I cannot decide weather or not I want to model Metrolink or Amtrak. Any suggestions? I don’t see any pictures of layouts with Metrolink service, so I suppose it’s not as popular as Amtrak. If you model Metrolink, please let me know. Thank you[:)]
I’ve got a couple of the Athearn Metrolink bilevel cars - 1 coach, 1 cab car. They’re very nice models for the money, all you have to add is Kadees to make a model that wouldn’t look out of place on a top layout. I’ve not yet got around to buying one of the matching F59PHIs or F40PHs (Athearn and Walthers respectively). I mainly bought these cars as I wanted another push-pull commuter set to run alongside my C&NW bilevels and liked the look of the cars. The major problem with modelling Metrolink is it limits you geographically, I suspect that’s why it’s not as popular as Amtrak. There’s also not as much variety in locos and cars for Metrolink - I know of two locos, and two car designs available RTR.
Metrolink I believe is a commuter service where Amtral in an intercity service.
Unless you are needing a commuter service, I’d go with Amtrak.
Unless you are wanting commuter cars for excursion service
Gordon
I have 2 Metrolink trains. i really dont know why[:D][:D] both of them are powered by the Athearn F59PHI’s one is a 3 car train, the other is 4 cars. they look good sitting on a shelf next to my Dallas TRE F59PHI and commuter cars. and i dont model anywhere near the era or location of either one [:D]
Metrolink runs around the entire Los Angeles area, and all the way up to Santa Barbara. not sure how far south it goes.
I am new to the hobby, but judging from my four year old Walthers catalog, I like the looks of AmTrack better.
MR71,
It really looks like you have your heart set on the Metrolink rail service. Go for it! Click on this link: www.railpictures.net and when you get there dont mess with any of the categories. Just go to the box that has "Key Word" and type in Metrolink. Then click the “Find the Photos” box and you will see some very nice pictures pop up!
Let us know your progress!
Hope this helps.
Cheers![:)][:D][8D][8)]
Metrolink in like SEPTA here in the Philadelphia area. If you are not from that area you would not know about. Amtrak in national and people see the trains. I myself freelance my HO railroad. Think about that for your railroad
I would go with Amtrak as there is much more diversity with equipment and if you want a change of pace in terms of regions, Amtrak is the way to go. My layout/website is based on modeling Amtrak.
Thank you very much everybody! I have the double line layed and hopefully I can get the train very very soon![:D] Since it is a double line, the outter track will serve as freight, the outer track will most likely be the Metrolink seeing that it is the only passenger train that I really live by. However, if I should change my mind, I will go with the Coast Starlight[;)]
Metrolink’s limits are Montalvo (Ventura) (northwest), Lancaster (north), San Bernardino/Riverside (east), and Oceanside (south).
http://www.metrolinktrains.com/lines/schedules/
If I were you I would hurry and get those cars. The last I saw Walthers had a very good deal on the Metrolink 3-pack.
Just remember, whichever you get, you will get the other soon enough [}:)][;)] I also see bnoth of these trains go by quite frequently, so I went Metrolink…
Okay then, it sounds like you’re modeling modern Los Angeles–and yes, there’s no reason why you can’t have both Amtrak and Metrolink, as well as freight trains!
The Coast Starlight is a nice train to ride–I have taken it from Sacramento to Portland. The lounge car is a distinctive feature–the diner is in the middle, with an observation car for coach passengers forward of the diner and a lounge car for sleeper passengers only right behind it. There are other Amtrak trains that run out of Los Angeles, though, as I recall–the Southwest Chief, for example.
If you want to get into history, you might take a look at the Pacific Electric, the trolleys and interurbans that used to run all over the greater Los Angeles area!
I was on Athearn’s website and saw that the Metrolink cars have been disconntinued? Does anyone know why this is? If they have, I hope I can still find them somewhere[?][:(]
I only have a double-line, one for frieght and one for passenger. If I wanted to model both passenger services would I just take off one when I wanted to run the other?
Thanks for the help everyone[:)][:D]
Like I said, Walthers has a good deal on them right now. By the way, if you get those Walthers sells booklets in the mail, you can get free shipping on orders over $100.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=&manu=140&item=&keywords=Metrolink&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search
[quote]
Originally posted by Jetrock
Okay then, it sounds like you’re modeling modern Los Angeles–and yes, there’s no reason why you can’t have both Amtrak and Metrolink, as well as freight trains!
Yes, there is a reason you can’t model Amtrak. None of the model manufactures will make the Surfliner cars!! They will make GG-1’s, Acela, Big Boys and “Cab Forwards” that only ran on one railroad, but they say, “Surfliners are only used in California, so we won’t make them.” I guess California money isn’t good enough.
sigh They DO have Surfliners in N, but at $300 apiece (brass) they are outa most people’s range 
News Update!-
I have decided to model Amtrak. I got the Walthers Superliner cars and Athearn’s Genesis locomotive, Walthers Amtrak Dash 9, Amtrak Baggage car, Viewliner Sleeping Car, 2 Amcoachs, and 1 Amcafe. Can someone suggest what train I could most realisticly model with those cars? thank you.
With the Dash 9, Baggage, Viewliner, Amcoaches and Amcafe, why not model the Cardinal? You might want to add an MHC (Material Handling Car, or ‘Ambox’) or two as well.