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Post by railthunder on Jan 13, 2018 0:36:47 GMT -8
Passenger cars and passenger trains are highly specialized and with so many variations by prototype road it's certainly realistic that not everything can be done. Still, there is a lot of opportunity in spite of varying tolerances of what is acceptable with variations and stand ins. A lot of suggestions will not be new, but certainly interesting discussion. What would you like to see?
I would love to see a Seaboard Air Line Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Silver Comet. As mentioned there is a golden opportunity with doing these trains in that they operated over the Pennsy, RF&P, and Seaboard Air Line and had great post SAL time span use with Seaboard Coast Line and Amtrak in several versions. Walthers has done a couple coach variations and the Tavern Lounge Observation over the years but with several more car types could have the train knocked out.
All this aside I would be equally thrilled if Rapido took a chance at doing a southeast prototype such as an ACL Champion or Florida East Coat variant or Southern Crescent. Florida is a very popular vacation place for Canadians let us model your journeys to and from here!
The Auto Train is another awesome opportunity. Again Walthers has done the Auto Racks some time ago and the City UP Cars, and Santa Fe Full Dome variations, but not in the original AT paint. With the recently released Atlas U36B units in Auto Train it's a natural companion idea. Until then I'm going to probably doctor up several old Bachmann Full Domes and Auto Carriers. There is opportunity for several cars if Walthers ever did the exATSF steam heater cars and the right series of ATSF Regal Sleepers which should definitely be done for the ATSF folks too. I'm hopeful we'll see Kato do an HO version of the N Scale Auto Train auto carrier.
The Illinois Central Panama Limited just cries to be modeled. Several Walthers cars have been done in the past and we'll see E8s this year so it's ideal timing to think about it. The other IC trains could easily be modeled such as the Hawkeye, City of Miami, Seminole etc. What would be tremendous is heavyweight cars that were rebuilt for streamline service. A six axle streamline observation would really snap on the rear of the train!
The Northern Pacific North Coast Limited. This would be a beautiful train and a wonderful hit as well.
The Southern Pacific Sunset Limited and it's smoothside 1960s San Joaquin cousins. The Sunset equipment migrated up the coast and elsewhere on the SP system and the SP's San Joaquins were really neat with the articulated coaches etc.
The CB&Q Denver Zephyr. A perfect compliment to the CZ already done by BLI and again with several different addition car types easily done by them.
I would love to see Rapido take a plunge at doing a US train outside of the northeast just to jump into a different market. Yes, I love the New Haven coaches, but would love to see other markets explored.
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Post by bncascadegreen on Jan 13, 2018 1:28:00 GMT -8
Top notch BN cascade green business cars. BN greinstein green/cream business cars and early BNSF business cars to dead head on my Empire Builder trains. BN Mississippi River chrome business car.
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Post by notabob on Jan 13, 2018 5:24:51 GMT -8
Correct MBTA single level PS/Bombardier BTC-1/CTC-1 commuter cars are sorely needed. Theyβre very similar to Comet II car that widely used by multiple commuter railroads, which makes it easier to define a viable business case to produce them.
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Post by jonklein611 on Jan 13, 2018 5:48:31 GMT -8
Via Renaissance Cars (come on Jason, give me more reasons to light my wallet on fire) LRC cars in the Renaissance scheme (again, please Jason)
Not quite a passenger car, but I wish someone would make the Pittsburgh LRV's.
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Post by riogrande on Jan 13, 2018 6:10:52 GMT -8
D&RGW Prospector series cars including business car 100 Wilson McCarthy, which was rebuilt from one of the 8 original Prospector PS 52 seat char cars.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jan 13, 2018 7:16:28 GMT -8
I'm gonna go the contrary route. At least at first.
I've been studying consists for 1945, and there appears to be one car that shows up all over the US: the early (2410) 12-1 sleeper. Note I said "early". That's because THAT'S the version used in troop service. A LOT. And not just in solid troop trains. I've got consists with just one or two on the head end, for repositioning (empty). Or one trailing. And before the war, they were obviously also common, or there wouldn't have been so many available.
But that ain't gonna happen, 'cause there's no glamor in THAT car. Just ask some of the passengers. Oh, yeah. They really oughta do a couple of teeny mods on their troop sleepers to do the early version. That would be the version that actually saw service in WWII. To go with the 12-1's.
The all-out-what's-your-problem-why-haven't-you-done-it train is the North Coast Limited. It's Western (that sells, everyone says). It's a sleek streamlined "unit" train. It's got domes, as in more than one. It's got one of the best paint schemes ever. And it was pulled by F's. Something Walthers is comfortable with. And just about everyone else, by now.
As a sort of "anti-", I guess, I am sad that BLI had/has two major flaws (to me, who's the one with the money in my fist) in their CZ: a really dumb red tinge in their plating, and dome windows that look like they're recessed a foot. And I've got 3 more Burlington E's due. So, ya know, I COULD........
Ed
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Post by Paul Cutler III on Jan 13, 2018 8:55:19 GMT -8
Well, I know of one passenger car that's coming to market in 2018: the New Haven parlor and parlor-lounges.
For fans of other passenger cars and Rapido's efforts in making them, do what the New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association did: pay Rapido some of the tooling cost to make them. It's really worked well for the NHRHTA as we have the coaches and now the parlors; we got an exclusive on one of the variations (orange w/ skirts), and we've actually made some money, too. But you do need either an individual or an organization with some money to start with, and it would be a good idea to have several hundred like-minded people willing to fork out $80-$100 a car to the tune of 1500-2000 cars like the NHRHTA's membership.
BTW, it's not just Rapido, either. Other manufacturers will at least be willing to talk about custom projects if you have the money. If there's a car that you want (that you think will be a seller), and all it needs are new sides, the costs become much more reasonable (the NHRHTA cars were all new tooling which is big $$$$).
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Jan 13, 2018 9:41:03 GMT -8
I can hope for the North Coast Limited or a rerun of the Armour Yellow and Harbour Mist Gray Milwaukee Road Twin Cities Hiawathas. Maybe even the additional cars for the Olympian Hiawatha.
But reality is that the great rush of named passenger trains from Walthers has seemed to lose some steam as of late.
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Post by autocoach on Jan 13, 2018 9:52:19 GMT -8
After the disappointment of the toy like Sunset/GGD Harriman cars, I guess we need to add Harriman coaches, RPO and Baggage cars to the 2018 wishlist.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2018 11:27:28 GMT -8
2018 won't bring amtrak viewliners I'm betting. Not the viewliner sleepers, diners, or baggage cars.
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Post by bdhicks on Jan 14, 2018 22:31:12 GMT -8
As far as what I need, none of the Milwaukee 261 excursion cars other than the Super Dome and the Skytop Lounge are currently available, and I'd also like a Viewliner baggage for the Empire Builder. As far as what is actually going to come out in 2018 my best guess is not those.
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Post by el3672 on Jan 15, 2018 7:42:31 GMT -8
It will be a big year for the DL&W and Erie fans. Division Point has announced for this year complete Passenger car sets of the "Phoebe Snow" & "Erie Limited".
Also I'd like to see a decent Comet 1 commuter car, Island Works once made a crude version. They recently Stated on there web-site that an improved version could possibly happen.
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Post by slowfreight on Jan 15, 2018 7:45:11 GMT -8
Still waiting for Walthers to make the ex-Metroliner cab cars...
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Post by rails4dmv on Jan 15, 2018 8:31:13 GMT -8
I'll add my $.02.
More commuter cars....although I suspect costly licensing being the major obstacle in seeing more commuter cars being done, I think Atlas is on to something with their modern commuter car series & I hope they decide to expand the line to do Horizon/Comet cars like they have done in O Scale. However, that might require Atlas to do more modern diesels, which I don't see Atlas doing anytime soon. It's taking them close to 4 years just to re-release the AEM-7, and no telling when or if they will ever re-run the Amtrak Phase V Dash 8.
Comet cars with center doors. Amtrak Viewliner sleepers, diners & baggage cars. Metroliner cab cars. Another run of Amfleets, this time that roll properly. Anything Erie Lackawanna, Delaware & Hudson or Lehigh Valley. More plated Walthers Budd passenger cars. BLI P70R passenger cars in Penn Central & Long Island RR Hi-Level Sky Lounge Phase IV & IVb Hi-Level Transition car Phase III Harriman Cars Auto racks in Amtrak Phase IVb Nippon Sharyo Gallery cars
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2018 9:06:48 GMT -8
rails4dmv, I heard a verified rumor that Bachmann is going to announce a re-release of their Amfleets for the 2018 catalog.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jan 15, 2018 9:16:58 GMT -8
All this NEW stuff.
Now, let's get back to the important: Some Barney & Smith steel coaches. The SP&S had a passel.
Other roads having B&S steel coaches were: WM, MONON, ERIE, SOO, NYC, NP and GN. NP had LOTS of B&S cars, which might explain the SP&S purchases.
Ed
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Post by rails4dmv on Jan 15, 2018 9:47:38 GMT -8
rails4dmv, I heard a verified rumor that Bachmann is going to announce a re-release of their Amfleets for the 2018 catalog. I'm assuming Bachmann is re-releasing the Amfleets to coincide with the ACS-64, which I'm patiently waiting for. I hope they don't do foobie SEPTA Amfleets for the SEPTA ACS-64 they announced right before X-mas. Bachmann's new run of updated heavyweight cars look pretty good, so fingers crossed that Bachmann does a respectable update to the Amfleets. No yellowish interior lighting and the ability to shut off the red EOT LEDs in each of the cars would be nice. I was hoping Rapido might tackle Amfleets down the road. But any manufacturer willing to tackle Amfleets or even Horizon/Comet commuter cars should contact Rapido to see if they can copy their inner bearing design. Their second run of LRC cars which uses a inner bearing roll & run flawlessly!
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Post by rockisland652 on Jan 15, 2018 10:40:37 GMT -8
I'll add my $.02. More commuter cars....although I suspect costly licensing being the major obstacle in seeing more commuter cars being done, I think Atlas is on to something with their modern commuter car series & I hope they decide to expand the line to do Horizon/Comet cars like they have done in O Scale. However, that might require Atlas to do more modern diesels, which I don't see Atlas doing anytime soon. It's taking them close to 4 years just to re-release the AEM-7, and no telling when or if they will ever re-run the Amtrak Phase V Dash 8. Comet cars with center doors. Amtrak Viewliner sleepers, diners & baggage cars. Metroliner cab cars. Another run of Amfleets, this time that roll properly. Anything Erie Lackawanna, Delaware & Hudson or Lehigh Valley. More plated Walthers Budd passenger cars. BLI P70R passenger cars in Penn Central & Long Island RR Hi-Level Sky Lounge Phase IV & IVb Hi-Level Transition car Phase III Harriman Cars Auto racks in Amtrak Phase IVb Nippon Sharyo Gallery cars Budd gallery cars.
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Post by Chet on Jan 15, 2018 11:00:53 GMT -8
edwardsutorik, I will have to agree with you on the North Coast Limited. I am probably a bit partial as when I was growing up, we rode on the North Coast Limited on a regular basis, but it was one of the major railroads serving the Pacific northwest.
I have tried to build a North Coast Limited, but the proper cars are not available unless you have a fortune to spend on them. I recently completed my version having custom painted an F-3A and F-7B unit to go with my Athearn Genisis F-7. Most of the cars are from Walthers and the train does resemble the North Coast Limited.
To top it all off, the model railroad club I operate at is located in the old Northern Pacific Depot in Livingston, MT.
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timmie
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Post by timmie on Jan 15, 2018 11:52:24 GMT -8
If Athearn would re-release their Bombardier bi levels at the Genisis quality level, perhaps with operating head, ditch, and end of train lights from the factory.... The first release looked good, but didn't run worth beans..even after hours of tune ups. Perhaps another manufacturer may pick up the torch here π Maybe an accurate GO transit locomotive. Hint hint Jason. Lol
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Jan 15, 2018 12:02:35 GMT -8
edwardsutorik, I will have to agree with you on the North Coast Limited. I am probably a bit partial as when I was growing up, we rode on the North Coast Limited on a regular basis, but it was one of the major railroads serving the Pacific northwest. I have tried to build a North Coast Limited, but the proper cars are not available unless you have a fortune to spend on them. I recently completed my version having custom painted an F-3A and F-7B unit to go with my Athearn Genisis F-7. Most of the cars are from Walthers and the train does resemble the North Coast Limited. The demand for the NCL seems to be a real want by NP and Hill Lines modelers. When you see the Great Northern Empire Builder 46-seat dome coach decorated in NP paint selling for $150+ on e-Bay each and every time, that would seem to indicate demand. A Challenger NCL 3 car add on set in Lowey, recently sold for over $1500.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jan 15, 2018 12:30:33 GMT -8
And so, with the NCL, we come to the colors to paint it.
Shall Walthers match:
W&R Challenger Walthers (their previously mentioned dome coach) Athearn (their various F's) (yeah, right) NPRHA (laboriously researched) color drift cards other?
Ed
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Post by sd80mac on Jan 15, 2018 13:45:31 GMT -8
I think it's high time for a CB&Q style stainless-steel, fluted side Bi-level commuter car, and subsequent Metra versions that followed.
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Post by slowfreight on Jan 15, 2018 17:15:54 GMT -8
I think it's high time for a CB&Q style stainless-steel, fluted side Bi-level commuter car, and subsequent Metra versions that followed. I would prefer the Milwaukee version, which was later ordered by the Rock and RTA, including some that went to the Q. The Burlington version did not roam or get adopted elsewhere.
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Post by slowfreight on Jan 15, 2018 17:21:44 GMT -8
If Athearn would re-release their Bombardier bi levels at the Genisis quality level, perhaps with operating head, ditch, and end of train lights from the factory.... The first release looked good, but didn't run worth beans..even after hours of tune ups. Perhaps another manufacturer may pick up the torch here π Maybe an accurate GO transit locomotive. Hint hint Jason. Lol I believe we have three or four very accurate GO units. Atlas did the as-delivered GP40-2L, while Athearn did the 1993+ version. And True Line Trains did a beautiful MP40. Sadly, you have to kitbash an APU or APCU to run with the GP40s--which is the path I took. Sounds like the F59PH has been in development at Rapido, and Kaslo has a kit for it as well. Unfortunately, the BBD coaches aren't completely accurate but I don't see anyone else having an appetite to cut tooling on those.
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Post by chessie77 on Jan 15, 2018 19:52:21 GMT -8
I'm hoping for an eventual release from Walthers of the D&RGW Prospector. I need the baggage, mail & express, and the diner.
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Jan 16, 2018 4:25:45 GMT -8
I think it's high time for a CB&Q style stainless-steel, fluted side Bi-level commuter car, and subsequent Metra versions that followed. I would prefer the Milwaukee version, which was later ordered by the Rock and RTA, including some that went to the Q. The Burlington version did not roam or get adopted elsewhere. Actually the former Q bi-levels are now very common on Metra's Southwest Service. Some of the former Q cars have been sold to other transit agencies.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Jan 16, 2018 5:30:52 GMT -8
+1 for the Sunset Limited and Budd bilevels. I would also like to see the Amtrak California/Surfliner cars, Metra Nippon Sharyo gallery cars, and more Phase III Amfleets from Walthers.
Donnell
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timmie
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by timmie on Jan 16, 2018 5:54:02 GMT -8
If Athearn would re-release their Bombardier bi levels at the Genisis quality level, perhaps with operating head, ditch, and end of train lights from the factory.... The first release looked good, but didn't run worth beans..even after hours of tune ups. Perhaps another manufacturer may pick up the torch here π Maybe an accurate GO transit locomotive. Hint hint Jason. Lol I believe we have three or four very accurate GO units. Atlas did the as-delivered GP40-2L, while Athearn did the 1993+ version. And True Line Trains did a beautiful MP40. Sadly, you have to kitbash an APU or APCU to run with the GP40s--which is the path I took. Sounds like the F59PH has been in development at Rapido, and Kaslo has a kit for it as well. Unfortunately, the BBD coaches aren't completely accurate but I don't see anyone else having an appetite to cut tooling on those. I realize the GP40s + GP40-2L, even the F40 were pretty good but were mostly out of service by early 90s..I'm referring to the F59s. There are nice new cab cars now too. I'd just like a decent running set of cars..a 6 unit consist need 2 locos to push/pull it! Too much drag from the truck design.
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Post by roadkill on Jan 16, 2018 6:12:28 GMT -8
Even though I don't really need any I'm disappointed that Walthers cancelled their PRR P70 series. Would probably have bought several P70FAR's in Plain Keystone and Penn Central had they ended up doing them.
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