PRR Silverliners and Metroliners

I am interested in both of these models. The rounded windows on the Silverliner I's were just a nice touch to what was otherwise a pretty plain looking train. The Metroliners remain a class until themselves and while not quite the success they were intended to be, they can still be found sans motors and electrical equipment in push pull service.

I would definitely be interested if MTH or Lionel came out with a Silverliner set in PRR,Penn Central and reading and it would be even better if they came out with a Metroliner set in PRR,Penn Central and Amtrak. I know MTH was scheduled to do the Metroliner set in PRR and Amtrak but did not do it due to not enough pre orders. I think it is time for one of the companies to do those sets.

I'd put my hat in the ring for the Silverliners!!

AF

I would love to get PRR Silverliners and Metroliners. The Silverliners could also be done for SEPTA, but I'm not sure SEPTA would grant a license to do so.

I'd also like to get:

Amtrak E60


SEPTA Subway/Elevated sets


SEPTA Kawasaki double or single-end LRV
SEPTA Brill Bullet cars

Penn Central, Amtrak Metroliners
Rail Diesel Cars (RDC) sets (any and all roads)

Don't forget that Silverliners can be done for Conrail, too! Conrail had control of the suburban lines until they were transferred to SEPTA.

Fred

Did Conrail ever put their logo or name on the Silverliners? I remember riding on one of the Silverliner I cars a few years ago that still had "Pennsylvania" above the windows.

I can't speak for the Silverliners, but the CR logo or name never appeared on the NJT similar Arrow cars. They lost their PC logo and simply kept the NJT DOT arrow on the one end of the car. The same was true for all commuter passenger cars in the state.

Williams produced the Metroliner about 10 years ago. I believe that they released PRR, PC, and Amtrak versions. The PRR briefly ran them before the merger.



I remember there being some discussion questioning whether they were ever painted in PRR colors. I don't know if they were scale length.

Jan

Jan,
though they were some Metroliner units with PRR keystones on them, they were the test units. When they finally went into service they were wearing PC.

the Williams version were less than scale length.

Chris,

I knew they were not scale length, but if the rest of their dimensions are scale then you could cut and splice them. I expect that they are 72' instead of 80' to 84', There was a review in CTT in 2001. I have that issue in a box ... somewhere.

Jan

quote:

Did Conrail ever put their logo or name on the Silverliners?

Yes, they did. A Conrail blue square about 2x2 with a white logo and the word CONRAIL set below one of the windows on the cab end. If there was something on the sides, I don't remember. As it is, they were only there for a relative short time before they were conveyed to SEPTA.

Fred

So whatever happened to the group that was going to have a CAD guy do all of these in kit form and RTR form?

that group would be us... the Cherry Valley Model RR Club. if enough people want it, we'll see about having it produced.

someone tell me to start a thread asking for commitments and we'll see who ponys up... with a deposit.

I think we need at least 50 cars, but I'll ask Drew who is leading the project.

quote:

Originally posted by PRR Man:
So whatever happened to the group that was going to have a CAD guy do all of these in kit form and RTR form?

that group would be us... the Cherry Valley Model RR Club. if enough people want it, we'll see about having it produced.

someone tell me to start a thread asking for commitments and we'll see who ponys up... with a deposit.

I think we need at least 50 cars, but I'll ask Drew who is leading the project.

Start the thread, and please be specific about exactly what you are offering.

Namely RTR or kit, including all parts , both for 2 rail scale and 3 rail hi-rail. Without exact information, it will be difficult to get anyone, including myself to advance funds.

Are you going for both Silverliners and Metroliners, or just one or the other?

As I posted in the beginning of this thread, OK Engines probably could provide a scale body for either set of cars.

As a disclaimer I have no stock or options in OK Engines. They simply make a prototypically accurate shell. DO NOT buy anything except the shell if you are going to produce either model.

I am not trying to be negative, just pointing out the need to be very specific. It resolves problems before they occur.

Oh for a spell checker on the Forum.

I can tell you the project was specific for a phase 1 SILVERLINER only as a resin kit. Some club members were interested in getting them and the way to make it feasible was to offer it to others.

If I recall correctly the builder had already done them in HO and was willing to scale up for O scale.

Like before, I'll talk to Drew and he can take the lead if the project is still feasible.

This was for Pioneer I-II-III/Silverliner II Budd-built cars only. No St. Louis cars, no Metroliners here. (Although if these do well, i might consider putting together an order for those later.)

As i recall from my discussions with the builder, the minimum order needed to make the run happen was about 10 cars, at $250 each for a shell and some other parts. This price does NOT currently include the mechanism or assembly, although that might be somewhat negotiable for a slightly higher price.

--Drew

Now, was I seeing things? I did see some silver EMU cars in Philly with a blank for a door in the middle of the car? But I did see pics of them on Jersey units? WAs in the alternate world of FRINGE?

quote:

Originally posted by DominicMazoch:
Now, was I seeing things? I did see some silver EMU cars in Philly with a blank for a door in the middle of the car? But I did see pics of them on Jersey units? WAs in the alternate world of FRINGE?

The Philly cars with the blanked-out center door are the Silverliner IV cars. The Jersey cars are the Arrow I-II-III-IV cars, and do have the center doors installed. (None of which I have any interest in seeing produced as models at this time.)

--Drew

Does anyone have access to blueprints for Metroliners?

If yes how do I obtain a copy?

Thank you in advance for your help.

The closest thing I've seen to Metroliner information for the modeler is in the information in a book I have published on Behalf of the Budd Corp. circa 1981 and in the surprisingly accurate Bachmann HO Metroliners of the early 70's. The original release of those were center drive, 8 wheel drive powered units with metal sprung Faively pantographs that look and operate like the prototype.

Having said that, I'm sure information is available from what remains of Budd or at the State Archives in Pennsylvania. The only intact Metroliner is at the PA state museum and it's a rare cafe car at that. It never got Amtrak paint and sits outside in its original PRR / PC red stripe surrounding the windows.

Joe Acri is probably the researcher to hire in PA if you want to obtain all the available documentation.