Amtrak in O scale

[Anonymous]

Why is it that there are very few amtrak models in O scale. It seems like practically every car and engine Amtrak operates or operated in all sorts of color schemes is represented in HO scale. Yet in O scale we only have some basic coach cars and dinette cars. How about a viewliner sleeper or AEM in Amtrak's current scheme. Or even a Genesis in the latest colors, and not some special release but a regular widely available release.

[Anonymous]

Because they dont sell... Steam and "grandfather" roads is what sells. You dont see about of BN/BNSF/CSX/CR either...

Welcome to the forum, even thought yiu joined a long time ago.

[Anonymous]

Yea i joined when i was really into the hobby and even then just browsed through some of the posts but never posted anything myself. I kinda let the hobby slide for a bit, but now i finally figured i'd pose a question i've been wondering about for a while.

[Anonymous]

O scale is a percular market... you can get 238732-487 differnt Hudsons... but ask for anything modern or in a smaller road, is a no-no.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Welcome to the forum, usairways.

I may be wrong, but doesn't Island Trains carry some Amtrak O Scale? I think someone said something about them doing special runs with K-Line. (I'm grasping for straws, so if I am wrong it wouldn't suprise me.)

[CSX FAN]

Have you checked out MTH they have made several color scemes. Williams did several of the older Amtrak engines. Lionel is running the Acela through a license agreement with Amtrak. I don't collect HO but there seems to be good coverage in the market.


Jamie

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the comments.

I shouldn't be complaining too much as like already said MTH does have a good number of amfleet and superliner cars in 2 or so schemes as well as F40PH's and Genesis' in multiple schemes and the K Line horizon cars look really nice. The lionel Acela looks amazing but the rather high price will probably keep me away from that one.

I guess it just seems like whenever something new happens in real life it is immediately represented in HO. Like the new acela colors for the AEM's, Genesis'...the temporary acela colors that the amfleet had, viewliners, and the acela has been out in HO for at least a year or two already.

I don't know what is behind developing the models between HO and O, whether O takes a lot more time and money thus not everything can be released right away. i have a Genesis 3 stripe from MTH i bought a few years ago and now there are very few even left in that scheme, i wish i could sell it for the limited release Genesis in acela colors. Like is it that hard to re-release models they already have molds for in updated colors?

My biggest wish is for a viewliner sleeper. But since amtrak is the only railroad using them i doubt MTH will ever bother with it.

The new jersey transit and metro north amfleet cars also bug the hell out of me, but that's a whole other issue

[bigwally]

FWIW, Atlas made an AEM-7 a few years back that apparently tanked in a big way. I mention the last part only because awhile back (and perhaps still) Trainworld was blowing them out for $125 each.

bigwally

[tgovebaker]

Periodically I do an Amtrak search on eBay and there is a ton of available product, ranging from old Lionel starter sets to modern, technologically advanced stuff with the newer paint jobs. And obviously the Acela will be a big deal. I'm pretty sure I've seen a viewliner sleeper, as well, though I may be confused about that.

When I was a kid I read a book called "How to Run a Railroad" by Harvey Weiss that made a key point that has stayed with me: with passenger trains, there isn't much to do except watch them. With freight, you have so many more options.

Good luck.

[SchemerBob]

You know what, I started out with Lionel and would have just stuck with Lionel except for one thing...for some reason Lionel has never come out with an Amtrak Genesis model. So I went over to MTH and figured out they had a Phase III Amtrak Genesis...exactly what I wanted. I brought it home and it was COOL, much cooler than my other Lionel RailSounds engine, and this was the FIRST, junky version of Proto-Sound!!

I would say that MTH has the most and best Amtrak products than any other O scale seller. They have Genesis engines, Dash 8-32BWH engines, F40PH engines, switcher locomotives, AEM7 electrics, F59PHI engines, Heritage fleet coaches, Superliner coaches, Am-Fleet coaches, Express boxcars and mailcars, switcher locomotives, maintenance-of-way cars, the list goes ON and ON!!

So now I like MTH more than Lionel, for this reason. As soon as I found out that MTH had more to offer than Lionel, about the only thing left that I bought Lionel was the track!!