Doing a forum search on this subject reveals an old thread called How to Model Amtrak autotrain, but its so old when I click into the search results I get a page not found.
For power I’ve got my phase V p42s preordered for this fall, and I’m happy enough with the walthers superliner 2s that are out in Phase IVb for most of my train.
That leaves the auto carrier cars. I know I’m not going to find anything in Phase V ready to roll because walthers has the license and has nothing currently planned/anounced. So I’m going to have to paint and decal myself. Has anyone done this themselves, or have a link to someone that has?
Looking for as much paint and decal information I can find, and what exact (or the closest) undecorated autocarriers are the ones used in autotrain operations today.
I can’t help you a whole lot. All I know is that Amtrak has special auto carriers built for them. These auto racks have solid sides built in them rather that the freight carriers that have the see through mesh sides. I imagine Amtrak did this for libility reasons.
I can offer you some advise regarding the Superliners. First, you might want to invest in a tool that tunes the trucks (if you don’t already have one) like this. It will make those cars run better. Second, as you know the Auto Train is rather long. Your two P42s will have a hard time pulling it. I have 8 Superliners and my 2 P42s need some work in order to make them pull better. They are too light and need some weight added.
Good luck on building this train. I hope you have the space for this train if you plan on modeling the entire train.
I just looked at the link you provided in your post regarding the auro carriers. Those that you mentioned will not work. Those cars are articulated. Amtrak does not use something like that. Here is a video for you to see.
While the prototype Auto Train uses only two engines, they sometimes use a third. The third loco is at the front is a CSX loco. I wish I could tell you more, but that is what I have noticed from doing research on various Amtrak trains online.
I have seen people model the Auto Train and they have compressed it by maybe using 6-7 cars and maybe 5 auto carriers.
Hmm. If you feel like wasting a weekend, you could try smoothing the sodes of the Walthers Autos with a dremel. The other options include either putting the side panels on the walthers kit autoracks in back out, cut the mounting pegs off, or putting a piece of styrene over it. The last is the easiest,but won’t be flush with the roof.
Enignes: You will DEFINATELY want the the third. I’m doing good to get two engines to pull 11 Superliners, one a P42. the other a CF7 in Amtrak. It hates me when I add on four Walthers Auto train cars, for a fantasy train. Private Varnish is out of the question. You might be able to get away with the excuse of “dead-heading” another loco, when it is in fact helping. A P32 might work for that case, or a P42 on it’s way to replace an engine on the Palmetto or Silver Meteor (I think that’s the right train). Or you could work it the other way and say that the third P is on because the regularly scheduled engine is having issues, is therefor under-powered (which it is), and is on it’s way to be repaired at Delaware or Beech Grove. You run the train regularly like that, only a few tiems will you be asked.
There is a third option, and that’s a fully contained power truck. I;m not sure where you would put it, since it tends to go in baggage cars. But it is another possibility.
Thanks for the info. I do plan on condensing the train some, you hit the nail right on the head, probably to around 10-12 cars total. I’m building a dual main line long running layout in about a 15’ x 40’ space (will take me years to complete) in my basement so I hope to have plenty of room for continuous running passenger trains.
The only other model I can find is http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-40100 It says detail parts included but not pictured. The sides make me nervous depending on what detail parts come with it, as the sides of the auto train are very flush and smooth. As suggested maybe I’ll pick one up and see if I can customize it with some tooling and extra plastic bits / styrene
I think I’ll pick up one of those tools as well, looks like a very handy thing to have.
I’m hoping someone before me has modeled this in HO phase V, so I can steal some of their ideas/learnings.
It looks like this car: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-40102 The Undecs come unnassembled, the painted cars are assembled. Also, I have the Amtrak Swoosh in Decal form, You can either make, or I’ll mail them.
This is the actual Auto-Train Car now retired by Walthers, as you can see it’s not like any of the other possibilities mentioned with modern Autoracks. I have singles and 2 packs in III and IV and wish I had undec’s from the original production run. Besides the one above and Amtrak they made a few other roads also because I remember one being brown! Train-shows, E-bay, etc I’ve seen them around even recently.
