looking out the window leaving Washington Union Station yesterday, I saw several not counting the plethora of old EMD switchers there. Can anyone shed light on which road locos might map to which Amfleet / Viewliner Phases, in real life and what's been done and / or currently available in 3 rail?
Amfleet Phase I would match E and F units, Phase 1 SDP40Fs, and Phase II F40PHs(MTH/Lionel). On the corridor, it would go well with Amtrak GG1s (black and Phase I -MTH and Lionel) and Phase II E60s ( no one) They wouldn't match any of the Viewliner Equipment.
Phase II Amfleets would go well with Phase II, III F40PHs (MTH and Lionel), Phase III AEM-7s (MTH), Phase II E60 (no one) , Phase II and III P30CHs (no one), Phase II and III FL9s, and phase I and II SDP40Fs. They still won't match the Viewliners.
Phase III and IV Amfleets and Phase IV Viewliners would look good with Phase III and IV F40PHs, Genesis engines (MTH), AEM-7s (MTH), Dash 8s (MTH and Atlas), HHP-8 (Lionel), E60s (MTH)
Phase VI Amfleets and Viewliners and Phase III (reprised) Viewliner IIs will match Phase V Genesis (MTH), AEM-7 (MTH), HHP-8 (Lionel), ACS-64 (no one...yet), Phase IV and V Dash 8s (MTH and Atlas) and the chargers (no one)
That's all I can think of at this point.
@P42Amtrak83 posted:Amfleet Phase I would match E and F units, Phase 1 SDP40Fs, and Phase II F40PHs(MTH/Lionel). On the corridor, it would go well with Amtrak GG1s (black and Phase I -MTH and Lionel) and Phase II E60s ( no one) They wouldn't match any of the Viewliner Equipment.
Phase II Amfleets would go well with Phase II, III F40PHs (MTH and Lionel), Phase III AEM-7s (MTH), Phase II E60 (no one) , Phase II and III P30CHs (no one), Phase II and III FL9s, and phase I and II SDP40Fs. They still won't match the Viewliners.
Phase III and IV Amfleets and Phase IV Viewliners would look good with Phase III and IV F40PHs, Genesis engines (MTH), AEM-7s (MTH), Dash 8s (MTH and Atlas), HHP-8 (Lionel), E60s (MTH)
Phase VI Amfleets and Viewliners and Phase III (reprised) Viewliner IIs will match Phase V Genesis (MTH), AEM-7 (MTH), HHP-8 (Lionel), ACS-64 (no one...yet), Phase IV and V Dash 8s (MTH and Atlas) and the chargers (no one)
That's all I can think of at this point.
Holy smokes! This is fantastic info, thanks so much! I will need something to pull these after all. ;-)
@GG1 4877 posted:Did anyone on the forum get Phase I, II or IV cars? I'd love to see some photos of those.
I originally had thought about a Phase II set to go with E60s. Then Viewliners got announced and E60s got canceled. Lol.
I ordered the phase I set and a single Phase II coach along with the phase III set....
But Im still waitin...watin ...waitin for the delivery to happen!
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UPS just dropped off my diner and baggage cars. Overall super pleased with them. The interior on the dining car will get some upgrades including painting, removing the partitions between tables, and adding a wall between the kitchen and walkway. All in all, phenomenal cars! Really hoping to pick up a bag/ dorm car and then ready for the Amfleet II and Viewliner I to finish my Crescent circa 2019.
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If you are doing a Crescent as I am shouldn’t we be using Amfleet II cars as they only have one door on each side while Amfleet I cars have two doors on a side. Amtrak ordered the Amfleet II cars for long distance trains. Here is a video of a recent Crescent in Lynchburg, VA.
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Yes and Scott said there will be an upcoming release of them. Nice video!
The 2 rail versions seem to need Kadee #747 medium underset couplers. The couplers pads are otherwise too low for more common center-set couplers. The cars are really nicely done and run very well. BTW, the extra parts are end steps - look at prototype pictures.
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That looks great! I need to try to get mounting pads to convert my 3 rail cars to Kadees.
@VGN64 posted:If you are doing a Crescent as I am shouldn’t we be using Amfleet II cars as they only have one door on each side while Amfleet I cars have two doors on a side. Amtrak ordered the Amfleet II cars for long distance trains. Here is a video of a recent Crescent in Lynchburg, VA.
You are correct that Amfleet II cars serve on the long distance trains. The major differences are larger windows and the single vestibule. Amfleet I cars currently mainly serve the NE Corridor and in Keystone service. However they also were used in San Joaquin Valley service, contract commuter services out of Boston, and some Chicago Corridor routes. Many of those Amfleet I's were replaced with Horizon cars in the Midwest and Amtrak California bi-level cars in California.
Starting in the late 80's Amfleet II coaches and Cafes started replacing Heritage Coaches and Lounges on the Broadway Limited when I was riding it fairly frequently. In all honestly, I always preferred the ride of the Heritage cars. When I was able to get a Slumbercoach berth, that was even better!
Looking forward to the Phase III Slumbercoach as I plan on building the Broadway Limited I am familiar with. Getting close with the cars.
@P42Amtrak83 posted:Amfleet Phase I would match E and F units, Phase 1 SDP40Fs, and Phase II F40PHs(MTH/Lionel). On the corridor, it would go well with Amtrak GG1s (black and Phase I -MTH and Lionel) and Phase II E60s ( no one) They wouldn't match any of the Viewliner Equipment.
Phase II Amfleets would go well with Phase II, III F40PHs (MTH and Lionel), Phase III AEM-7s (MTH), Phase II E60 (no one) , Phase II and III P30CHs (no one), Phase II and III FL9s, and phase I and II SDP40Fs. They still won't match the Viewliners.
Phase III and IV Amfleets and Phase IV Viewliners would look good with Phase III and IV F40PHs, Genesis engines (MTH), AEM-7s (MTH), Dash 8s (MTH and Atlas), HHP-8 (Lionel), E60s (MTH)
Phase VI Amfleets and Viewliners and Phase III (reprised) Viewliner IIs will match Phase V Genesis (MTH), AEM-7 (MTH), HHP-8 (Lionel), ACS-64 (no one...yet), Phase IV and V Dash 8s (MTH and Atlas) and the chargers (no one)
That's all I can think of at this point.
A few corrections if I may be permitted.
- Amtrak also leased PC GG1s prior to that roads demise and some Amtrak GG1s still retained their PRR DGLE Single Stripe with the Amtrak Helvetica white stencil centered under the stripe. The GG1 replaced the original Metroliner cars in Metroliner service and is the only time they were scheduled for 100 mph operation. All Amtrak GG1s were retired in 1981. Amtrak with help, did repaint GG1 4935 into it's PRR DGLE 5 stripe paint scheme in 1977. It ran with this paint until retirement. Since Amfleet cars required Head End Power and GG1s only had steam generators, Amtrak had a small fleet of HEP cars that were either converted coaches or baggage cars. They ran either at the end of the train or just behind the locomotive. In addition to MTH and Lionel, Weaver offered their brass GG1 in Penn Central and Amtrak Phase I paint and Williams has produced the scale GG1 in PC and Amtrak Phase I.
- In addition to Lionel and MTH, K-line made the F40PH in Phase III paint in three numbers. It is very similar to the Lionel offering. Possibly the same tooling although Lionel has stated otherwise.
- SDP40Fs were all built with steam generators and while they may have pulled Amfleet cars, it would only be if they were leading an F40PH that provided the Head End Power to the Amfleet Cars. SDP40Fs were built specifically for long distance trains that at the time consisted of predecessor road steam heated equipment. While most got remanufactured into F40PHS, some SDP40Fs lasted long enough to get painted in Phase III paint. MTH has offered the FP45 in Amtrak Phase I paint in the Railking Scale line, but the SDP40F is really a different locomotive on closer inspection. Athearn has done an excellent SDP40F in HO and Kato one in N scale.
- FL9s were remanufactured for Amtrak in 1978 with HEP generator sets so there are photos of the FL9 in an early Phase III paint scheme pulling Phase II painted Amfleet cars. 3rd Rail made the FL9 around 2013 in the later Phase III paint scheme so it is most appropriate for Phase III painted Amfleet cars. The few other F units that Amtrak inherited were never converted to HEP and were mainly former Southern Pacific FP7s.
- A total of 5 E units were converted to HEP. Most of the E units retained their steam generators for use on long distance steam heated trains.
- Atlas also produced the AEM7 in 1999 in the Phase III paint scheme and it is a wonderful model even though it does not have command.
- Williams has also produced the Genesis locomotives in all the various paint schemes.
@j2morris posted:The 2 rail versions seem to need Kadee #747 medium underset couplers. The couplers pads are otherwise too low for more common center-set couplers. The cars are really nicely done and run very well. BTW, the extra parts are end steps - look at prototype pictures.
Awesome
Beautiful cars. I have Amfleets and Viewliners. Maybe need a few more. The gasket around the windows is great. j2morris, thanks for the coupler recommendation.
The cars arrived yesterday, 09/09. Nice work Scott.
@GG1 4877 posted:Did anyone on the forum get Phase I, II or IV cars? I'd love to see some photos of those.
I originally had thought about a Phase II set to go with E60s. Then Viewliners got announced and E60s got canceled. Lol.
I did get a pair of Phase Is and IIs. I also have IVs coming. Tracking shows delivery Friday. Have a car show this weekend and hopefully can open them up Sunday.
@sdmann posted:Glad people are enjoying these. Hats off to Jonathan. He really single handedly delivered and checked the painting and lettering all the way through the process. Even Amtrak (Matt) was involved in the corrections process and sending information as design and production progressed. Looks like we will need to do a rerun of these along with Amfleet IIs and Viewliner Is.
As someone who was not able to preorder because I was a broke college kid when they were originally announced, I am really hoping that this second run is also done in the modern Amtrak Phase VI paint scheme.
Well Amtrak's marketing department should be happy, after looking at these models I couldn't resist and just booked a weekend Amtrak trip. Thanks for inspiring the memories Scott!