GGD Superliners... which one preferred?

Superliner 1.       This will allow paint in phases 2 and 3 whereas the superliner II were introduced in phase 4 paint

I agree with Superliner 1s as well.  Only car they lacked was the transition car over the Superliner IIs.  Transitions were achieved with former El Cap transition coaches converted to dormitory cars up until the arrival of the Superliner IIs.  It is also a fun era as El Cap cars were intermixed in sets so occasionally  there would be El Cap lounge or coach here and there.  An opportunity to do a new run of El Cap cars in Phase II and Phase III Amtrak paint to complete the Superliner sets would be interesting.

I'd probably take anything, since the only scale Superliners we have are K-Line, which are difficult to find and were only painted in one phase (AFAIK), and the Williams ones, which are still nice but of course not very detailed and meant for more traditional styling of O scale. It's too bad Atlas didn't buy MTH's Superliner toolings, because if they offered them in full scale, I would take those. But overall I could easily see Scott make proper Superliners of all types.

The MTH tool for the Superliner is not full scale so it would likely be a new tool.  Not that the tool couldn't be modified.  I have a few Williams ones in Phase II paint that I am very slowly converting with Atlas Horizon trucks since they are the same trucks on the Superliner IIs.  Not totally accurate, but once I take out the window inserts and put in some interiors they can be made to be passable even if they are 4' short at 20".

I'd prefer to see GGD do these.  The K-line cars are nice, but as mentioned only available in Phase IV paint.  The challenge is the coaches are the only ones available at a justifiable cost.  Sleepers and Diners go for so much now, GGD new ones would cost less.

@GG1 4877 posted:

The MTH tool for the Superliner is not full scale so it would likely be a new tool.  Not that the tool couldn't be modified.  I have a few Williams ones in Phase II paint that I am very slowly converting with Atlas Horizon trucks since they are the same trucks on the Superliner IIs.  Not totally accurate, but once I take out the window inserts and put in some interiors they can be made to be passable even if they are 4' short at 20".

I'd prefer to see GGD do these.  The K-line cars are nice, but as mentioned only available in Phase IV paint.  The challenge is the coaches are the only ones available at a justifiable cost.  Sleepers and Diners go for so much now, GGD new ones would cost less.

That's what I'd imagine Atlas doing; basically just stretching out the MTH toolings. I did see that they bought the Amfleet cars, and I'm wondering if that's exactly what they are gonna do with it. And I also agree that ironically the GGD Superliners would be cheaper, or at least the same price, as the K-Line ones. They are usually listed on eBay for at least $200-250.

Wait.  Didn't Golden Gate Depot make Superliners a few years ago?  Along with the Santa Fe El Capitan?  I had bought a few single Amtrak Superliners to add to my K-Line scale set along with a 12 car El Capitan.  I seem to remember that the Amtrak versions had low orders.

If done again I'd love to see some Pacific Surfliners along with a Surfliner Charger locomotive!!

Traindiesel

GGD made the Santa Fe high level cars which are not Superliners.  The Santa Fe cars are slightly shorter height and taper inward slightly on the upper level.

There were only 1 or 2 coach cars that had an upper level taper. They were the prototype cars. Most of them were 'straight' sided. They are full fluted, unlike superliners and yes, are a tad shorter (I believe about 6").

Superliner Is for sure. So far they’ve only been made in brass and Railking. More paint schemes available so it makes things more viable.
If it were me, I would do what was done with the Viewliners, and combine the project with other cars to increase viability. Run the Superliners with El Capitan Hi-Levels. One downside is the Hi-Levels would have to be re-tooled a bit to allow for the modifications made to the prototype to be modeled correctly. That means changing the truck design so it shows the exposed bearing caps, applying appropriate HEP detail, adding marker lights, and changing the diaphragms. That probably wouldn’t be a massive deal though since there’s a base to work from, and not entirely new tooling required.

I think done this way, it could for sure work. Superliner Is have appeared in Phases I-IV and VI, but also some coaches (and possibly coach baggage) have appeared in Surfliner and Amtrak California/CDTX colors. Hi Levels have appeared in Phase I-III, with some coaches making it to Phase IV for Heartland Flyer service. Then of course there’s the Parlour Cars which appeared in Phase III, IV, VI, and now have seen other paint schemes from their new owners (Wisconsin Great Northern for example).

At bare minimum I would order a Parlour Car in Phase VI, three coaches, (one in Phase VI, one in Amtrak CA, one in Surfliner) a Sightseer Lounge in Phase VI, and a coach baggage in Phase VI.

I'd be most interested in Superline II's. If I's or El Capitan cars were offered I'd be glad to place an order to help get the project going.

Hmmm would be nice to get a sightseer car that matches my Kline 21" cars.  I wouldn't mind a transition car in any scheme.

@carnerd3000 posted:

That's what I'd imagine Atlas doing; basically just stretching out the MTH toolings. I did see that they bought the Amfleet cars, and I'm wondering if that's exactly what they are gonna do with it. And I also agree that ironically the GGD Superliners would be cheaper, or at least the same price, as the K-Line ones. They are usually listed on eBay for at least $200-250.

And wish they would stretch the heavyweights they bought and just released as well.

Up till now, I’ve been holding off on getting Amtrak stuff in O gauge because I know it’s going to be an endless black hole of purchasing for me but GGD Superliners will draw me right on in!

That being said, this calls for a 3rd rail P32, P40, & P42 Genesis offering! And before someone jumps all over it, yes I know Atlas got the tooling from MTH but that tooling doesn't come close to 3rd rail accuracy or the detailed variations they could do. Also just think of the paint options... would certainly be something special.

Call me old school, but I'm still a fan of the F40PH and the SDP40F, especially with the Phase I Superliners.  The last of the SDP40Fs were found in early Superliner era consists with an F40 to provide the HEP.  I'd also like to to see the SDP40F done because my ScaleKing FP45s don't do my El Cap Amtrak set any justice.

On the flip side a set of ALC42 Charger would be very fitting as it represents the future of Amtrak and the Genesis series locomotives are at the end of life.  Of course who am I kidding.  If 3rd Rail did any of the P series Amtrak locomotives I'd be in.

@GG1 4877 posted:

Call me old school, but I'm still a fan of the F40PH and the SDP40F, especially with the Phase I Superliners.  The last of the SDP40Fs were found in early Superliner era consists with an F40 to provide the HEP.  I'd also like to to see the SDP40F done because my ScaleKing FP45s don't do my El Cap Amtrak set any justice.

On the flip side a set of ALC42 Charger would be very fitting as it represents the future of Amtrak and the Genesis series locomotives are at the end of life.  Of course who am I kidding.  If 3rd Rail did any of the P series Amtrak locomotives I'd be in.

The SDP40F & FP45’s seem to come up a lot when people discuss what they’d like to see next. You don’t have to convince me on them. I’d be in for at least 3 Santa Fe Units for my run 1 El Cap. Also, with quality Amtrak passenger cars soon to be in existence, I imagine there will be more interest in the SDP40F than there was previously.

@Paul Finn posted:

And wish they would stretch the heavyweights they bought and just released as well.

You mean the passenger cars they just announced? They aren't full scale?

@carnerd3000 posted:

You mean the passenger cars they just announced? They aren't full scale?

They are scale but not scale length and usually generic and Usually don’t include road specific details.

Fyi, the May Stout Auction has a couple of O Scale Superliners up for sale. I noticed none are decorated from the factory. It should be interesting to see the winning bid on these cars.

And yes an F40PH is up for auction as well!

Who's the manufacturer of the Superliners and the F40PH?

@GG1 4877 posted:

Who's the manufacturer of the Superliners and the F40PH?

I believe its Overland brass.

@GenesisFan99 posted:

...

At bare minimum I would order a Parlour Car in Phase VI, three coaches, (one in Phase VI, one in Amtrak CA, one in Surfliner) a Sightseer Lounge in Phase VI, and a coach baggage in Phase VI.

The EL Cap lounge cars were available separately when they were done a few years ago.  Just not in Parlour car livery because no one requested them, except me.  So I have one waiting to be redone somewhere.

@rdunniii posted:

The EL Cap lounge cars were available separately when they were done a few years ago.  Just not in Parlour car livery because no one requested them, except me.  So I have one waiting to be redone somewhere.

I remember that. I just couldn't afford one at the time, and have been looking for an El Cap lounge since.

@rdunniii posted:

The EL Cap lounge cars were available separately when they were done a few years ago.  Just not in Parlour car livery because no one requested them, except me.  So I have one waiting to be redone somewhere.

There was actually 2 of us. I have a lounge car sitting in the project pile too.

What was really annoying to me is that I asked Microscale how many copies of their Parlour car decals in HO would be necessary to have them done in O scale and they said none, they weren't interested in doing any more O scale anything.

Sounds like all the more reason to suggest a re-run of Hi-Levels combined with Superliners. I probably won't ever come across a Hi-Level lounge in 3 rail, and doing 3 rail conversions on OMI Superliners would get me burned alive.

My vote would be for Superliner I's. Those trucks are cool looking even though they ride rough.

@carnerd3000 posted:

That's what I'd imagine Atlas doing; basically just stretching out the MTH toolings. I did see that they bought the Amfleet cars, and I'm wondering if that's exactly what they are gonna do with it. And I also agree that ironically the GGD Superliners would be cheaper, or at least the same price, as the K-Line ones. They are usually listed on eBay for at least $200-250.

I NEVER herd a mfg "Stretch out" existing molds/tooling. The cost woukd probably be more than creating a new mold to specs.

With that said. ATLAS O is just rerunning the same molds but with more paint schemes. Maybe the "NEW MTH" will create new more scale passenger car tooling.