My North American Trains and Trolleys

[serotta1972]

I gave my local commuter train some attention and running time tonight - Athearn Brand Caltrain Bombardier Cars and FP59.  The FP59 is actually the wrong locomotive as it should be an MP36.  Kato make the MP36 but the Caltrain was only available as a Kobo Special Paint and it was a little expensive so I settled for the FP59 in Caltrain colors.

 

 

I attached a link just in case you wanted more information about Caltrain.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltrain

Edited June 10, 2017 by serotta1972

[beakaboy]

I gave my local commuter train some attention and running time tonight - Athearn Brand Caltrain Bombardier Cars and FP59.  The FP59 is actually the wrong locomotive as it should be an MP36.  Kato make the MP36 but the Caltrain was only available as a Kobo Special Paint and it was a little expensive so I settled for the FP59 in Caltrain colors.

 

 

Hi Serotta. I too like the Bombardier coaches. This set was obtained for about NZ$100 around 12 months ago. The owner had a custom paint job done on the loco which is also DCC equipped. Test run only. I picked up the Metrolink DC loco for NZ$35 around 6 months ago and when I looked at the case for the custom painted Loco, it had been a Metrolink loco originally.

 

 

 

[Kiha66]

Very nice!  Makes me wish I had picked one up in Surfliner Colors.

[serotta1972]

My Kato Amtrak Fleet:

 

Motive Power - E8/9 Ph 1, F40PH Ph 3, P42's Ph 1 (40th Anniversary), 3, IV, V and Vb

 

 

Rolling Stock - Heritage Cars Ph 1, Amfleet II Ph 3, IV and VI, Superliners Ph 3 and IV

 

 

I'm looking to add the  SDP40F Ph 1 and 2 but not the ACS-64.  I wished they would make the AEM-7. 

 

 

 

 

[beakaboy]

Serotta, I too am a fan of Amtrak. My first purchase was in the late 90's and consisted of a Kato E8/9 A and B powered unit with a 6 car smooth side passenger set( One day I will track down the 4 car addition set secondhand)I have fitted a sound decoder into one of my P42 locos. Yes to an AEM-7. The ACS-64 doesn't do much for me.

My roster at present:

Edited August 31, 2016 by beakaboy

[serotta1972]

Very nice! Is that an EF65 in Amtrak colors? That's actually how I got introduced to Kato N Scale Trains, with those 6 Car Smooth Side Passenger Car Set.  I have the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern.  I've been debating whether to get the Via Set, then I can say I have a Canadian Passenger Train. :)

[beakaboy]

I'm not sure about what EF model the Amtrak loco is. I only got the body through an auction site and managed to fit an EF30 chassis under it. Slightly short, so would be good to get a correct chassis, if anyone knows what that would be! Then I could put the EF30 body back on its chassis. The Via coaches are very nice!! I've got a couple of Canadian Pacific Atlas locos! Hmmmm! 

[kvp]

I would either remove the middle bogie and fit some eqipment boxes there or look for a Co-Co chassis. (afaik the original one was a Bo-Bo-Bo EF65)

[serotta1972]

More of my NA Passenger Trains: Almost all Kato except for the Southern Pacific Commuter Cars by Wheels of Time.

 

California Zephyr with the Western Pacific F3 ABA - love the orange!

Burlington E8/9 and 6 Smooth Side Passenger Car Set

Union Pacific E8/9 and 6 Smooth Side Passenger Car Set

Southern Pacific SD45 and 5 Bi-Level Commuter Coaches

 

 

I'm not really into dark and bland trains but I made an exception for the Southern Pacific Train because it's a train that I actually have a personal connection with, I saw it growing up as it ran by my neighborhood in SF.  

[beakaboy]

The California Zephyr and the  Daylight Limited were a couple of passenger sets , I would love to have. Our local Hobby Shop has the California Zephyr in stock at a silly price and he doesn't discount. He has a Intermountain cab forward for $499 and it has sat for a number of years. My friend has the full Daylight set and steamer and runs it on his large N scale display layout every so often. Looks beautiful running through the scenery. I am surprised how nice the Bi-level look in that scheme! thanks

[serotta1972]

My North American Freight Locomotives and 2 Commuter Locos, all Kato except for the little Bachmann Steamer and Atlas GP40 Rio Grande.  The steamer is the oldest N Scale item I own and I just recently found it in a shoe box, yes it was neglected but has been reunited with the family.  It runs but it has one speed, full throttle!

 

 

I have a little rule, if I don't bring something out and run them for at least 6 months - it might be time for it to go.  So I do my best to let them out of their boxes once in a while and give them some love.  

 

 

[serotta1972]

I think that's all my Kato non-Japanese trains except for my Western Pacific RDC's which I can't seem to find.  Man, where the heck are they - I hate it when I misplace things or hid them too well.  I think Jeff and many others can relate.  :)

[brill27mcb]

Here's a picture from one of our East Penn club weekend setups a few years ago, showing my Acela and HHP-8/Amfleet (Bachmann) trains, as well as 2 Pennsylvania Railroad passenger trains (Kato Broadway Limited and an older heavyweight train. It looks like a time warp on the Northeast Corridor, not to mention the shinkansen on the viaduct...

 

 

Of course, now we have the Kato Amfleet I and II coaches and the new Kato ACS-64 electric loco, as well.

 

Rich K.

Edited September 4, 2016 by brill27mcb

[serotta1972]

Very cool, more pics please!  Would love to have an Acela.  I've stayed away from Bachmann but have read and heard that they've gotten much better.  My first N Scale trains were Bachmann in the early 90's and they weren't very good.  I was more into HO back then until I discovered Kato N Scale.

[serotta1972]

I just ordered the SDP40F Amtrak Phase I and Phase II Locomotives and also the Amfleet I Phase I Passenger Cars.  I figured an Amtrak collection wouldn't be right without their first locomotives and passenger cars that were not inherited. I actually much prefer the Phase I, II and III paint schemes.  :)

[serotta1972]

The first Amtrak built to order trains - Kato SDP40F Locomotives Phase I and Phase II and Amfleet 1 Passenger Cars Phase I.

 

 

 

[serotta1972]

My little Caboose collection: 

 

CE-1 Sealed Cupola, Extended Vision, Standard Cupola, and Wide Vision

 

[serotta1972]

Just got me the train I never got tired of looking at in Railroad books when I was young.  I had an early fascination with high speed passenger trains.  

 

 

 

[NB1231]

Not fair! I loved the turbos and the zephyrs!!

 

 

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[Kiha66]

Glad it found a good home Junior! 

[brill27mcb]

In retrospect it looks almost Japanese!

 

Rich K.

[nah00]

Just got me the train I never got tired of looking at in Railroad books when I was young.  I had an early fascination with high speed passenger trains.  

 

IMG_4001.JPGIMG_4002.JPGIMG_4003.JPGIMG_4004.JPGIMG_4005.JPGIMG_4007.JPG

 

Can't unsee....

 

[serotta1972]

After my recent trip to DC and riding some Amtrak trains, I had to urge to pull out my Amtrak Fleet.  I did a terminal session and put together a couple of different long distance and regional consists.  

 

 

 

[serotta1972]

Just got the SP Daylight GS4 and 10 car set and also brought out the California Zephyr.  I need to bring these to the N-track club so they can stretch out their legs and not chasing their tails.

 

[Kiha66]

Great choices Junior, those are some beautiful trains.  I recommend the getting the kinematic couplers for the daylight set, they really improve the looks of the train!