OK Amtrak modelers, after searching for an on-line resource for 15 minutes I have come up empty on finding the actual dates that the various phase paint schemes were introduced.
From my memory and/or the Microscale catalog I have this:
phase 1: 1971 - 1975 or '76
phase 2: 1975 or '76 - 1980?
phase 3: 1980? - 1994
phase 4: 1994 - 2001
phase 5: 2001 -
A customer and I need to find as exact a date as you can give us on when the different phases were introduced.
He is modeling 1978 and I’m sure he can use the phase 2 scheme, and 1.
I am modeling December of 2001 and wondered when the phase 5 was introduced in 2001 (if indeed that year is correct) and if any phase 3 painted cars, such as MHCs, might still have been around.
Or can someone point me in the direction of a resource that would have these answers?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
edit: went to the fallen flags site and found a few shots of ph. 3 cars in the 2001- 2003 years, also will check my own Amtrak photos sometime this weekend. Also found some shots of the ph. 5 scheme in early 2001on the fallen flags site. Should’ve gone there in the first place.
Any other advice on Amtrak paint scheme dates would still be appreciated.