Between Walthers and Bachmann, who make a better Amtrak F40PH?
Thanks
Sean
Walthers.
DITTO and I know Walthers had a later run. I own two from the previous run.
Good performers.
Walthers my freind don’t bother with the Bachman believe me I know.
Thanks to all that responded.My next question, would it be prototypical to see two phase 3 F40PH’s pulling phase 4 superliners?
Thanks
Sean
Yeah, phase 4 cars came in in the late 90’s and even though P40’s and 42’s operated most of them I’m sure it happened a few times.
I’ve seen a photo of a single Phase 3 F40PH with a mixed consist of Phase 3/4 superliners. It looks as though the Phase 3 paint scheme stayed around on the F40PH for many years, often in a very untidy condition. The consist I saw (was in an article in MR on passenger trains) had 5 superliners and an F40PH, no MHCs or Express Boxcars. Certainly 2 F40PHs with 5 superliners, baggage, MHC and Express Boxcars would be a convincing formation, though I’ve not seen photographic evidence of this. Personally, I mix and match in a very unprototypical way (Phase 4 and 5 F40PH, Phase 3 MHC, Phase 2 superliners, Phase 5 Express boxcar…). I just like the look of this formation.
As a reply to the first question, I’d recommend the Walthers F40PH. Quiet, smooth, well-detailed and not too expensive.
Amtrk14,
As others have said, that combination would be fine. Phase IV started being used in 1994, and F40-PH locomotives were common throughout the 90’s (and still get limited use). Although some F40’s were repainted to the Phase IV Scheme, most of them stayed with Phase III.
I spent a great deal of time trying to find an indication of what years the various Amtrak paint schemes were used. After much searching I FINALLY found this great website:
http://www.trainweb.org/amtrakpix/paintschemes/paintschemes.html
[:)]
Thanks Roadtrp for the website and thanks to everyone else for responding.
Sean
One more opinion!
I owned a Bachmann Spectrum version and loved it, especially because of the working strobes. It growled a little but it was a pleasant sound, unlike the annoying sounds coming from several other engines by that manufactuer.
I switched to Walthers because it was going to be such a bear to install a decoder in the Bachmann. I like the Walthers, but it has an annoying buzz if it encounters a sudden curve. Something is rubbing on the shell.
My Walthers has no “buzz” - must just be PT’s luck (or lack thereof) !
Of course, what I would REALLY like is for Atlas to make a more detailed model, but until then my Walthers runs nice and looks ok.
Just like I will stick with my Athearn P40s until Kato makes some in HO scale.
The Walthers F40PH runs better than my blue box Athearn P40s, BTW.
MRR did a review some years back on the Bachmann Spectrum F40. For modelers that want dimensional accuracy, the Spectrum is shorter in height than the prototype. Paint job looks decent though.
My wife’s cousin, a fellow HO modeler, bought two Spectrum F40s from a train show. He had some minor electrical problems with one, but was able to repair it. Strobe lights do look nice.
Currently his only complaint is that he wishes that the units were a little heavier as his Amtrak trains are long (10+ cars). He’s going to buy the lead weight strips from our LHS and install a few inside the locomotives’ shells to see if he can get some better traction.
I was going to suggest to him that he consider repowering the units with Mashima motors but I’ll wait and see what results he gets with adding the weight.
Roger that.
Walthers - but the new KATO will be the best so far !!!
[#ditto} I love my spectrum, and i will take on the task of installing a decoder (my guy at the LHS told me how) in it. This might take me a while, though. Anyone who has done this please help me.
CSXGuy,
Have you considered modeling the two prototype CSX F40s? If I’m not mistaken, they’re numbers 9992 and 9993. They’re ex-Amtrak units used on CSX’s business/Inspection trains. The strobelights are located on the bottom corners of the nose instead of the roof.
When CSX first got them, they were painted in the gray, blue, and yellow scheme. They’ve since been repainted into the Dk. blue “C&O Wannabe” paint scheme.
Just a thought.
Peace.
I have both and my Bachmann’s happily pull anything I put behind them while the Walthers does the same.
The Bachmann’s are in Amtrak and VIA livery and the Walthers is in GO Transit. The Walthers never has to work too hard as it’s assignment is push-pull with a rake of six Bombardier (Athearn) bi-levels in GO livery. The Bachman’s on the other hand, get to pull long Amtrak rakes of both single level and superliners and the two in VIA livery pull various length VIA trains.
Dale
I have the wathers model and i think it is one of the most powerful locomotives i have ever owned it pulled about thirty cars out of the yard on my club layout on like a 2 percent grade with no wheel slipping!On the topic of Amtrak do the still run the 8-32bwh? Atlas makes the new ones with sound but they dont sell it in regular Amtrak,just Amtrak California.
Amtrak uses them as the second or third unit on long distance trains, usually on the ones to/from California; e.g. Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief.
In the late 1990s it was not uncomon to see F40s on the Empire Builder, with their phase 4 superliners, however it seemed that Amtrak got a Genesis in on point whenever they could.
One of the last services I remember the F40s running without any GEs on was the the Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawathas. I’ve been told that the F40 had better pickup than the Genesis but not as much overall power, so it would be perfect for the shorter commuter sprint.
~METRO