@VistaDomeScott posted:That car was side swiped by something.. see the scuffs to the left of the doors on the red stripes. Likely rubbed by some ground equipment when servicing.
Is it possible that it could have happened while being washed? Way back in the 1980's the Chief got washed by a forklift fitted with a scrubbing brush during the 20-minute Albuquerque service stop. Not sure if they do that anymore as it's been well over 30 years since I rode that train.
@GG1 4877 posted:Interesting to see how quickly the paint has faded on the Viewliner striping. These cars have only been in service for about 4 years. Which train is this, the Zephyr or the Chief? Interesting to see two full baggage cars. Thinking I should have ordered another one now!
Jonathan,
All these photos were taken on Saturday, June 29, at the Amtrak station in Galesburg, IL.
Baggage Car, 61027 was on the westbound, California Zephyr.
Baggage Cars, 61013 & 61038, were on the westbound, Southwest Chief. This train was unusually long with 3, GE, P42 locomotives, up-front, many sleeper cars and 2, Superliner, Sightseer Lounges, one mid-train, and another at the tail end.
Galesburg holds a carnival, on the last weekend of every June, and with BNSF being the main employer, involving the former Burlington Northern classification / hump yard, they are heavily involved, giving tours, even inside their maintenance facility and hump tower, along with static displays, with locomotives, sometimes freight cars and Maintenance-Of-Way equipment at the Amtrak station. I have photos of myself and my daughter, in front of a BNSF locomotive from when she was 9 months old to now, 11 years, except for 2 of the last 12 years.
These are just my opinion,
Naveen Rajan
@GG1 4877 posted:Probably true. I'll need to ask that question when I reach out Amtrak's brand manager this weekend on another project.
I was just at Beechgrove When I watched striping rolled out on an Amfleet II car.
@GG1 4877 posted:Probably true. I'll need to ask that question when I reach out Amtrak's brand manager this weekend on another project.
Jonathan, "another project" sounds very interesting. Curiosity here. Amtrak cars from the Southern series?
@bigboy25 posted:Can we try and put together a list of all of the roadnumbers associated with each type and phase? I'll start with the information that I have based on what I purchased and what I know a friend got. Feel free to share what car you got and your associated roadnum and I'll update the tables as we go.
* I haven't seen the box end for the amfleets yet, so I don't know how many were made of each possible type.
Some further details for your reference table
Also a box shot end for you
Viewliners:
Sleeper Phase VI, Name 4 - 62522 Trout River
Sleeper Phase VI, Name 2 - Roanoke River 62507
Sleeper Phase III, Name 2 - Raritan River 62504
Sleeper Phase III, Name 1 - Schuykill River 62516
Baggage Phase III, Name 2 - 61004
Baggage Phase III, Name 4 - 61069
Baggage Phase VI, Name 3 - Viewliner 61018
Baggage Phase VI, Name 2 - Viewliner 61009
Bag/Dorm Phase III, Name 1 - Bag Dorm 69008
Bag/Dorm Phase VI, Name 1 - Viewliner 69001
Diner Phase VI, Name 3 - Richmond 62022
Diner Phase III, Name 1 - Albany 6800
Amfleets:
Coach Phase VI Extra 6 - 82602
Cafe Phase VI Extra 3 - 48195
Set 1, Phase VI - Coach 2 82759, Coach 82516, Cafe 48140, Dinette 41819, Club 48154
Superliners:
Sleeper Phase VI Extra 4 - 32035
Coach Phase VI Extra 7 - 34084
Set 1, Phase VI - Coach/Bag 31004, Coach 34010, Diner 38006, Sleeper 32004, Sightseer lounge 33004
Well against any semblance of good financial judgement, after getting my Superliners and Viewliners, I asked Scott to put me on the standby list for Amfleet coaches in case the Amfleet IIs never come to fruition. Four cars came available so I bit the bullet and bought them. I now have complete and mostly accurate consists for east coast and west coast long distance trains. Overall the Amfleet coaches are just as nice as the rest of the run, my only real comment on them is that I was a little disappointed with some of the underbody detail. Whereas the Viewliner underbodies have etched brass parts, the Amfleets are all molded plastic and the compressor is a little crude in my opinion. Still hoping for Amfleet IIs and Superliner IIs one day, but for now I'm very happy to be able to run modern versions of the California Zephyr and the Crescent! Thanks again to Scott, Jonathan, and everyone else involved for making these trains happen!
I know I promised a rundown of car names and / or numbers. I forgot how many there were! On Amfleets alone there are 6 numbers each for both food service cars and coaches and they are different for each phase. If I can do math that's 60 numbers alone on the Amfleet cars. Viewliners had 12 names for Phase VI sleepers as I recall and upwards of 4 to 6 numbers / names for the other cars.
Apologies. If I can squeeze out some time, I'll post it all this weekend. I thought was on a spreadsheet and I think Superliners are, but I did the Amfleets and Viewliners by hand on paper. Sometimes old school just works better for me until I need to recall it all later and I can't find the paper. 
My cars finally arrived today! I'm so excited! A set of Phase III and VI Superliners plus a few Phase VI coaches and a Cafe to go with my Viewliners. Now I have a mostly complete Southwest Chief from the late 80's as I'll use my Phase I painted El Cap Amtrak transition coach to sub for the coach-dorm until the true Phase III ones are run.
The Phase VI cars and the Viewliners from run 1 are patiently waiting for Genesis and Charger locomotives sometime next year although I do have a 40th Anniversary MTH P42 that can pull at least some of the cars if not all of them.
Photos this weekend hopefully if I can stand to go out in this heat.
I've finally joined the party, late but here nonetheless. Missed out on the previous releases when I left O so now I'm trying to catch up.
Received 4 Viewliner II's - all Phase VI - from Scott today 
and took some photos before heading out for the evening. Absolute works of art. My initial roster is:
No locomotive to pull them yet, but that will come. For the Amfleets, I will have to get those second hand . The question is, how do I renumber one of the coaches to 25124?
@Amfleet25124 posted:I've finally joined the party, late but here nonetheless. Missed out on the previous releases when I left O so now I'm trying to catch up.
Received 4 Viewliner II's - all Phase VI - from Scott today
- 62501 Sleeper "Potomac River"
- 62515 Sleeper "Savannah River"
- 68017 Diner "Montgomery"
- 69007 Baggage/Dormitory
No locomotive to pull them yet, but that will come. For the Amfleets, I will have to get those second hand . The question is, how do I renumber one of the coaches to 25124?
Which MTH 40th anniversary one do you have by any chance?
@DashingDanLIRR posted:Which MTH 40th anniversary one do you have by any chance?
Sorry Dan, I don't understand what you mean by MTH 40th Anniversary one. Can you please clarify?
@Amfleet25124 posted:Sorry Dan, I don't understand what you mean by MTH 40th Anniversary one. Can you please clarify?
Apologies I quoted the wrong post sorry!
@Amfleet25124 posted:Sorry Dan, I don't understand what you mean by MTH 40th Anniversary one. Can you please clarify?
I think Dan meant to quote me. I have the Phase III 40th Anniversary P42. You can see in this photo of my shelves for lonely trains without boxes.
@GG1 4877 posted:I know I promised a rundown of car names and / or numbers. I forgot how many there were! On Amfleets alone there are 6 numbers each for both food service cars and coaches and they are different for each phase. If I can do math that's 60 numbers alone on the Amfleet cars. Viewliners had 12 names for Phase VI sleepers as I recall and upwards of 4 to 6 numbers / names for the other cars.
Apologies. If I can squeeze out some time, I'll post it all this weekend. I thought was on a spreadsheet and I think Superliners are, but I did the Amfleets and Viewliners by hand on paper. Sometimes old school just works better for me until I need to recall it all later and I can't find the paper.
Which MTH 40th Anniversary P42 do you have by any chance?
@DashingDanLIRR posted:Which MTH 40th Anniversary P42 do you have by any chance?
We posted at the same time! 😂
@GG1 4877 posted:We posted at the same time! 😂
thats a nice one! i've been on the hunt for a Phase IV 40th anniversary one for a bit now. only genesis im missing that MTH made.
@DashingDanLIRR posted:thats a nice one! i've been on the hunt for a Phase IV 40th anniversary one for a bit now. only genesis im missing that MTH made.
While it isn't MTH, I do know where you can find one in that paint scheme .... 
@GG1 4877 posted:While it isn't MTH, I do know where you can find one in that paint scheme ....
yeaaa, I have other genesis engines reserved, but I'll probably switch most to chargers
Here are my Phase VI Superliners and their numbers.
| Coach/Baggage | Coach | Sightseer Lounge | Sleeper | Diner | |
| Name 1 | 31004 | 34010 | 33004 | 32004 | 38006 |
| Name 2 | 31010 | 34025 | 33007 | 32017 | 38011 |
| Name 3 | ????? | 34038 | 33011 | 32028 | 38024 |
| Name 4 | 31021 | 34047 | 33015 | 32035 | 38015 |
| Name 5 | 31032 | 34057 | 33019 | 32048 | |
| Name 6 | 34063 | 33024 | 32056 | ||
| Name 7 | 34084 | 33017 | 32062 | ||
| Name 8 | 34097 | 33021 | 32069 |
Here are all the Superliner #'s produced in this project. I did these in Excel. Need to do the Amfleets and Viewliners manually.
@vash44 posted:Here are my Phase VI Superliners and their numbers.
Coach/Baggage Coach Sightseer Lounge Sleeper Diner Name 1 31004 34010 33004 32004 38006 Name 2 31010 34025 33007 32017 38011 Name 3 ????? 34038 33011 32028 38024 Name 4 31021 34047 33015 32035 38015 Name 5 31032 34057 33019 32048 Name 6 34063 33024 32056 Name 7 34084 33017 32062 Name 8 34097 33021 32069
WOW!!!!! You ended up buying a fleet of Phase VI Superliners! Very impressive!
Wowza! Are you modeling the Autotrain?
@vash44 posted:Here are my Phase VI Superliners and their numbers.
Coach/Baggage Coach Sightseer Lounge Sleeper Diner Name 1 31004 34010 33004 32004 38006 Name 2 31010 34025 33007 32017 38011 Name 3 ????? 34038 33011 32028 38024 Name 4 31021 34047 33015 32035 38015 Name 5 31032 34057 33019 32048 Name 6 34063 33024 32056 Name 7 34084 33017 32062 Name 8 34097 33021 32069
You modeling a passenger yard!? That’s really impressive.
@Will Ebbert posted:Wowza! Are you modeling the Autotrain?
You nailed it Will! My town is the fuel stop for the Autotrain. Now we just need some scale Amtrak Autoracks.
@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:You modeling a passenger yard!? That’s really impressive.
I plan to model a freight yard with the Atlas Gunderson's on the other end.
I think the current scale, 21' Superliners, Viewliners and Amfleets are terrific. I have a collection of perhaps 40 pieces including the Zephyrs. They are magnificent, but present a challenge when we operate them. I actually think we are bumping into a practical limit regarding O Scale operation. My layout is big - 25' by 55'. Curves are wide, not an issue. My layout can handle four six or seven car scale passenger trains, but only with care; two on the mains, one in the passing siding, one clogging the central station. These trains are 10 or 12 feet long! Much as I love them, these guys may stay on the shelves for operating sessions.
Hi Folks,
Good news, we are going into production for the 2nd run Superliners in September. These will be produced alongside the Southern Crescent cars to be finished in November / December. Get your reservations in by August 15th as we need to give our quantities of each car type to the factory. Use the link below to place your FIRM reservations. You don't want to end up on stand-by for these.
@HiramO posted:I think the current scale, 21' Superliners, Viewliners and Amfleets are terrific. I have a collection of perhaps 40 pieces including the Zephyrs. They are magnificent, but present a challenge when we operate them. I actually think we are bumping into a practical limit regarding O Scale operation. My layout is big - 25' by 55'. Curves are wide, not an issue. My layout can handle four six or seven car scale passenger trains, but only with care; two on the mains, one in the passing siding, one clogging the central station. These trains are 10 or 12 feet long! Much as I love them, these guys may stay on the shelves for operating sessions.
When I had room for my 7x16 modular layout, I found I could run a pretty reasonably realistic Amtrak train at around 5-6 cars total length. For anyone who is modeling current Amtrak operations the current equipment shortage makes trains makes a consist of a single locomotive, a baggage car and 5 superliners very prototypical. In a few cases some of the routes run without the full baggage car even.
I do hear you though on the practical limits of how many cars one can display. I've been pondering this a lot since I'm between layouts and thinking that a large passenger terminal would be a great way to display the cars and then operate the trains as they interest me. I look at Alan Arnold's layout for inspiration on the passenger yard, but for me I'm thinking that a large CNJ Liberty Terminal might be the base of operations for my growing and always eclectic tastes in this hobby. Two rail goes south to the shore and back in time to the 1950's while 3 rail wanders all points west in a world where time stands still from the 1920's to the present. The beauty of not having a layout I guess is dreaming about the one I don't have room for!
In the meantime, Superliners won't run again for several years, so be sure to get your orders in while you can. These cars are simply outstanding!
@GG1 4877 posted:When I had room for my 7x16 modular layout, I found I could run a pretty reasonably realistic Amtrak train at around 5-6 cars total length. For anyone who is modeling current Amtrak operations the current equipment shortage makes trains makes a consist of a single locomotive, a baggage car and 5 superliners very prototypical. In a few cases some of the routes run without the full baggage car even.
I do hear you though on the practical limits of how many cars one can display. I've been pondering this a lot since I'm between layouts and thinking that a large passenger terminal would be a great way to display the cars and then operate the trains as they interest me. I look at Alan Arnold's layout for inspiration on the passenger yard, but for me I'm thinking that a large CNJ Liberty Terminal might be the base of operations for my growing and always eclectic tastes in this hobby. Two rail goes south to the shore and back in time to the 1950's while 3 rail wanders all points west in a world where time stands still from the 1920's to the present. The beauty of not having a layout I guess is dreaming about the one I don't have room for!
In the meantime, Superliners won't run again for several years, so be sure to get your orders in while you can. These cars are simply outstanding!
So this means no Superliner II’s for several years? Do you think Amfleet II’s are possible to go with the viewliners?
@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:So this means no Superliner II’s for several years? Do you think Amfleet II’s are possible to go with the viewliners?
Superliner IIs will run at some point, I just don't know when. Beyond the obvious difference with the GSC-41 trucks, the extrusions on Superliner IIs are a little different so the Superliner I tooling won't work for IIs. There are of course the different car configurations too.
There hasn't been discussion yet on Amfleet II cars. All I can say is that if they happen, it will likely be after people's wallets cool off a bit!
@GG1 4877 posted:Superliner IIs will run at some point, I just don't know when. Beyond the obvious difference with the GSC-41 trucks, the extrusions on Superliner IIs are a little different so the Superliner I tooling won't work for IIs. There are of course the different car configurations too.
There hasn't been discussion yet on Amfleet II cars. All I can say is that if they happen, it will likely be after people's wallets cool off a bit!
Great news on the Superliner II’s. I definitely want some amfleet II’s but I totally get letting wallets cool. Mine needs to cool down too. This year has been a huge year for train purchases & it’s not over yet. E7’s, Capitol limited & the Crescent are due soon.
@VistaDomeScott posted:Jonathan, "another project" sounds very interesting. Curiosity here. Amtrak cars from the Southern series?
I looked on the GGD site last night, intending to reserve a few more since Scott said the Southern Crescent was going to production. However, the Amtrak Heritage coaches from the Southern Crescent series were apparently nixed by Amtrak Licensing. While very disappointing, I'll stick with my Amfleets and two slumbercoaches for now until Scott runs something else Amtrak Phase 3. I'm not a huge Superliner fan, as I live under catenary (and Supes didn't). But, I may have to grab a couple in Phase 3 just because.
Well, I forgot about this clip. There really is a prototype for everything in the hobby.
On 9/29/15, an ACS64 pulled a set of Superliners on the Keystone west from Philly when the Pope was in town. Is it such a stretch to have an Atlas O AEM7 pull a string of Phase 3 Supes for the same reason? . . . I didn't think so either.
Very disappointed by Amtrak nixing the rights to produce the heritage Southern cars. Why block a top quality product representing the taxpayer supported railway in scale models? Makes no sense. Surprising, Matt Donnelly the brand manager at Amtrak seems quite interested in seeing Amtrak models made. At least when I saw him at Trainland in New York on zoom with manufacturers for Amtrak's 50th anniversary. Maybe Amtrak should focus more on washing and maintaining their 1/1 scale trains than blocking accurately made models. The filthy dirt on trains right now can be scraped off with a spatula. But lets focus on stopping 1/48 scale models from being made instead.
Hi Folks,
Don't be hard on Matt (Amtrak). He does a lot to help us get these cars right. You can't ask more from a Branding Manager. He didn't refuse us, he just said that he didn't think there was more than a Diner from the Crescent. Not only is he a sharp Branding Manager, he's an avid model train modeler as well.
In the future, if we have proof, I'm sure he will agree to allow the Amtrak marked cars to be included. Frankly, we had very few orders for the Amtrak cars we listed with the Crescent, so they probably would have been nixed by me anyway.
BTW: I posted the remaining Amtrak Viewliners on our GGD Instock page. First come first serve.
Enjoy your hobby,
Scott Mann
@sdmann posted:Hi Folks,
Don't be hard on Matt (Amtrak). He does a lot to help us get these cars right. You can't ask more from a Branding Manager. He didn't refuse us, he just said that he didn't think there was more than a Diner from the Crescent. Not only is he a sharp Branding Manager, he's an avid model train modeler as well.
In the future, if we have proof, I'm sure he will agree to allow the Amtrak marked cars to be included. Frankly, we had very few orders for the Amtrak cars we listed with the Crescent, so they probably would have been nixed by me anyway.
BTW: I posted the remaining Amtrak Viewliners on our GGD Instock page. First come first serve.
Enjoy your hobby,
Scott Mann
I have proof of Amtrak cars from the Southern with Amtrak Reference numbers. But I cannot help the lack of orders. =/
Can only control my own orders and habit. Lol.
We appreciate Matt's time for considering these as offering.
@vash44 posted:I have proof of Amtrak cars from the Southern with Amtrak Reference numbers. But I cannot help the lack of orders. =/
Can only control my own orders and habit. Lol.
We appreciate Matt's time for considering these as offering.
Boy I’m surprised at the lack of orders for the ex-Southern cars 😳🫣 Such a missed opportunity with tooling ready.
There Seemed To Be decent enthusiasm/support - at least here in the forum. 🤔
Perhaps theres a bit of Amtrak overload with all the recent offerings. 🤔🤔🤔
Scott, thank you for the explaination. Although the "Southern" 52 seat coach may not have gone to Amtrak, the same type 52 seat car was at Amtrak likely from other roads. And 10-6 is a standard type car on Amtrak regardless of origin. I had forwarded pictures via links to friends I was trying to promote ordering these cars. The copyright on ancient forgotten obscure Amtrak pictures online keeps me from being able to post anything.
I also do not think enough people noticed the offering which was added to the Southern products. I really think a thread of its own with pics would have drummed up orders. I tried to make a couple of people aware of these cars which required my sending them links to similar cars in various eras of Amtrak paint. I know one of those friends was about to order cars just as the news came they were nixed.
Not slamming Matt at all, I was very happy to see him on the Trainland 50th event. I am sure he is one of the great ones at Amtrak!
GGD did make a Viewliner dorm/baggage combine, painted in the wide blue band with thin red stripes on top (not sure of the phase number) was made by GGD and I cannot find evidence that any of these were made for Amtrak in anything other than the phase 3 type with 3 stripes of 8" red white and blue.
Scott, as always, appreciate whatever you are able to offer in Amtrak! Thank you! Of course I have to try to push for more though! Thank you for your great interaction with customers.
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