GM Aerotrain - Any Chance it will be made?

MTH has made several road names in Railking.  I would be interested in a scale version though.

Bill Lenior built a scale 2 rail Aerotrain for Mack Lowery in Akron Oh. I tried to buy it from Mack in the early 80's but that was one that he wouldn't sell. i would be first in line for a 2 rail version as i have had no luck finding the Lenior.

I have the MTH Railking version with a few extra cars.  It's a hit at the modular shows. 

Isn't the MTH Railking Aerotrain full O scale sized?

The MTH Railking version is full 1/4" scale, it just lacks some of the reifinements.

 

 

As I recall, John Sethian converted his to scale with a full compliment of cars and it looks great.

 

Rusty

First of all I think the Aerotrain is pretty cool. So much so that I had to have one.

 

The MTH railking Aerotrain is pretty close to 1/48 scale, in fact its close to spot on.  I have converted the loco and nine car set to 2 rail, incorporating close spacing and a few other enhancements like: fixed, full width fender skirts, a rear coupler and red/white tail lights.  It could use some super detailing (like a raised "Aerotrain" emblem, more detailed coach interiors) but overall it is very nice.  These are not hard to find in the aftermarket.  As Wurliztzer said MTH has reissued this several times

 

I documented my conversion in two issues of O scale Trains. Here are some photos that did not appear in the article:

 

 

 

Yes I know the Railking exists but I was really looking for a high end level of detail.  For example, the raised emblem instead of a decal, etc.  I don't run DCS or conventional so for me it has to be TMCC or Legacy.  Really looking for a premium level model.  The Railking line for me just doesn't have enough detail.  Would this not be a realistic level to expect on a run of these models By some manufacturer?

Well, the fact that nobody has made it might answer the question.   It would be nice to have a "premium" model, but I decided that the RK was better than nothing, and so far it's the only game in town.

 

I did see the Rock Island Areotrain in full operation as it crossed the Harlem Avenue viaduct.  I think it was in 1955-56.  At the time I thought it looked "goofy".

 

Here is a vodeo I found recently.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtrLEEfSF7Y

 

Here is a more interesting video.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oItV2ymPPGM

Since MTH has had two runs of the Aero Train over the past 10 years or so I doubt that you will see another manufacture coming out with a premier version any time soon.

SandJam -

 

The TMCC issue could be solved with an ERR Command/RS upgrade; pretty straightforward. I always felt that the scale RK set looked pretty good - for something that all-too-much resembles a '59 Chevrolet (not a coincidence, and not a good thing).

 

I've seen the real one in St Louis.

I converted mine to LED lighting and installed passenger figures.  They look pretty good for what they are.

 

I like the fender skirts on yours John, how did you do those?

When I was about 8 years old, I was fascinated by the GM Aerotrain, and the modern design.  I was one very fortunate boy who actually had the pleasure of sitting in the Engineers seat, on the original, back in 1956 when I came through Trenton, N.J..  My mother happened to work for P.R.R., at the Trenton Train Station, and I was invited to go into the train, when it made a stop there, and we knew ahead of time that it would be arriving.  A real fond memory for me!!

 

I wondered if Lionel would ever make this, but alas they never did.  I see from the previous posts, that MTH did make one.  Makes me think I may want to find one, now.

Since I already have the first issue and all 9 cars, only the GM demo model would interest me at this point. Looks like I will have to hunt down those issues of OST to make my obs look that good! I wonder if h.o. markers would do the trick of the small marker lamps installed on the rest sides.

That MTH engine is a great looker and a great runner.  Mike sold them as RK and I think that was a good move as I like to see guys with smaller curves get some very cool trains.

As I have posted before,I have fond memories of this train.  Every afternoon we would see it motoring along on the Pennsy Mainline .  It would run mid afternoon on it's way to NYC.  We would always stop our baseball games to watch the "New Train",as we called it,speed on by. 

 

Norm

Here's a video of mine.

 

The cars are that short.

 

The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin has the carbody (no prime mover) for Rock Island #2 and two coaches.

 

Rusty

As I recall, the engine was a modified 1500 switcher and the cars were modified GM highway buses.  The buses were widened. 

 

Ron

The AeroTrain coaches were not much more than modified GM bus bodies.....and thus were short in length and height. I have a PRR set with extra coaches. I find it is one of the few Rail King sets that fit in with all my scale stuff without looking out of place.

They are cheap enough to buy, change your control system and add minor details if you need.  

No buses were harmed in the construction of Aerotrain coaches.

 

Rusty

SandJam (and others): that second video link that Santa Fe Jim posted above is worth following.  That video is very informative and has a lot of information about the Aerotrain; he posted the link above, but here it is again: 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oItV2ymPPGM

 

GunrunnerJohn:

 

I scratch built my fender skirts from sheet styrene.  That is easy.  You also have to move the truck sides inwards to allow running around curves: otherwise they bang into the sides of the skirts.  That is more involved.  You need to unscrew the sides, then bring them as close to the wheels as you dare, then reattach with new screws and threaded holes, or JB weld.  I got mine to run around 36" radius (072) curves.  Note I have 2 rail wheel sets which are thinner and allow the sides to be brought in closer.

 

  

 

 

John, I think that's a bit more involved than I want to get.  Since I have three-rail, it also might not be practical.  I looked and the clearances don't seem to suggest that I could do it easily.

 

Gunrunnerjohn

 

I have been thinking about those skirts.  Here is a potential solution:  Make a close fitting skirt, and attach it along the upper edge on the inside with a hinge. Then use a light spring to hold it flush with the body.  You will need a couple of lips on the shell at the bottom of the wheel openings to prevent the skirt from recessing into the opening. As the loco goes around curves, the skirt will tilt outward. But in the straights it will look fine

 

I realize after I wrote this (and you replied) that my suggestion is a perfect example of the tagline at the bottom of your posts!

Sounds interesting, I'll have to think about it.  It sounds like it might work, but I'm not sure I can pull it off and make it look right.

As I stated above, there is an example in St Louis at the RR museum. This was 4 or 5 years ago.

I have read here that the Aerotrain was not very smooth riding.  As my memory serves me,that train would fly as it motored on by heading eastward.  We were at the end of a 5-6 mile straighaway.  All of the passenger trains made up for lost time when they hit the Trafford,Irwin,Shafton,Biddle,Westmoreland City section until the super elevated curve at Manor,PA. 

 

Norm

The word I got was when they got over around 60 MPH the coaches started bouncing because they didn't have suspensions that were "rail friendly".

Every account I have read or seen says they were very ROUGH riders.....it's main point of failure. Since RI used them for 10 years it seems otherwise they were OK....