I haven’t begun researching yet but within a few years I will add a few Amtrak trains to a layout set in Pennsylvania/W.VA/Ohio area. What Amtraks run through Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Wheeling… and such in this area (modern times… late 90’s to present)? What rolling stock is appropriate for this area?
Regionals run Amfleets. The cookie dough tube thingys. Long Distance will see the Superliners. You’ll see F-40s and early P-42s (Genisis) around '93. As for trs\ains, let’s hit the Amtrak Website, shall we? They couldn’t afford to start deleting trains now.
Apperently, Amtrak knows not a station in Wheeling. Cleveland and Pitsburgh sees the Capitol Limited
Pittsburgh PA only sees 2 Amtrak trains a day. The Pennsylvanian, which runs from NYC, through Philly, then across Pennsylvanian to terminate a Pittsburgh (and reverse, of course). This is currently a P42DC pulling 4 Amfleet coaches and a Amfleet Cafe Car.
The long distance train is the Capitol Limited, which originates in Washington DC, through Harper’s Ferry and Martinsburg, WV (Wheeling is not listed as an Amtrak stop), through Pittsburgh and Cleveland, ending at Chicago. This train runs Superliner Equipment. A pair of P42DC’s, a heritage Baggage car, 3 Superliner Coaches, a Superliner Lounge-Cafe, Superliner Diner, and 3 Superliner Sleepers.
The above consists were from my trip about 3 years ago. The current timetable shows no additional trains through these stations.
For over a year (2001-2002) I used to “commute” between Toledo, OH and Washington DC on AMTK 29 and 30 every other week. Power was a pair of P42s, a Heritage baggage (orig. baggage or converted Budd coach w/roll-up door), step-up Superliner II crew dorm, two sleepers, diner, lounge and 2-3 coaches, depending upon seasonal loads. Other than the crew dorm, the cars would be a mix of Superliner I and II’s.
Also, back then Amtrak was still hauling M&E so several boxcars were on the end of the trains, including switching freight on and off at Toledo. Now I understand that what little Amtrak Express that is still hauled rides in the baggage car.
I rode this train so much - as well as additional rides on AMTK 5 and 6 for pleasure using my earned Amtrak Rewards points - that I got an intimate and regular experience in the sleepers overnight, as well as dining onboard. As a result, I’m working on assembling a Superliner consist using Kato’s fine models, including an F40PH as power for the train. However, per my chosen prototype I’m proto-freelancing AMTK 9 and 10 as if the trains were never annulled in '79 and continued to operate into the '80s and early '90s.
great info! Are the Amfleet cars the 85 footers?
Correct. This: http://jeffstrainsite.com/railfan_pics/Passenger_Rail/amtrak/coaches/amt_amfleetII-amcoach_25078.jpg
If you’re feeling ambitious and are willing to back up a few years, you might want to consider the “Pennsylvanian” during the Warrington era: 1 or 2 P42DC’s, 2 Amfleet coaches, 1 Amfleet cafe-coach, 7-10 express boxes, 15-20 Roadrailers.