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@VGN64 posted:

Judging by the Amfleet Is and Viewliners I can't see Scott not doing the Amfleet IIs and Superliners.  There is inflation, supply chain and the effect the Ukraine will have on our dealings with China.  I don't envy Scott's position at all.

While I understand why you would be concerned (television reporters do a great job at creating concern), I can tell you that the global logistics issues are already in the rear-view at my company and many others who deal with manufacturing in Asia.

Inflation is not nearly as big as a problem as the current news client makes it seem. Inflation always has happened and always will happen -it's niether new nor a crisis. It's just a buzz word. I've been around for nearly 40 years and we've had inflation the entire time. In fact, it was far worse in the late 80's and early 90's. I wrote my thesis on it. We still got our trains.

I also doubt the war in Ukraine will affect our dealings with China. They have been sending my company production samples and signing contracts all month. Ultimately, people want our busniess. Without us buying crap, their economy slows. our economy doesn't rely on Russia for much other than transition metals.

I don't mean to turn this into a differnt type of forum, but I studied economics (and war) for way longer than I should have, so I figured I'd ease your fears

Last edited by CharmCityAirLine
@VGN64 posted:

My fertilizer prices are up 100%from last year and beef on the hoof prices aren’t going up and where they were 20 years ago. All this cuts into my train money!!!

Yes, I've been tracking that. Fertilizer was getting expensive before the war but boy did the war make things worse! I'm seeing 500% increases in parts of Africa (on fertilizer and wheat).

Apparently it's really hard to restart ammonia factories. So even when all of this settles a bit, the shockwaves will be felt for a long time.

Last edited by CharmCityAirLine

Yes, I've been tracking that. Fertilizer was getting expensive before the war but boy did the war make things worse! I'm seeing 500% increases in parts of Africa (on fertilizer and wheat).

Apparently it's really hard to restart ammonia factories. So even when all of this settles a bit, the shockwaves will be felt for a long time.

And I've read there is a new mountain of safety regulations and restrictions on "new" anhydrous ammonia production, storage and distribution because of the ease of turning it into bombs.

Last edited by rdunniii
@Will Ebbert posted:

Well it looks like Viewliners, Amfleets, and Superliners are all coming in one big batch next spring. I was really expecting them to be separate releases so this will be quite the hit to my wallet but I'm excited to have more Amtrak equipment in the way.

Very exciting news! I'm looking forward to my Superliner set and my chargers. Hopefully I can get a Superliner II transition someday.

All I need now are some Amfleet IIs to go with the Viewliners!

@P42Amtrak83 posted:

Very exciting news! I'm looking forward to my Superliner set and my chargers. Hopefully I can get a Superliner II transition someday.

All I need now are some Amfleet IIs to go with the Viewliners!

Agreed on both counts! I'd like a transition sleeper and a couple other Superliner IIs just to make the consist more accurate and then I need 4 Amfleet II coaches to complete my east coast train. I'd hate to be left high and dry with a bunch of Viewliners... Curious when the P42s and Chargers will arrive.

@Will Ebbert posted:

Agreed on both counts! I'd like a transition sleeper and a couple other Superliner IIs just to make the consist more accurate and then I need 4 Amfleet II coaches to complete my east coast train. I'd hate to be left high and dry with a bunch of Viewliners... Curious when the P42s and Chargers will arrive.

There's an Overland Brass transition sleeper on that famous auction website at the moment.

I'm looking forward to some viewliners, P42s, and chargers... but definitely not at the same time! I'm almost broke!

I thought about splitting the order with Is and IIs, but when I get my Superliner Is, I want to run them with a complete set. They're too nice to sit in the box while I wait for IIs. I'm quite excited to see them.

I suppose I kind of did that with the Viewliners while waiting for the Amfleet IIs. I suppose I should have ordered a handful of Amfleets Is.

@rdunniii posted:

In the FWIW column the Superliners and 2nd run Amfleets and Viewliners did very well.  Contrarily the P42s and Chargers are heading towards cancellation if the reservations do not improve.

Didn’t realize they were having trouble getting reservations. Got a few more I’d order to boost numbers. These could be the best ones offered by a mile.

I’m also really sorry to hear this. This is the first I’ve heard that they were at risk. Lord knows I’ve ordered a wide selection of both the P42 and Chargers for myself. In point of fact, I passed up the atlas Genesis run specifically because I knew these would be the best.

Last edited by Rafi

P42s are more definitely going forward.  They are in design now.  The hardest part has been finding accurate information on them to assist the design team in preparing the 3D models.

Chargers are supposed to run at the same time pending me getting information to design so they can start that project too.  However, more orders will move those projects up in the que no question.

On a side note, I have reviewed Phase III Slumbercoaches and they are outstanding.  Can't wait to receive those!

Unlike the GE P42s that would go with passenger cars from Golden Gate Depot or other O-Scale importers, are there matching passenger cars to go with the Siemens Chargers?

Here, in the Midwest, Chargers in the Amtrak Midwest scheme, seem to run with matching Venture passenger cars. For the first few years, when they were still testing these Chargers, I had seen them in consists with Amtrak Horizon & Amfleet cars but are being replaced over the last few years with the Venture cars.

I am interested in the Chargers, in the Midwest scheme, but I am waiting for the matching Venture cars to be offered by any O-Scale importer.

These are just my opinion,

Naveen Rajan

@naveenrajan posted:

Unlike the GE P42s that would go with passenger cars from Golden Gate Depot or other O-Scale importers, are there matching passenger cars to go with the Siemens Chargers?

Here, in the Midwest, Chargers in the Amtrak Midwest scheme, seem to run with matching Venture passenger cars. For the first few years, when they were still testing these Chargers, I had seen them in consists with Amtrak Horizon & Amfleet cars but are being replaced over the last few years with the Venture cars.

I am interested in the Chargers, in the Midwest scheme, but I am waiting for the matching Venture cars to be offered by any O-Scale importer.

These are just my opinion,

Naveen Rajan

Maybe one day we will see the Venture or Airo cars offered. I’m really looking forward to the Midwest scheme as well.

https://www.amtrak.com/amtrak-airo

@vash44 posted:

Maybe one day we will see the Venture or Airo cars offered. I’m really looking forward to the Midwest scheme as well.

https://www.amtrak.com/amtrak-airo

Well here’s what been rolling thru my Kirkwood Mo. Amtrak station  (SW St. Louis) -  Midwest Charger and new cars.

849B4F61-9E86-4755-AF97-8F5EF944E0F6

“Midwest” paint scheme

95504780-CCD1-411E-9D1D-6A9ECDD0656F

Think Charger reservations would jump if Scott would offer these new cars we are seeing on Amtrak ??? 😮🫢😋🫣🤔🤔🤔 Would the new Passenger cars reserve well ??? 🤔🤔🤔

You know the drill ……. Email Scott if you want to see these cars offered.  !!!!!!!

Cheers😜

These pictures are mine.

Attachments

Images (2)
  • 849B4F61-9E86-4755-AF97-8F5EF944E0F6: Amtrak Charger - Midwest
  • 95504780-CCD1-411E-9D1D-6A9ECDD0656F: New Amtrak Passenger Car
Last edited by TrainBub
@GG1 4877 posted:

P42s are more definitely going forward.  They are in design now.  The hardest part has been finding accurate information on them to assist the design team in preparing the 3D models.

Chargers are supposed to run at the same time pending me getting information to design so they can start that project too.  However, more orders will move those projects up in the que no question.

On a side note, I have reviewed Phase III Slumbercoaches and they are outstanding.  Can't wait to receive those!

If the Chargers need a bit of time for reservations to “mature” - firm up a bit, perhaps we could see the run 2 of the SD7, 9s offered after the SD40-2s wraps up their production. 🤔  

Cheers 😉

Last edited by TrainBub

I really hope orders increase so that the Charger gets made! Idk if I’m surprised or not that the P-42 has more orders. That said, there are no O scale, TMCC equipped Amtrak P-42. For those buyers who run only TMCC or Legacy, I could see the appeal of the P-42,  possibly increased in light of the release by Atlas O with Proto 3. On my layout I have the Legacy base/Cab2, TMCC  w/ Cab 1, and MTH TIU Rev L w/ the handheld remote. That said, I haven’t purchased an MTH proto 2.0 or Proto 3.0 since May 2021(Amtrak F40PH in surfliner livery).

anyway, regarding what I DID order. I CANNOT wait for the Phase 3 Slumber Coach! that’ll give me three single level sleepers!  Also ordered a phase VI Amfleet coach, Viewliner 2 Ph3 Baggage and a Viewliner 2 Ph3 sleeper(make that 4!). finally, and most importantly , I reserved the transition coach-dormHi-Level(?). Currently Have three 21” Phase IV K-Line superliner, but only an 18” transition car, so this addition will be most welcome!

keep up the good work, GGD!

I'm surprised the Chargers haven't out-reserved the P42s considering the newness of the engines themselves. The Chargers can be seen anywhere in the country with a variety of road names as well.

I second a request for Venture cars. The Airo cars should be similar or even identical to those. I'd take a whole Airo Trainsets with an ALC-42E as well.

Regardless,

Are the Chargers close to proceeding, or is there a big deficit in reservations? If the gap is close, perhaps some forum members could be convinced to close the gap.

@P42Amtrak83 posted:

I'm surprised the Chargers haven't out-reserved the P42s considering the newness of the engines themselves. The Chargers can be seen anywhere in the country with a variety of road names as well.

I second a request for Venture cars. The Airo cars should be similar or even identical to those. I'd take a whole Airo Trainsets with an ALC-42E as well.

Regardless,

Are the Chargers close to proceeding, or is there a big deficit in reservations? If the gap is close, perhaps some forum members could be convinced to close the gap.

Personally, I'm not surprised. The P42's and Genesis locomotives in general have been around for over 30 years and are one of Amtrak most used locomotives, and so far the only scale-length example that was made in 3-rail was the MTH one. I actually had one of the original ones they did with PS1, and although I will always respect the design, I ended up selling it because I decided that it could've been better detailed and probably just needed to be replaced with a new tooling in general. I don't need fixed pilots, because I always like to have the ability to still make O31 curves, as ridiculous as it would look, but even with the latest release by Atlas, the actual model just looks outdated IMO. I can't get the 3rd Rail version at this time, but I will expect it to basically crush the MTH/Atlas version, at least in terms of visuals.

@StevefromPA posted:

I really hope orders increase so that the Charger gets made! Idk if I’m surprised or not that the P-42 has more orders. That said, there are no O scale, TMCC equipped Amtrak P-42. For those buyers who run only TMCC or Legacy, I could see the appeal of the P-42,  possibly increased in light of the release by Atlas O with Proto 3. On my layout I have the Legacy base/Cab2, TMCC  w/ Cab 1, and MTH TIU Rev L w/ the handheld remote. That said, I haven’t purchased an MTH proto 2.0 or Proto 3.0 since May 2021(Amtrak F40PH in surfliner livery).

anyway, regarding what I DID order. I CANNOT wait for the Phase 3 Slumber Coach! that’ll give me three single level sleepers!  Also ordered a phase VI Amfleet coach, Viewliner 2 Ph3 Baggage and a Viewliner 2 Ph3 sleeper(make that 4!). finally, and most importantly , I reserved the transition coach-dormHi-Level(?). Currently Have three 21” Phase IV K-Line superliner, but only an 18” transition car, so this addition will be most welcome!

keep up the good work, GGD!

Agreed. I ordered 2 GGD P42s specifically for the TMCC. Obviously, they're also going to be beautifully detailed, but I wanted TMCC locos to use in conjunction with my Atlas O Amtrak power and my cabbages. For now, I switch between apps when running an MTH P42 on a train with a Legacy cabbage. I didn't care for the shorties offered by Lionel. With the GGD engines, I'll also be able to run the Capitol Limited with P42s paired with Dash8s

I've been a bit slow on the draw, but I expect to pull the trigger on a Charger in Amtrak and one in Metro-North this year.

It's a bit of a dilemma, I could see situations where a future Amtrak consist would rate doubled-up Chargers, but the thought of having three $800-ish locos coming due in one shot is a trifle intimidating on an order of magnitude greater than those five Viewliners I bought (I 'm in the habit of paying off my plastic in full every month). I have plenty of Genesis locos, but those are of course all DCS, so no MU-ing any of those with a Charger other than a "stunt" consist,  where I run the train with two remotes.  So far as Metro-North, this would be my only (?) chance at getting a current-era Metro-North unit around the time they're taking delivery of their Chargers, and since no prototypical M-N consist rates double-headed power, their being TMCC isn't an issue.

---PCJ

I've got one MetroNorth P32 on order, and a complete set of Comet cars from Atlas as well.  Depending on where my finances are when they lock in the P32/42 orders, I may add a second one.

I'm really looking forward to it.  This is my first 3rd Rail order, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a fantastic model of the trains my family would ride into NYC (from the Hudson Valley).  I never quite understood the "modeling the trains you grew up around" thing as a kid but now that I've lived 600 miles away for several years, I get it.

I've considered ordering a Charger, but I've yet to see any in the real world, and don't really have that connection to them.

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