Athearn came out with the Bombardier Commuter cars and Walthers has the regular Amtrak Superliner cars, but what about the commuter cars? What would it take for us to get someone to come out with some.? I’m talking: Amtrak California, Surfliner, Etc. Tell me are there guys out there that would like to see them or is it just me? Should I wine and complain about this to Walthers or should I just shut up and paint some up myself? (note: Overland doesn’t have their Surfliner anymore)
I don’t know how many times i asked this question. My wife acually bought me the surfliner cars by overland last year and they are really beautiful, but as far as being able to run the on my layout I have had a lot off problems. They need huge curves and the lights stopped working in half the cars. And I am pulling these expensive beautiful cars with a Athearn engine that dosn’t have enough weight to go up my small grade without wheel slipping. I am glad she bought these carsbut I would buy a second set of plastic in heartbeat.
Union Station Products is doing sides for the California cars now…
http://www.unionstationproducts.com
The problem with commuter cars in general is that most cars are built for a specific commuter rail agency thus resulting in numerous unique cars. Since unique commuter equipment would have a limited market outside of that car’s metropolitan area/region, there’s little incentive for manufacturers to make them. Commuter cars that have been produced by Walthers and Athearns we models purchased by multiple commuter agencies. Amtrak equipment, although unique to Amtrak, can be found roaming across the nation, thus has the potential for a nationwide appeal.
I agree with you that I would love to see more commuter equipment, but I doubt that any major manufacturer will make them. I’m still waiting for someone to make New Jersey Transit’s Arrow III cars.
But perhaps there is hope in some distant future… Life Like did make those New York City Subway cars and company’s such as Broadway Limited and Precision have came out with railroad specific prototype models that are very unique , so who knows.
Wow, they must be heavy or have a LOT of roll resistance. One of my Athearn P-42’s will pull a Walther’s Superliner train of 12 cars up a 2% grade on a constant 36 inch radius.