Hello,
I plan on expanding my model, railroad from a 4x8 to a 4x11. Also I’m upgrading to DCC. I love Amtrak and I would like to have a Amtrak train on my layout with my conrail local that runs daily. So I was wondering what paint scheme amtrack was using in the 1980s? What type of locomotives? How big were the stations? How long of trains and what type of cars they consisted of? That’s quite a lot of questions but I hope you guys can help.
Thnaks in advance,
Chris
ROAR
(Google “AMTRAK 1980” which is what I did.)
Cool question. The early 80s was a neat period since Amtrak still had a wide variety of equipment.
Locomotives…
I rode Amtrak regularly during that period. By 1980, Amtrak’s #1 diesel powered workhorse was the F40PH. The Phase 3 scheme was applied to motive power beginning in 1980, so most F40s were still running around in Phase 2 colors. F40s hauled Amfleet I and Amfleet II equipment. They also hauled the rebuilt Budd “Heritage” cars. The Heritage cars were former steam heated units that had been in the Phase I paint scheme and rebuilt with electrically powered heating/ac systems. They were repainted into the Phase 3 scheme.
For an HO F40PH, the BEST out there is by RAPIDO TRAINS INC. The paint scheme is crisp and accurate as is the body detailing. The onboard sound, including the horn is excellent! http://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale-amtrak-f40ph/
The EMD SDP40fs (seen in the above post with the YouTube clip) were still running. They hauled trains with cars that were still steam heated in the Phase 1 scheme. It was not unusual to see a pair of SDP40fs hauling 15 to 18 car long NY to Florida trains. Athearn is planning on producing a Genesis versions of these brutes in different paint schemes, soon.
The GE P30CH’s (nicknamed “POOCHES”) were also running during this period and were most notable for hauling the Auto Train and Sunset Limited, although they worked other runs as well. Hopefully if the Athearn’s SDP40fs sell well, management will consider producing a P30CH.
In the northeast GE E60 series locomotives were hauling a variety of trains, mostly long distance runs, as well as a few locals. Their yawing/pitching problems resulted in the FRA restricting them to 90mph speeds (although “allegedly” some engineers were known to push them beyond that speed on long stretches if running behi
If you plan to run Amtrak trains on you layout, you may want to consider a complete re-design. If your layout is limited to a 48" width, you will be stuck with 18" or 22" radii. Full lenth passenger cars won’t negotiate that trackage. Minimum radius for 85’ cars is 24 inch, but they should have at least 30". If possible you should look to an around the wall design that would allow at least 36" radius.
I heartily agree. At the very least, think long and hard about widening the layout as well as lengthening it so you can run 85’ passenger cars - I strongly suggest a minimum radius of 28-inchs if you can swing it and even those are tight radius for 85’ cars (visually anyway). I’ve got 32" minimums and even those look tight.
Amrak would have been using the phase II paint by 1980 (wide red and blue stripes separated by a thin white stripe. Within a few years, around start repainting in the equal size red/white/blue stripes referred to as phase III.
Athearn is reportedly working on a Genesis level SDP40F, which I have always wanted a pair of, but no announcement as of yet.
From memory: As for trains, it totally depends on which region etc. Originally Superliners were introduced around 1979 but were mostly limited to western trains due because eastern routes had limited clearances. Easter long distrance Amtrak trains like the Broadway Ltd or Lakeshore Ltc etc. ran with heritage single level equipment inherited from the private companties when the NRPC was first formed.
The California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Chief and Coast Star Light were outfited with Superliner cars early on. I think the Sunset Ltd (San Diego to Florida) used a combination of single level cars and ex-El Capitan bi-level cars. Eastern routes were eventually upgraded with the roundish Amfleet coaches and food service cars in the early 1980’s.
As
Thank you very much everyone, lots of good information!
Also, did conrail run any buisness type passenger trains?
One of the sharpest looking of all—IMHO
Go to the last post here:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/256126.aspx
You can still find Life-Like/Walthers E-8s painted for the C-R OCS (Office Car Special).
Regards, Ed
thanks, the only thing is finding the passenger cars painted in the CR scheme. I had trouble finding any.
I was recently bitten by the bug to make a small version of the OCS.
I’m painting my own cars. Walthers has the ex-Santa Fe ex-Autotrain Budd dome on sale and I have several other donors for business cars. I have a Proto E-8 that will become the 4022.
Microscale has a decal set:
And an outfit called “Train Station Products” makes car sides and end windows for a “theater car”
http://trainstationproducts.com/
I bought my parts through Blue Ridge Hobbies but the order has not arrived yet.
Here is how one modeler made the UP cars, just for an idea…
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/219994/2581674.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/219994/2581674.aspx
Good Luck, Ed
Is there a region of Conrail that you’re modeling?
Amtrak has many passenger trains. Narrowing it down to a single train and passenger equipment, I could help.
Try to get the Walthers Amtrak station before their all discontinued. They started life in 1978 in Rochester, NY.
Im modeling the Dearborn Div. of conrail in Michigan. Also im not familar with building kits, though im up for the challange. What type of glue should i use, and what are some good strategies to use?
Hope that helps,
chris
This might surprise some people.
Conrail Michigan Line
The Wolverine from PC to AMTK (350/351)
In 1971-75 They inherited PC locomotives and coaches, later repainted into Phase I. The consist was an E unit with 4-5 heritage cars (coaches, lounge, and round observation car).
1975-1981 RTG Turboliners were used in Michigan service. In occasion in 1980 to 1981 an F40 locomotive might appear with Amfleet I coaches in a Cafe-Lounge, and 3 coaches. All in Phase II paint.
Almost the same information on the Twilight Limited, Lake Cities, and pre-2004 Blue Water.
There was no P30CH, nor SDP40F in service.
Found this picture, but ofcourse im having trouble finding the turboliners in HO!
Would this be a gooe E unit to use?
Thanks,
Chris
I wouldn’t get the BLI E8 Amtrak 341
Ex-Burlington Northern #9947 that wore it’s Burlington Route paint in 1971-73. This locomotive had a dual headlight.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=396115
When Amtrak repainted it somewhere in the mid-late 1973. It’s nose headlight might been changed, only two pictures exists.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=129599
You could move the year up a bit in 1981/82 to have Amfleets and F40s.
Edit: They do model the RTG Turboliner in HO, but I don’t know who makes it. Or how old it is. You might find one on EBay.