Sorry wrong video: This video looked like a diner on tail ? Maybe its just the paint job or the seats ? My mistake.
Clem
Yes those are 2 diners, I'm guessing new ones being positioned or delivered. The 2 combine Viewliners in the video I linked in recent post are probably new deliveries also.
Scott
Speaking of combine Viewliners, I wonder if those will be added to the GGD order list?
Hey Scott GGD What Vistadome Scott said !
I'd potentially be interested in the Viewliner cars if Scott would do Amfleet IIs. People have been asking for those since this project got announced and I can't figure out why they haven't been offered!
Here's some photos of the new baggage dorm cars and diners in the three stripe Amtrak America phase 3 scheme.
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GG1 4877 posted:Mike,
It will get straightened out. The design matrix for GP7s and 9s needs to get done to go to the factory within a week and then Scott and I will be talking about the cars / sets along with others who are involved in the project. They will all be done now. There won't be a second run of these if I were a betting person (I'm not).
Just a little more patience. I know it's been a long wait!
Checking back to see if there is a better estimate on updating the reservation listings on the website?
Yes a detailed spreadsheet of exactly which cars are being produced in which paint schemes (with pictures to avoid confusion on phases) would be really helpful!
Thanks.
I THINK these will all be Viewliner II cars, including the sleepers and the diner and does include all the new variations of Viewliner IIs. The issue with the Viewliner Is is all the underframe detail. And don't suggest simplifying the underframe for the Is unless you are willing to put money in the game to get them done, I'm not. The underframe detail is all hidden on the IIs which has made this project more feasible.
The decoration will be appropriate for Viewliner II cars regardless of what name it is given.
Chargers or Sprinters are on the maybe list. Many people are concerned about getting cars without an appropriate locomotive OR getting an locomotive for which there are no appropriate cars, they want complete trains ala the Rockets. Other Amtrak locomotives are NOT on the maybe list.
Metroliners are also on the maybe list, both Amtrak and Pennsylvania BUT as a separate project. You may think they could be done together but the builder disagrees.
For all of these options, if they are not on the order form e-mail Scott specifically what you want to reserve. That does help with ferreting out details. Do it this way if you want to only order a set contingent upon a Charger or Sprinter being available for a complete set. Or if you would want to reserve a Charger or Sprinter separately. We're kinda shooting in the dark with this part.
Scott is pretty liberal with payment options until abused and then hardball only for those people who do abuse the option.
Have the Viewliners been posted about in the main 3 rail forum? I feel like there are a good number of scale guys in there who aren't into the Kadees and don't check this side
Will Ebbert posted:Have the Viewliners been posted about in the main 3 rail forum? I feel like there are a good number of scale guys in there who aren't into the Kadees and don't check this side
Yes, I did post there. There were no replies.
rdunniii posted:I THINK these will all be Viewliner II cars, including the sleepers and the diner and does include all the new variations of Viewliner IIs. The issue with the Viewliner Is is all the underframe detail. And don't suggest simplifying the underframe for the Is unless you are willing to put money in the game to get them done, I'm not. The underframe detail is all hidden on the IIs which has made this project more feasible.
The decoration will be appropriate for Viewliner II cars regardless of what name it is given.
Chargers or Sprinters are on the maybe list. Many people are concerned about getting cars without an appropriate locomotive OR getting an locomotive for which there are no appropriate cars, they want complete trains ala the Rockets. Other Amtrak locomotives are NOT on the maybe list.
Metroliners are also on the maybe list, both Amtrak and Pennsylvania BUT as a separate project. You may think they could be done together but the builder disagrees.
For all of these options, if they are not on the order form e-mail Scott specifically what you want to reserve. That does help with ferreting out details. Do it this way if you want to only order a set contingent upon a Charger or Sprinter being available for a complete set. Or if you would want to reserve a Charger or Sprinter separately. We're kinda shooting in the dark with this part.
Scott is pretty liberal with payment options until abused and then hardball only for those people who do abuse the option.
Done, my reservations are sent directly to Scott, including some SC44 locomotives for Amtrak Midwest.
Request / Suggestion for GGD : could these cars have the same finish as the GGD Empire State Express set? Those cars really look like stainless steel without being too shiney like some plated cars by other manufacturers tend to look.
I just found a sweet deal on a set of ESE cars by GGD and they are awesome looking cars. I like the finish on these better than the Silver Meteor finish.
I second Scott’s suggestion. MTH is a good example of cars being too shiny. The real cars are old and beat to crap. Still sort of shiny, but only when light really hits them.
VistaDomeScott posted:Request / Suggestion for GGD : could these cars have the same finish as the GGD Empire State Express set? Those cars really look like stainless steel without being too shiney like some plated cars by other manufacturers tend to look.
I just found a sweet deal on a set of ESE cars by GGD and they are awesome looking cars. I like the finish on these better than the Silver Meteor finish.
Are you willing to pay twice the price? I agree they looked great but the extrusions had a 70% reject rate from the plating. So that got trashed. Rejected meaning the extrusions were only good for melting down and reextruding not just replating.
Scott and I had a chat this weekend regarding Amtrak decoration phases. I think we agreed upon the Viewliner II being labeled on the reservation page as "Phase III Amtrak America".
He is considering Viewliner I sleepers and the Viewliner I diner (if there are sufficient reservations) which would come in the Phase V or the Phase VI, which appear to be the same except the former has the Amtrak logo and phase VI which has the Service Mark. The stripe widths may be slightly different but we're talking about the wide blue stripe. Apparently Amtrak does not discriminate for variations of a phase. Very confusing to me.
I really hoped for Viewliner 1 Sleepers and diners in their delivery phase 3 scheme with the original Viewliner logo. Being the launch Viewliners I would suggest these offered. If the effort is made to produce both series 1 and 2 of the car types, why not offer the launch paint scheme and logo?
What happened to the possibility of the baggage dorm (combine) cars?
RDUNNIII, I had not previously heard of the problems with the Empire State Express finishes. I am glad to have a set of these moreso now knowing this.
I'm pretty sure the baggage dorm will be added to the list.
Presumably you fellas are sending photos to Scott with the various paint schemes/lettering/logos you want. How about posting them here with the terminology you use here when discussing the various models you wish him to make.
Richard and I spent several hours last Saturday discussing the schemes and offering and nomenclature.
1. Amfleet I Cars, Phase 1-4 is straight forward and well documented. Eventually, we will offer Amfleet II cars, but lets walk before we run. I won't advertise them until the Amfleet I project is done.
2. Viewliner IIs will be Baggage/Dorm, Diner, Sleeper. These will come in Phase IV and VI (Also known as IVb, with Amtrak America Logo). Viewliner IIs can easily be identified with their underbody detail covered.
I am not an Amtrak expert. I rely on you, my voracious customers, wanting accurate and scale cars to go behind your locomotives. Yes, we may consider Locos in the future, but doing a single road project means low quantities and higher unit prices. So lets see what customers need are to make both the car and loco offerings more exciting.
Other special cars will be offered as time goes on. I am listing.
Do send me your pictures and links, and if you took pictures yourself, you can post them here, but not other's artwork unless you have their written permission. It's a different world now.
As far as our stainless steel finish, we switched from a nickel plated process for the early 2000s Empire State Express, to a painted process on the first Santa Fe Super Chief just 2 years later. When the factory sent me samples to choose from, I couldn't tell the difference between a painted sample and plated, so I was sold (by the factory). It's much easier to match dissimilar details parts such as brass castings, etchings, plastic injection and aluminum extrusion used on our models with a single paint process. It's a metallic paint with a satin clear coat. Been doing it that way for 20 years.
I am open to your suggestions...
I am so confused about the different cars and paint schemes. 
I would like to see any of the correct paint schemes and cars, running between Albany and Chicago in the past five years. 
Two coffee cups on my shelf from 1996, Viewliner memorabilia. Got the Crescent cup on the train as a complimentary gift for riding in the sleepers. The other cup is from the "Twighlight Shoreliner" service a former overnight sleeper on the northeast corridor. 
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Correction:
Viewliner II: Baggage, Baggage/Dorm, Diner, Sleeper (Phase IV and VI (IVb) "Amtrak America"
Scott
OK. Here's an overview of the different phases of Viewliner paint schemes and body styles. I am not an Amtrak expert, but nobody else has put forth a nice comparison so I will attempt to. If I get anything wrong, let me know and I will change it, but this is what I know to be correct.
Body Styles:
Viewliner I- built in 1995-1996, these primarily consist of 50 sleepers. There were a couple oddballs including a diner (Indianapolis) and some observation cars, but this production was basically just sleepers. Some of the sleepers have names in the River series (ie Croton River, Mississippi River, etc) while most are currently unnamed. These cars are distinguished by the exposed underbody equipment.
Viewliner II- built 2012-present, the first of this order seen were baggage cars to replace the heritage equipment. These baggage cars arrived in 2014 and 2015. The next to arrive were the diners which are all named after cities (ie Boston, Augusta, etc). The diners were delivered 2016-2019. In 2019, new baggage/crew dormitory combo cars were delivered for select trains including the Crescent. These cars alot roughly 60% of the space for crew quarters, freeing up a lot of room for paying passengers in the sleepers, but at the expense of much needed luggage space. New sleepers should be coming soon as production continues, but the entire order of Viewliner II's was supposed to be delivered by 2015. Viewliner II's are distinguished by the skirting that covers the underbody equipment.
Paint Schemes:
Phase III- Introduced in 1976, what the Viewliner I's were originally delivered in. Large, equidistant red, white, and blue stripes. The Viewliner I's also had large Viewliner script lettering and small block Amtrak lettering. The new Viewliner II equipment has all been delivered in a modified version of this scheme with the addition of a red reflective stripe at the bottom of the car per FRA requirements and use of the "Amtrak America" Travel Mark logo.
Phase IV- Introduced in 1993, featuring a massive blue stripe with small red and white stripes on top. Has bold Amtrak lettering in block text.
Phase VI- Introduced in 2002 and currently worn by all Amfleets, Superliners and Viewliner I cars. Most railfans call this IVb because the only major difference is the use of the Travel Mark logo rather than bold Amtrak text.
Below are photos with captions noting the body style and paint scheme. I don't have photos of all paint schemes so you'll just have to use Google for info on those. I hope this is helpful and clears up the confusion!
Left: Viewliner II Baggage in Phase III paint, Right: Viewliner I sleeper in Phase VI paint
Viewliner II Diner in Phase III paint
Viewliner I Sleeper in Phase VI paint
Viewliner II Baggage in Phase III paint
Viewliner I Sleeper (Croton River) in Phase VI paint
Left two: Viewliner I Sleepers in Phase VI paint, Right: Viewliner II Diner in Phase III paint
Left: Viewliner II Diner in Phase III paint, Right Three: Viewliner I Sleepers in Phase VI paint
Left: Viewliner I Sleeper in Phase VI paint, Right: Viewliner II Baggage in Phase III paint
Viewliner II Bag Dorm in Phase III paint
Viewliner II Bag Dorm in Phase III paint
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So the new baggage and baggage dorm only has one (1) paint scheme correct ?
clem k posted:So the new baggage and baggage dorm only has one (1) paint scheme correct ?
Correct
Whoo Hooo! I just got the email newsletter from Scott Mann regarding this project! There are enough orders now to push forward with it. In his newsletter he has clarified the paint schemes on the view liners and added the baggage and the baggage dorm.
Cars WILL be me out of aluminum and will be viewfinder II. He stated The future for VIEWLINER I production looks good as well.
Looking at The end of year/ early next year production and delivery of these cars. If anyone is on the fence and DC DC oednt order, they will be Sorry they missed out!
Could you please post that email in here? No matter how many times I sign up to get the emails I never do. Thanks!
Here is Scott's Email:
Dear Valued GGD Customer:
After announcing these cars are to be made by Aluminum instead of
plastic, and adding the Viewliner IIs to the mix, we have received
enough reservations to schedule design, tooling and production.
The design is currently underway for these cars and we are
solidifying the paint schemes we will produce. There was some
confusion in the first announcement of the Viewliner IIs, so let me
clear it up. (I was mostly to blame for the confusion.)
Amfleet I: We are making Cafe, Dinette, Club and Coach: Each will be
made in Phase I - 4 Livery. That has not changed.
Viewliner II: We will make the Baggage, Baggage / Dorm, Diner and
Sleeper. Here is where things have changed a little. The picture I
showed previously on our web site was the Viewliner I in Phase 6,
also known as 4b, with the wide blue stripe and small white and red
stripes above. We will not be making the Viewliner I in this run, but
we may in coming years. The only major difference between Viewliner
I and II is that the underbody detail is covered by a metal sheet.
We will be offering the 4 types of Viewliner IIs in Phase 3 (3 equal
strips of Red, White and Blue) and 6 (also known as 4b, Large Blue
Stripe with Narrow White and Red Stripes Above).
We have moved all reservations for the Phase 4 Viewliner IIs to Phase
6 Viewliner IIs to keep our nomenclature on these straight. I hope
this clears up some of the confusion as to how we will decorate these
cars. We will release more details of the painting and lettering as
to how the Amtrak logos are displayed and any options there of that
will come to light.
So for now, your reservations are intact on the basic cars you have
reserved and we will be planning production based on your
reservations. We will send you an invoice in the coming months to
confirm your order, so don't worry right now, we can make changes at
that point, probably this summer. Just know that we are now going
forward with this project and hope to be delivering these late this
year, to early next.
Keep an eye on our web site for updates to this project. I want to
thank those of you that straightened me out on a lot of these
details. The project will be better for it.
http://www.goldengatedepot.com...rvation.html#AMFLEET
Keep Safe,
Best Regards,
Scott Mann
sdmann@3rdrail.com
Your best choice for model trains.
http://www.3rdrail.com
For anyone following the Amfleet I project as well, first draft factory drawings came out Friday and were reviewed yesterday. Corrections as always on the first round, but over the are generally in good shape.
Thanks Jonathan!
So based on this email, there's no Phase VI (IVb) amfleets (phase 4 stripes w/ the wave logo) to be made? That was discussed as being added at one point in the past... I know a number of us have been sitting and waiting for that option to be put on the order form, but I guess its not going to happen now.
Those cars are needed to build a complete train set with the modern (2016+) viewliner II's. Without it, you're basically making 2 independent projects that cannot be paired together. Doesn't make much sense.
The email refers to Viewliners only. Phase IVb or Phase VI depending on who you talk too will be available in Amfleet cars. There will be a website update overall from what I understand to correct that.
For me personally, I think I will go full fantasy and run phase III Amfleet with the Viewliner IIs I have yet to order and pull it with F40PHs. Not normally how I would do it, but it's my railroad 
.
GG1 4877 posted:The email refers to Viewliners only. Phase IVb or Phase VI depending on who you talk too will be available in Amfleet cars. There will be a website update overall from what I understand to correct that.
For me personally, I think I will go full fantasy and run phase III Amfleet with the Viewliner IIs I have yet to order and pull it with F40PHs. Not normally how I would do it, but it's my railroad
The email specifically refers to the amfleets:
Amfleet I: We are making Cafe, Dinette, Club and Coach: Each will be
made in Phase I - 4 Livery. That has not changed.
Viewliners without the coaches is half a train (I realize they should be amfleet II's but I'm overlooking that on purpose).
Its a lot of money to spend on half a train without knowing if the other half is coming....
I guess I need to read the email that came out again. Reading is FUNdamental. Lol. Phase IVb Amfleets are being done. How do I know? I spent an hour on the phone with Scott Saturday discussing this.
We will chat again. Still time as first draft design drawings only came out Saturday.
OOOPPPS!!!
OK, I think I got this...
I added Amfleet I, Coaches and Cafe Cars in the Phase VI (also known as Phase 4b) to our on-line order form.
Phase VI (6) scheme is the same as 4 with the Amtrak 3 wave logo added. (I don't know what you guys call it) Website is updated, you can request to have your Amfleet 4s changed to 6s to match the Viewliner II 6s. Hit the reload button to see the updated page.
I will send the same email out again, with this correction.
http://www.goldengatedepot.com/reservation.htm#AMFLEET
Time for a beer. It's after 12 somewhere in the US, isn't it?
Scott
I seem to recall saying this would be interesting as Amtrak doesn't even have a definitive description of which is which.
sdmann posted:
So then it is agreed that the Viewliner II scheme is called just Phase III? There is no Phase IIIb? Sounds good to me.
