Modeling Amtrak

[Anonymous]

Guys,

I am preparing the plans for my new layout in my new 18 x 21 ft space. I am interested in modern day operations particularly around Richmond VA where I live. I will have two large yards and run equipment from the CSX, NS and RF&P railroads and possibly create my own fictitious short line. I will also have Amtrak on the layout.

We get three kinds of Amtrak trains through here. Some are just short trains that appear to have little accommodations. Others are longer and will have a few MHC and Tractor Trailers pulled Fuel-Foiler style at the rear. The third train we get through here is the Auto Train that runs from Northern Virginia to Southern Florida with plenty of accommodations. Would someone tell me where I might find a Fuel-Foiler style car for my Amtrak (HO Scale) particularly if the trailer is lettered for the USPS?

I discussed this with a friend in the office and he said modeling Amtrak was a great idea if I planned to invite guests for an operating session. I figured that sounded good because the guest could essentially highball the Amtrak all the way through and a novice operator shouldn't have any problem doing that. Then he pulled the string . . . He said that it was great because the operator didn't have to keep any schedule and had free license to mess up the rest of the entire district while he snaked his way through. [:)] I laughed out loud and decided he was absolutely right.

Catch you later. - Ed

[Anonymous]

Guys,

I am preparing the plans for my new layout in my new 18 x 21 ft space. I am interested in modern day operations particularly around Richmond VA where I live. I will have two large yards and run equipment from the CSX, NS and RF&P railroads and possibly create my own fictitious short line. I will also have Amtrak on the layout.

We get three kinds of Amtrak trains through here. Some are just short trains that appear to have little accommodations. Others are longer and will have a few MHC and Tractor Trailers pulled Fuel-Foiler style at the rear. The third train we get through here is the Auto Train that runs from Northern Virginia to Southern Florida with plenty of accommodations. Would someone tell me where I might find a Fuel-Foiler style car for my Amtrak (HO Scale) particularly if the trailer is lettered for the USPS?

I discussed this with a friend in the office and he said modeling Amtrak was a great idea if I planned to invite guests for an operating session. I figured that sounded good because the guest could essentially highball the Amtrak all the way through and a novice operator shouldn't have any problem doing that. Then he pulled the string . . . He said that it was great because the operator didn't have to keep any schedule and had free license to mess up the rest of the entire district while he snaked his way through. [:)] I laughed out loud and decided he was absolutely right.

Catch you later. - Ed

[emdgp92]

I don't know of any Fuel Foilers are available. However, just about everything else Amtrak runs is.

[emdgp92]

I don't know of any Fuel Foilers are available. However, just about everything else Amtrak runs is.

[Anonymous]

I stopped by the LHS at lunch today. They had an HO Scale model kit for a Road Runner that is essentially what I was looking for. It was expensive by my standards and they only had one "Transition" car and one regular car. I will need another car or two to make it look right. The kits were produced by a company called Durango, or something like that. The LHS guy ordered another one for me but has no idea when it may come in.

Does anyone know what the difference between a Road Runner and a Fuel Foiler is? I just plan to build the Road Runner kit, paint it white, slap a USPS decal on it and let 'er rip. Incidently, the tires on the trailer are white metal castings that will help add weight to the thing, but I believe I will have to add weight inside the trailer. These jokers should probably be weighted to NMRA standards like anything else on the track. Maybe I'll see if I can find a cheap FRED for this thing.

Later - Ed

[Anonymous]

I stopped by the LHS at lunch today. They had an HO Scale model kit for a Road Runner that is essentially what I was looking for. It was expensive by my standards and they only had one "Transition" car and one regular car. I will need another car or two to make it look right. The kits were produced by a company called Durango, or something like that. The LHS guy ordered another one for me but has no idea when it may come in.

Does anyone know what the difference between a Road Runner and a Fuel Foiler is? I just plan to build the Road Runner kit, paint it white, slap a USPS decal on it and let 'er rip. Incidently, the tires on the trailer are white metal castings that will help add weight to the thing, but I believe I will have to add weight inside the trailer. These jokers should probably be weighted to NMRA standards like anything else on the track. Maybe I'll see if I can find a cheap FRED for this thing.

Later - Ed

[Anonymous]

Ed:

The Road Railers that you're seeing on the rear of those Amtrak trains are available in HO from Bowser (http://www.bowser-trains.com/hocars/roadrail/roadrail.htm), including the ones with the side doors painted in the Amtrak phase 4 scheme (wide blue stripe). Bowser makes a Coupler Mate that allows you to couple a string of the Road Railers to the rear of your last passenger car. BTW, the Durango Press cars are based on an earlier prototype that was 40 ft. in length. The Bowser Road Railers are based on a 53 ft. prototype made by Wabash National. If no shops in the Richmond area keep stock, and you're willing to mail order, I recommend Becker's in the Twin Cities (members.aol.com/wcbecker). Good luck modeling the Amtrak trains. I rode one to DC in July. (We even overtook the Juice Train in the former Potomac Yard area.)

[Anonymous]

Ed:

The Road Railers that you're seeing on the rear of those Amtrak trains are available in HO from Bowser (http://www.bowser-trains.com/hocars/roadrail/roadrail.htm), including the ones with the side doors painted in the Amtrak phase 4 scheme (wide blue stripe). Bowser makes a Coupler Mate that allows you to couple a string of the Road Railers to the rear of your last passenger car. BTW, the Durango Press cars are based on an earlier prototype that was 40 ft. in length. The Bowser Road Railers are based on a 53 ft. prototype made by Wabash National. If no shops in the Richmond area keep stock, and you're willing to mail order, I recommend Becker's in the Twin Cities (members.aol.com/wcbecker). Good luck modeling the Amtrak trains. I rode one to DC in July. (We even overtook the Juice Train in the former Potomac Yard area.)

[Dbcxyz123]

Cool!!

[Dbcxyz123]

Cool!!

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well don't get too attached to seeing those things on the tail end of Amtrak trains. There is a topic over on the Trains Magazine forum about that service being cut by Amtrak. It may only be rumor, but it may be based in fact. It sounds like a beef with the teamsters claiming that it is unfair because Amtrak is subsidized by the government. Here is the topic link. Of course you are welcome to model it, I plan to have them riding behind my Amtrak Empire Builder regardless.[swg]

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19518

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well don't get too attached to seeing those things on the tail end of Amtrak trains. There is a topic over on the Trains Magazine forum about that service being cut by Amtrak. It may only be rumor, but it may be based in fact. It sounds like a beef with the teamsters claiming that it is unfair because Amtrak is subsidized by the government. Here is the topic link. Of course you are welcome to model it, I plan to have them riding behind my Amtrak Empire Builder regardless.[swg]

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19518

[Anonymous]

I have three Roadrailer trains or groups in operation: a 57 RoadRailer NS/Conrail TRIPLE CROWN train, a 12 unit SCHNEIDER group at the rear of an intermodal and 7 AMTK at the rear of a passengerrain.

The TRAINS on LOCATION Video / dvd about "Intermodal" has a very good part about Amtrak´s RoadRailer operations.

BTW: Amtrak runs the Roadrailer in both directions !!!!!!!!!
So it looks perfect when you attach also such a coupler mate instead of a normal truck at the "last" RoadRailer.

And all AMTK Coupler Mates are equipped with handrails at the platform. The handrails are also available at BOWSER (brass cast parts)

More prototype information: http://www.wabashnational.com/products/roadrailer/index.htm

[Anonymous]

I have three Roadrailer trains or groups in operation: a 57 RoadRailer NS/Conrail TRIPLE CROWN train, a 12 unit SCHNEIDER group at the rear of an intermodal and 7 AMTK at the rear of a passengerrain.

The TRAINS on LOCATION Video / dvd about "Intermodal" has a very good part about Amtrak´s RoadRailer operations.

BTW: Amtrak runs the Roadrailer in both directions !!!!!!!!!
So it looks perfect when you attach also such a coupler mate instead of a normal truck at the "last" RoadRailer.

And all AMTK Coupler Mates are equipped with handrails at the platform. The handrails are also available at BOWSER (brass cast parts)

More prototype information: http://www.wabashnational.com/products/roadrailer/index.htm

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

... with the teamsters claiming that it is unfair because Amtrak is subsidized by the government.

Oh, please! That's almost as good as VP Cheney yesterday blaming Democrats for high oil prices because of the ANWR drilling getting nixed (we wouldn't have seen any oil from that for 5-7 years anyway, BTW). [#offtopic] [soapbox]

The Federal Gov't spends how many billion$ each year out of income taxes maintaining the highways? I'd call that a HUGE subsidy, way more than what Amtrak will ever see. In fact, I'd go so far as to call the entire interstate system a trucking subsidy.

You can lie by what you say, as well as by what you don't say.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

... with the teamsters claiming that it is unfair because Amtrak is subsidized by the government.

Oh, please! That's almost as good as VP Cheney yesterday blaming Democrats for high oil prices because of the ANWR drilling getting nixed (we wouldn't have seen any oil from that for 5-7 years anyway, BTW). [#offtopic] [soapbox]

The Federal Gov't spends how many billion$ each year out of income taxes maintaining the highways? I'd call that a HUGE subsidy, way more than what Amtrak will ever see. In fact, I'd go so far as to call the entire interstate system a trucking subsidy.

You can lie by what you say, as well as by what you don't say.