Prototypes for N scale passenger cars part 6: Amtrak Metroliner, Viewliner and Superliner cars

Fred Klein, August 2002

Bachman Amtrak Amfleet-Metroliner

In the mid 1970’s, Budd built the Amfleet cars for Amtrak. Amfleet coaches were configured in both 84-seat short distance and 60-seat leg rest cars, and were more comfortable than previous cars. I know of only prototype coaches and café-coach-club cars, and I’m not sure if models of the café cars were ever made. I don’t believe prototype Amfleet sleepers were ever made because the routes were relatively short. The Metroliner uses powered versions of the coaches with pantographs and a compartment for the operator. These are used on the high-speed eastern corridor between New York and Washington.

Bachmann Amfleet coach.

Bachmann Amfleet coach, opposite side.

Amfleet coach. Photo from page 71 of Dorin’s Amtrak Trains & Travel.

Metroliner coach with operator’s cab.

Amfleet café coach. Photo from page 99 of Dorin’s Amtrak Trains & Travel.

Con-cor and Kato 85’ Amtrak Superliner

I put both the Con-cor and Kato models together here in one place because the prototype is the same. I don’t own models (the model photos are courtesy the Rio Grande Hobbies website and the Kato website) because this 1979 train is later than my era. There is a serious error of 4 extra windows in the Con-cor dining car. This makes the car look wrong, even from a distance. The skirts on the Con-cor cars don’t exactly match the prototype. I can’t comment on other differences between the accuracy of the models from the two companies (I don’t count corrugations), but their reputations may be a good guide. I’m certainly no expert on these cars, but I wanted to include these cars for completeness. The black and white prototype photos and drawings are from a thorough article called “Amtrak’s Superliners” in the November 1982 issue of Model Railroader. This article covers Superliner I cars in their original paint scheme. The Amtrak Historical Society’s web site (http://www.trainweb.com/ahs/) is also a good resource.

The cars were made by Pullman with deliveries beginning in 1979. The cars are only used on western roads because of tunnel restrictions. The paint scheme of the Con-cor model photos pictured here is phase IV (used in 1994 and later) and the Kato model photos are phase III. Both companies offer models in both paint schemes. The black and white prototype photos are from the first 1979 phase I scheme and the color photos are phase IV including some Superliner II cars. The phase III paint scheme was used in 1980-1996.

Coach.

Con cor Superliner (phase IV) coach model photo courtesy the Rio Grande Hobbies website.

Drawing of the coach car in the first (1979) paint scheme from “Amtrak’s Superliners” in the November 1982 issue of Model Railroader.

Kato Superliner (phase III) coach model photo courtesy the Kato website.

Photo of the Superliner coach (opposite side) from the Amtrak Historical Society’s web site. Photo by Jim Hebner, taken March 1998 in Tucson AZ.

Coach-baggage.

Con cor Superliner (phase IV) coach-baggage model photo courtesy the Rio Grande Hobbies website.

Drawing of the Kato Superliner (phase III) coach-baggage model courtesy the Kato website.

Photo of the coach-baggage car in the first (1979) paint scheme from “Amtrak’s Superliners” in the November 1982 issue of Model Railroader.

Photo of the Superliner coach-baggage car from the Amtrak Historical Society’s web site. Photo by USTRANSCOM, September 1999 in Milwaukee WI. Note that by 1999 the lower windows to the baggage compartment were plugged.

Diner.

Con-cor Superliner (phase IV) diner model photo is courtesy the Rio Grande Hobbies website. There are two extra windows in the Con-cor model diner. The windows extend the entire length of the car on the model, but the prototype has a windowless center section for serving equipment and the dumb waiter to the kitchen below. Perhaps Con-cor merged the windows of a coach car with the lower section of a diner.

Photo of the Superliner diner from the Amtrak Historical Society’s web site. Photo by Jim Hebner, taken May 1999 in Chicago.

Drawing of the Kato Superliner (phase III) diner model courtesy the Kato website.

Photo of the diner in the first (1979) paint scheme from “Amtrak’s Superliners” in the November 1982 issue of Model Railroader.

Lounge/café.

Con cor Superliner (phase IV) lounge model photo courtesy the Rio Grande Hobbies website.

Kato Superliner (phase III) lounge model photo courtesy the Kato website.

Photo of the Superliner lounge from the Amtrak Historical Society’s web site. Photo by Jim Hebner, taken June 1998 at Cajon CA.

Drawing of the lounge car in the first (1979) paint scheme from “Amtrak’s Superliners” in the November 1982 issue of Model Railroader.

Sleeping car.

Con cor Superliner (phase IV) sleeping car model photo courtesy the Rio Grande Hobbies website. Note the correctly-modeled long window in the upper center of the Con-cor car.

Drawing of the Kato Superliner (phase III) sleeping car model courtesy the Kato website.

Photo of the Superliner II sleeping car from the Amtrak Historical Society’s web site. Note that the Superliner II has a small upstairs window in the center stairway section. The original Superliner had a full-length center window for the stairway. Photo by Phil Miller taken in Sanford FL.

Photo of the sleeping car (opposite side) in the first (1979) paint scheme from “Amtrak’s Superliners” in the November 1982 issue of Model Railroader.

Con-cor 86’ Viewliner

The 1996 viewliner cars were built for Amtrak. They are smaller than superliner cars and can pass through tunnels and under the restricted clearances east of the Mississippi. A great reference on these cars is the article with photographs and drawings in the January 1997 issue of Model Railroader, page 104. Also see the March 1996 issue of Trains. Additional photos and information can be found at the Amtrak Historical Society website http://www.trainweb.com/ahs. I do not own models of these cars, and the model photos are from an ebay auction. I have little knowledge of or reference material on Amtrak cars. There are only models of diner and sleeper cars.

Two prototype sleepers were built in 1987, but the 50 sleepers did not go into production until 1996. The sleepers are named “... View”. Each has 12 compartments, two deluxe bedrooms, and a handicapped room. As of 1997, the diners were never built because of budget restrictions. I do not know if the diner model is a fantasy or was built from original plans.

Diner

Con-cor model.

Sleeper

Con-cor model.

Photo of the Viewliner sleeper car from the Amtrak Historical Society’s web site. Photo of “Beach View” by Jim Hebner, June 2000 in Toledo Ohio. Note the car name appears in the lower center side panel.

For a list of the books referred to, see part 1.