What will be the new Sunset Diesel Locomotive announcement?

MELGAR posted:

GG1 4877 posted:

GenesisFan99 posted:

They would probably have to work with Siemens to get the tooling and it would have to be licensed by Amtrak. 

Licensing by Amtrak will possibly be required as anything with the current Amtrak logo is of interest to Amtrak.  Bachmann is doing the ACS-64 in HO and H, but it doesn't appear that they will do it in O.  As for tooling, we just need good quality photographs some key dimensions.  The factory creates a 3D model in CAD that is reviewed for accuracy.  If FP45s and SDP40Fs aren't hitting the 500-750 unit threshold, I have a hard time seeing this project do that.  It could possibly fly as a brass project.

Superliners are a good idea but prices are getting close to $300 a car for Aluminum.  It does allow for another run of El Capitan cars as perhaps individual cars for the Phase II and Phase III and Coast Starlight modeler. 

Licensing agreements evidently have been negotiated by Bachmann for the ACS-64 in HO and N, so I don't see why Amtrak and Siemens would not do the same for an O scale manufacturer. A flexible licensing arrangement could make the fee proportional to the number of models sold. If they are willing to let Sunset/3rd Rail use their intellectual property such as logos, paint schemes, etcetera, they probably would agree to have a locomotive photographed as part of the deal. I would be interested to know whether drawings or photographs were provided to Bachmann... To me, the ACS-64 is a much more interesting possibility than another classic diesel or even a steam engine. We already have tons of those - including a nice P-42 model by MTH... And I think there would be a substantial market among O scale/gauge hobbyists. There are a lot of O scale/gauge modelers and fans along the NEC. Why not try it and see?

MELGAR

I didn't mean that licensing would be hard, it would just be costly. I do agree there would be a market for an ACS64 as much as I like my toasters.

MELGAR,

Well, I do think its a cool looking item at a glance. For the un-initiated, what specific prototype cars follow behind it?

Mike Caddell posted:

MELGAR,

Well, I do think its a cool looking item at a glance. For the un-initiated, what specific prototype cars follow behind it?

ACS64s typically have Amfleets and Viewliners behind them. 

GENESISFAN99,

Once again, another cool Amtrak engine, looking for a matching train set. I'm sooooooo confuzzed!

The ACS-64 is a "cool" item upon close inspection - especially the pantographs. They pull eight-car trains of Amfleet 1 (Phase 4) passenger cars along the Northeast Corridor. Reservations for these cars are now being taken on Sunset's Golden Gate Depot website.

MELGAR 

MELGAR posted:

The ACS-64 is a "cool" item upon close inspection - especially the pantographs. They pull eight-car trains of Amfleet 1 (Phase 4) passenger cars along the Northeast Corridor. Reservations for these cars are now being taken on the Sunset's Golden Gate Depot website.

MELGAR 

Amfleet Is are up? I must have missed that! Time to make my wallet cry.

MELGAR posted:

The ACS-64 is a "cool" item upon close inspection - especially the pantographs. They pull eight-car trains of Amfleet 1 (Phase 4) passenger cars along the Northeast Corridor. Reservations for these cars are now being taken on the Sunset's Golden Gate Depot website.

MELGAR 

I like the ACS-64.  I photographed my first one in 2014 and every York, I manage to catch one or more.  They also ride well compared to the HHP-8s that were rough pullers.  Worse than the E60 as I recall. 

Amfleets cars are reserving slow.  I would encourage anyone interested in Amtrak to place an order.  I have some on pre-order, but in Phase III which is the era I prefer in Amtrak. 

GG1 4877 posted:

MELGAR posted:

The ACS-64 is a "cool" item upon close inspection - especially the pantographs. They pull eight-car trains of Amfleet 1 (Phase 4) passenger cars along the Northeast Corridor. Reservations for these cars are now being taken on the Sunset's Golden Gate Depot website.

MELGAR 

I like the ACS-64.  I photographed my first one in 2014 and every York, I manage to catch one or more.  They also ride well compared to the HHP-8s that were rough pullers.  Worse than the E60 as I recall. 

Amfleets cars are reserving slow.  I would encourage anyone interested in Amtrak to place an order.  I have some on pre-order, but in Phase III which is the era I prefer in Amtrak. 

The GGD Amfleet cars might be reserving more quickly if Sunset/3rd Rail would offer the ACS-64 locomotive to go with them.

MELGAR

MELGAR posted:

GG1 4877 posted:

MELGAR posted:

The ACS-64 is a "cool" item upon close inspection - especially the pantographs. They pull eight-car trains of Amfleet 1 (Phase 4) passenger cars along the Northeast Corridor. Reservations for these cars are now being taken on the Sunset's Golden Gate Depot website.

MELGAR 

I like the ACS-64.  I photographed my first one in 2014 and every York, I manage to catch one or more.  They also ride well compared to the HHP-8s that were rough pullers.  Worse than the E60 as I recall. 

Amfleets cars are reserving slow.  I would encourage anyone interested in Amtrak to place an order.  I have some on pre-order, but in Phase III which is the era I prefer in Amtrak. 

The GGD Amfleet cars might be reserving more quickly if Sunset/3rd Rail would offer the ACS-64 locomotive to go with them.

MELGAR

I think the whole idea is to push the boundaries and do what hasn't been done before. If it fails, oh well. You tried. You learned from the experience. The ACS64 is a good place to start pushing boundaries. Start there and get more unique as you go. 

GenesisFan99 posted:

I think the whole idea is to push the boundaries and do what hasn't been done before. If it fails, oh well. You tried. You learned from the experience. The ACS64 is a good place to start pushing boundaries. Start there and get more unique as you go. 

Exactly... Think outside the box...

MELGAR

MELGAR posted:

GenesisFan99 posted:

I think the whole idea is to push the boundaries and do what hasn't been done before. If it fails, oh well. You tried. You learned from the experience. The ACS64 is a good place to start pushing boundaries. Start there and get more unique as you go. 

Exactly... Think outside the box...

MELGAR

Exactly! That's why it will be the CF7 (most likely not) but an Alco would be nice. "Old-ish" school plus a lot are still running around today on shortlines like WNY&P, etc.