I know there is generally a lot of quiet interest in the Surfliner and Amtrak California scheme. *FINALLY* Walthers is producing these cars (announced in their flyer I got today, but also available on their site already):
Amtrak California Coach (932-16165)
Amtrak Surfliner Coach (932-16166)
While these two releases are only the coach cars, I'd imagine the business and lounge cars would be released at some point as well. (I am also uncertain how prototypical they are, as I've not looked too closely at the image rendition.)
The Walthers California Car is just a Superliner in Amtrak California striping. The real cars have two entry doors on the lower level on each side. Phbbbbt on Walthers.....
Edit: I missed their disclaimer the first viewing that they were Superliners that were being leased to Amtrak California. I retract the raspberries. However, doing real California cars would have been the classy thing to do.
Bill
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig"
Just want to clarify this for those who don't know.
These "new" Walthers models are Superliner coaches in the Surfliner and Amtrak California paint schemes and not the California Cars that are the standard cars in these two paint schemes.
The Walthers models are prototypical, but these cars are not very common (only 7 thus far). They are all named in the "Grove" series. Here is a great link that has the numbers of these cars:
California Superliner I
For those who really know their Superliners, you'll note two in the "Grove" series are technically Superliner I Coach Baggage cars. And to get even more technical, 31592 (renumbered to 34960) was a Coach Smoker.
This is the basic story on these coaches:
California needed more double decker coaches for their trains. Amtrak happened to have some Superliner I coaches in need of wreck repairs sitting in the Beech Grove shops. Some needed these repairs for several years. California paid for the repairs and got the cars. Turned out to be more cost effective to rebuild the Superliners then to purchase brand new cars.
The interesting thing about these coaches is they are still Superliners. Meaning one entrance door per side downstairs. And the doors are not automatic like on the California Cars. So if you want it to open, an Amtrak conductor needs to open it for you.
Photos always explain better then what I can type:
California Car in Amtrak California Paint (note the double entrance doors):
California Car in Surfliner Paint (note the double entrance doors):
Superliner I Coach (note the single entrance door)
Superliner I Coach (wreck rebuild) in Surfliner Paint:
Superliner I Coach (wreck rebuild) in Amtrak California Paint:
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Do you know of anywhere else to find HO Amtrak California cars?
sfb
There are only 7 of them, but when I road the surfliner regularly, they were in consist quite often. And depending on the year you model, it is appropriate that not all of them be painted in those colors but in current amtrak colors.
I think I'll get some of these when they are available in Sept. I already have the Athearn Amtrak California F59-PHI loco.
I know it's not prototypical for Denver Union Station, but that's where MRR imagination comes in. My passenger train will be a Denver-L.A. route!!
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Is Athearn going to do any more runs of the Surfliner or CA locomotives? I noticed they've been very scarce for some time now... It really sucks to have locomotives avl. but no cars. Or cars but no locomotive!
Rob
Rob_C Is Athearn going to do any more runs of the Surfliner or CA locomotives? I noticed they've been very scarce for some time now... It really sucks to have locomotives avl. but no cars. Or cars but no locomotive! Rob
I don't know, I must have gotten lucky a few months ago. Caboose hobbies had a crapload of them, now nothing. These were the F59-PHI Cali.