MTH Amtrak Premier 3.0

All 3 of the Genesis locos in the 2013 V1 catalog are heritage units. It really just boils down to which one you like the most. If you have Phase V horizon cars, any one of the engines in the catalog would be appropriate.

The MTH set is their artistic license on the "exhibit" train that traveled the country, except the real exhibit train was 3 baggage cars and a diner, all in phase 3 paint. For some reason, MTH decided to make theirs as a phase 1 passenger train, to match the phase 1 engine.

MTH usually offers the sets for $100 more than the separate sale engine. If I had to pick between the set or engine, I'd get the set. I purchased my Railking Imperial Y6B 2-8-8-2 out of the set. I originally wanted the engine only, but for an extra $100, I got 4 hoppers and a Premier Line Caboose. Can't go wrong there. 

The Amtrak Unit in the set is the Phase I Heritage Unit, #156. I saw it yesterday pulling Amtrak train #30, The Capitol Limited. 

SJC

That is what I was exactly thinking too. I might as well get the set.  Boiler, I can always swap out the MTH passengers with the atlas ones as well. Thanks all for the responses.

I suspect that the rest of the exhibit train is still forthcoming. It was offered in HO by Walthers as a licensed set...

...in fact the Amtrak rep mentions in a comment below the above video that Kato "is selling officially licensed heritage locomotives in N scale." (emphasis mine)

So, the MTH version may be ducking the fence, (so to speak) by being offered piecemeal. Might also explain why the locos aren't described in the catalog as "heritage" scheme.

In any case, I ordered the F40PH and Phase III Genesis based upon the above assumption. MTH does, as we know, have the tooling for a reasonably correct exhibit train.

---PCJ

quote:

I suspect that the rest of the exhibit train is still forthcoming.

I would be pleasantly shocked if that happened, but I think they'll take a "good enough for O gauge" approach and move on to something else.

The only sliver of hope is that they havent made 822 yet (which would be the correct engine for the exhibit train), or the Phase IV unit, 184.

Perhaps its something worth prodding them about as an uncatalogued offering one month, or a DAP offering.

Just curious, has anyone received the amtrak engines? They are #20-20300-1 &

20-20301-1. Would like to see some pics. Still debating getting the engines only. I prefer atlas Amtrak passenger cars to the ones MTH will ship with the Genesis set sometime this month. 

Thanks

I saw the phase III at my LHS on saturday. I'm still waiting for the box set phase I engine (dealer broke up the set).

Its the typical MTH genesis, the most notable improvement is they FINALLY flush mounted the windshield and cab windows. I'm going to see if the parts department stocks these, as if they do, I'm going to upgrade all of my old ones to the flush mount ones. The sound is typical PS3,  the horn is as close to "right" as its been since the 5V PS2 files (which is still probably the best horn), and naturally, they didnt upgrade the tooling to the new fiberglass nose with the headlight notch (the headlight is still under "glass" like they were originally built). Thats the most egregious issue that I have with it.

I bought the phase III engine (#145)

And rode behind it a couple weeks ago on the Pennsylvanian

Looks great. 

The Phase 1 Heritage #156 was in Engine House Hobbies today. Very nice engine. My personal favorite heritage unit (and go figure, the one I seen the least). I've seen all the Amtrak Heritage Units. 

I saw the "exhibit" train pass by on it's way to Fullerton, CA.  They put it on the westbound Southwest Chief #3.  The old F40 and exhibit cars were behind the two P42s and in front of the Chief's baggage car.

Unless you have a specific need for the scale-wheeled locmotive, buy the locomotive with the cars. It's at a much better price point than purchasing them separately. With the savings, you can buy the add-on cars as well. Did that with the CNW E4 Hudson set, but shipping was a killer.

Here are few more photos of the recently released Amtrak Genesis for your viewing pleasure!!

That looks really nice. 

Pete

Out of curiosity, do you happen to have the premier mail box car for Amtrak(#20-93027)? Would like to know if the stripes line up.

Or for that matter anyone who has both the engine and the Amtrak mail box car?

Thanks

I don't have the US Mail box car. But, I do have Lionel's Superliners and MTH's Amfleet cars. The blue stripe on the Lionel and MTH passenger cars as well as the blue stripe on the MTH F40-PH are a deeper or navy blue. The blue stripe on the heritage Genesis is a slightly lighter blue. Not a deal breaker in my opinion, but it may bother some.

A while back when K-Line made their Amtrak F40-PH with TMCC and matching Horizon cars the red they used was almost a maroon which was a deal breaker for me. I had them and decided to sell them all because the colors were so far off the mark.

I hope that helps!

I have the Phase 3 and it is programmed with the Crescent Route between NYC and New Orleans.

Is there a way to reprogram my Phase 3 with the Phase 2 PSA announcements?

phase 1 announces the Cardinal. Changing the file requires reloading the sound file (but MTH hasnt uploaded them yet... a friendly call to the service department usually can get the file you want put on the website).

I absolutely hate the "two step" horn. The tone is about right if the train is 2 miles away, but is a horrible representation of being right up close.

Also, something I noticed from everyone's photo, is the left windshield wiper is sitting in the center of the windshield. Are they all messed up like this? I tried to adjust it and it looks like either the glue from the windshield bled over and stuck the wiper like this (I've never seen an MTH engine with glued wipers before), or somebody built these all on friday afternoon and didnt park the wiper on the outer edge of the window like they should have.

Borderman01:

I have the 93027 MHC's, and extracted one from the basement to compare:

Slight difference in height, the locomotive's stripes are somewhat wider. A review of my "Three Rivers" video shows both the original Genesis and Amfleet Phase III stripes to be significantly wider than those of the MHC.

Boilermaker1:

Mine has both wipers in the fully retracted position

I don't know if it would have struck me as being unusual if one or both of mine weren't fully retracted though.

---PCJ 

Are these locomotives 2-3 rail ?

Clem k

Looking at the underside of the truck blocks, I'd say they certainly look like they're 2r/3r convertible.

---PCJ

Yes, they're convertible. There's kadee mounting holes in the pilots too.

Good I will have to take a look at these

It seems the Anniversary set is out. Anyone have pics of the passengers cars especially the end car? Thanks.

Better yet, here is a video of the set.

Really nice set and engine. But I just dont happen to like the look of the passenger cars for a modern train. I prefer the ones from Atlas commuter set. I may just get the engine alone and settles for the atlas passenger cars. Thanks for the vid.

If you decide to buy the set, I just might be interested in (2) of the coaches.  It is time for MTH to tool up for a combo car for it's 70' ribbed and smooth side passenger cars.  Even if it is not prototypical, I would rather have a combo/coach add on set than rather to buy a duplicate baggage car to get an extra coach.  You can be your bottom dollar if the cars were made of aluminum you would not see MTH make a second baggage car.  MTH was so cheap they put plastic domes on three of the four 70' 18 inch aluminum passenger coaches in a previously released Amtrak 5-car set to save on the cost of aluminum.  Now they save on the cost of plastic by offering a second baggage car without having to put an interior with figures and extra lighting in it.

Wow, I wonder why they didn't release a scale wheeled one? How can there be KD holes in a moving pilot? I guess it will help me convert.

The actual "anniversary" train should be comprised of an Amfleet food-service car (labeled "40th Anniversary Store"), three Heritage baggage cars and a sleeper for the crew:

That particular train hasn't been announced. What MTH has so far is just a standard heritage-style passenger set matched to the paint scheme. I'm holding out for the actual exhibit train, since it's technically possible without any new tooling (except maybe a new styrofoam insert for the mixed 5-car consist). 

The locomotives are already done:

In fact, the F40PH's station-stop sounds are of a 'tour guide' directly referring to the exhibit train and listing it's itinerary.

---PCJ