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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 2, 2015 5:49:38 GMT -8
Hi guys, Bill and I are in Hartford where we did a big sales presentation to dealers yesterday, and we found that a lot of people didn't know some of the facts about our F40 model, so I'm sharing the most common of these. 1. The windshield safety grilles are optional. They are not installed on the Phase 2 model, but they are included in the box with all models. Some guys had only ordered Phase 3s because they thought all the Phase 2s had the grilles on them. 2. The strobe lights work. When you hit the horn on your sound-equipped model, the strobes will start flashing for about five seconds. They both flash randomly, and they flash independently from each other - just like the prototype. 3. The models have good heft to them, and will have no problem hauling a long train of free-rolling passenger cars. 4. The see-through radiator grilles with the shutters visible underneath are just so awesome! Last month we extended the order deadline until June 4th (because our big distributor sales presentation was this week). We start production next week. So it's not too late to get your orders in. www.rapidotrains.com/f40amt1.htmlThanks and regards, Jason   |
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Post by atsfan on Jun 2, 2015 6:03:40 GMT -8
I am in for a dozen of the SD40-2.
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Post by NS4122 on Jun 2, 2015 6:17:12 GMT -8
The F40s look spectacular. I was very impressed with the samples when I saw them at Springfield.
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Post by nightmare0331 on Jun 2, 2015 6:29:23 GMT -8
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Post by Spikre on Jun 2, 2015 6:55:08 GMT -8
?? Jason, do Your Blomberg sideframes have "DOFASCO" on them in the proper Script ? just wondering ? Spikre  |
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Post by dti406 on Jun 2, 2015 6:55:33 GMT -8
I am in for a dozen of the SD40-2.  |
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Post by riogrande on Jun 2, 2015 7:40:11 GMT -8
Looking good Jason!
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Post by atsfan on Jun 2, 2015 7:44:40 GMT -8
I am in for a dozen of the SD40-2. It is coming. And will be a big seller. Special run of star trek action figures in the cab. |
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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 2, 2015 8:31:34 GMT -8
?? Jason, do Your Blomberg sideframes have "DOFASCO" on them in the proper Script ? just wondering ? Spikre Our VIA F40PH-2d models have Dofasco logos on the trucks, but our Amtrak F40PH trucks were cast by Rockwell International, and thus have the Rockwell foundry logo on them. See the photo below. Yes, we go to the extreme of having the correct foundry logo on our trucks..... We would make a lot more money if we didn't care about this stuff!  -Jason  |
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Post by Spikre on Jun 2, 2015 8:49:48 GMT -8
 Jason, that is good to know,but,there were also Amtrak F40s with Dofasco trucks under them. don't know how many,but have seen them on the Florida bound F40s thru here. Spikre
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Post by bar on Jun 2, 2015 8:50:35 GMT -8
You know the saying -- Go small or don't go at all!
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Post by calzephyr on Jun 2, 2015 8:59:03 GMT -8
WOW, really a nice model Jason.
I don't model Amtrak but will pick up one of these!
RR
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Post by stevewagner on Jun 2, 2015 9:23:12 GMT -8
Re F40PH's "hauling a long train": I'm no expert on Amtrak, but I've ridden Amtrak trains in the Northeast quite a bit. I thought I'd heard that one F40PH unit was only supposed to haul seven cars or so. Can anybody either confirm, refute or qualify this?
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Post by riogrande on Jun 2, 2015 10:35:49 GMT -8
The California Zephyr over the Rockies often rated only 2 F40PH's on a train with up to 11 Superliners, 1 Transition and a couple baggage, so that works out to 7 cars per engine. Often there would be 3 F40PH's on the CZ.
I road on a CZ in 1990 westbound out of Denver, I counted 17 cars total including all the Superliners, two ex-ElCapitan cars (1 was a transition car, the other a second diner on the rear end), 3 MHC and 1 baggage; that train had 4 F40PH's pulling it so I guess Amtrak wasn't taking any chances? They were arranged IIRC two facing forward and two facing rearward. Quite a train. My return trip had two F40's plus a DR&GW GP40-2 pilot loco #3113 all the way from SLC to Denver? Long time ago now!
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Post by kcjones on Jun 2, 2015 12:29:06 GMT -8
Jason,
I would think that your definition of "free rolling" is the key. I equate that to 9 or 10 of your cars vs TWO Walthers Amfleets. Just sayin' !!
JL
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Post by petehuse on Jun 2, 2015 12:54:08 GMT -8
I have DC only...do the strobes work in that mode too (I hope!)
thanks
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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 2, 2015 15:03:07 GMT -8
I have DC only...do the strobes work in that mode too (I hope!) thanks The real strobes were only turned on when approaching a level crossing or a station, as far as I know. I'm not sure if you'd want them on all the time. In DC as you don't have function buttons they would always be on. I will check with ESU to see what our options are and report back. Another option would be to invest in an MRC Tech 6 controller as it allows you to control DCC functions in DC. -Jason |
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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 2, 2015 15:05:07 GMT -8
I should add that if we can get the strobes working in DC, it would only be on the sound-equipped unit. The DC silent model has no way to operate random flashing lights in DC as it doesn't have a decoder in it.
-Jason
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Post by hexomega2319 on Jun 2, 2015 18:24:33 GMT -8
Is it possible to have the strobes run at all times? The prototype had a toggle switch and it was operated separately from the horn.
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Post by hexomega2319 on Jun 2, 2015 18:49:24 GMT -8
They were added for increased visibility for a variety of situations such as arriving at stations, moving around yards, grade crossing awareness and things of that nature. There's a switch in the cab with 3 settings: Off=no Strobes, On=strobe constantly and Auto=strobe when the horn is blown. They originally flashed at the same time but by the mid 1980's it was realized that the single pattern flashing was too mesmerizing for the engineers at night so they moved to the out of sequence flashing pattern. If you watch videos from the late 70s-mid 80s many F40 had strobes that ran in a single flash pattern with some even surviving until the early 1990s. Here are a few good examples from 1985 showing the single flash pattern still in use: Empire Builder 1985, Carolinian 1985. All of the phase 2 F40phs would have had a single flashing pattern. It's safe to say that around 1985 they were starting to get switched over. I personally am really looking forward to this F40p Jason, it's a dream come true for a demanding rivet counter such as myself! Corey |
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Post by stevewagner on Jun 3, 2015 5:08:22 GMT -8
I waited for Northeast Corridor Amtrak trains several times at Route 128 station in Westwood, Mass., located on a very long straight stretch of track from the southwesternmost part of the city of Boston (Readville, where the New Haven used to have a major car shop) toward Rhode Island. The strobe light gave us plenty of warning that the train would be arriving shortly.
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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 3, 2015 5:30:57 GMT -8
Is it possible to have the strobes run at all times? The prototype had a toggle switch and it was operated separately from the horn. You bet. The strobes can be switched on at any time. I will look into whether or not it is possible to have them flash together instead of the default random flash. It should simply be a matter of changing some CVs. Below is a factory drawing of how the strobes (and other lights) are lit from the chassis. Our goal with all of our models from our new factory is that there are no wires connecting the shell and the chassis, so you can remove the shell just by removing the couplers and lifting it off. We've been successful so far. Best regards, Jason  |
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Post by bnsf971 on Jun 3, 2015 5:42:02 GMT -8
It looks like if you really, really wanted to, you could remove one feed from one flasher output, bridge the two strobes together, and have them both flash at the same time. Probably not an alteration for the faint of heart, it would probably cause warranty issues, if you ever needed it fixed under warranty.
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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 3, 2015 7:25:50 GMT -8
It looks like if you really, really wanted to, you could remove one feed from one flasher output, bridge the two strobes together, and have them both flash at the same time. Probably not an alteration for the faint of heart, it would probably cause warranty issues, if you ever needed it fixed under warranty. I've checked with ESU. 1. The strobes can work in DC. That is no problem. I think actually it would be a good idea to get them to work in DC all the time - they are very cool. But I have to repeat they will only work on the sound-equipped model. 2. Getting them to flash together should be no problem, as it can be programmed that way in the decoder. -Jason |
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Post by alcoc430 on Jun 3, 2015 9:32:42 GMT -8
Are the strobes INCLUDED on the DC only model (even though they don't work)?
And will the windshield cages be available separately?
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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 3, 2015 9:37:33 GMT -8
Are the strobes INCLUDED on the DC only model (even though they don't work)? And will the windshield cages be available separately? They are of course included, otherwise you'd have two big holes in the roof! In fact, you could plug in a decoder later on and get them to work again. So if you go with DC now but upgrade to DCC later, they will be ready to function as designed (provided your decoder can handle the random flashing). We may sell the cages separately, but these days we've been too busy to get our parts sales organized. -Jason |
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Post by bnsf971 on Jun 3, 2015 12:37:15 GMT -8
It looks like if you really, really wanted to, you could remove one feed from one flasher output, bridge the two strobes together, and have them both flash at the same time. Probably not an alteration for the faint of heart, it would probably cause warranty issues, if you ever needed it fixed under warranty. I've checked with ESU. 1. The strobes can work in DC. That is no problem. I think actually it would be a good idea to get them to work in DC all the time - they are very cool. But I have to repeat they will only work on the sound-equipped model. 2. Getting them to flash together should be no problem, as it can be programmed that way in the decoder. -Jason That's good to know. It'll save some trauma (and drama) later on, knowing this. Now, for the next question: will you be including a cv list with the engines, or put up a .pdf on y'all's website with them? Or both? |
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Post by rapidotrains on Jun 3, 2015 14:43:49 GMT -8
That's good to know. It'll save some trauma (and drama) later on, knowing this. Now, for the next question: will you be including a cv list with the engines, or put up a .pdf on y'all's website with them? Or both? We include a 16-page instruction manual (and 16 more pages in French!) with every one of our engines. It has full programming info along with tips and tricks. -Jason |
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Post by atsfan on Jun 3, 2015 16:25:05 GMT -8
I had AHM brass Amfleet cars back in the day.
Not sure what I did with them. I sold them or traded them.
I also had a brass FP40. This looks as nice.
I moved away from Amtrak though since. I hope these do well.
And yes I am blabbering, but, if you do a SD40-2 I will need to sell an automobile or kidney to keep up with the order................!
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jun 3, 2015 16:42:35 GMT -8
With the design shown in the drawing above, I'm worried that the strobes won't look "strobish". A strobe is practically a point source. It looks like the whole strobe dome is going to evenly flash, instead of having a point source inside a larger clearish dome.
The Walthers GP30 I recently bought had this problem--the dome flashes, the strobe doesn't.
Ed
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