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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 16:28:34 GMT -5
Hello everybody, again from France ... Since I decided now to build a "modern" layout, only one question more : it will perhaps seem to be stupid, but the indicated reference is given as "Amtrak West" with "Surfliner" cars. The Word "Surfliner" is painted on the side of the cars. Now my question : does it apply to the TYPE of the cars, or the SURFLINER route ? In the first case the train could be used on a layout with a few "hills" (Capitol Corridor, Auburn, 374m), in the second case only in "flat land" along the coast. Thanks for answers ...
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Post by Rob Albritton on Jan 22, 2017 18:20:51 GMT -5
Hello Alberich,
The answer is a bit confusing: it applies to both the type of car, and the route.
These cars actually represent two car series that are very similar: The first batch were known as "California Cars" and made by Morrison-Knudsen. They were first used on the San Diegian line from Los Angeles to San Diego in about 1995. They had very bad reliability and were rebuilt several times in the first 5 years of operations (cracked frames, and doors that did not function) eventually they became reliable.
The second batch were called "Surfliners" and made by Alstom in about 2000. These were much more reliable and put to use on the old San Diegian line, which was renamed the Surf Line and extended later from San Diego to Santa Barbara. The old "California" cars were re-assigned to the Capitol Corridor.
Both cars are externally very very similar. Typically cars with the word "Surfliner" run from Santa Brabara to Los Angeles to San Diego. The Amtrak California cars run on the Capitol Corridor.
Please note that this is one of our early products. Many of our customers find the F59PHi locomotive to be exceptionally reliable and a good runner. The cars were built before our auto-latch couplers were created, so you must manually couple the cars by lifting the couplers over one another to connect.
They are appropriate to run on any California scene: through canyons, along the beach, or close to Disneyland and Hollywood.
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Post by markm on Jan 22, 2017 20:55:51 GMT -5
Alberich, You mention Auburn...my part of the country. Currently the Amtrak locals (Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin) are running in a paint scheme that most closely matches the 7001 series sets. The only significant difference between the two trains is the locomotive logos. To me, Auburn is an odd place to model. While it's in the Sierra Nevada, it sits on the edge of a long flat slope into Roseville and Sacramento. If you are looking for rolling hills may I suggest looking into the area from Richmond through Martinez to Pittsburg here in California. It's a hilly area boarding on the confluence of the Sacramento river. Both UP and BNSF run this route to somewhat parallel tracks. Richmond to Martinez has oil refineries serviced by the roads. Amtrak Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor all run through the area. BNSF has a classic steel viaduct at Martinez. www.ssloan.net/trains/sp/sp7201_0001.jpgFor full disclosure, I grew up in the area. Mark
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 1:32:25 GMT -5
Thanks for Your answers. There is no problem with the couplers, because the train will ever run in the same configuration, once coupled. Now I know that for my project I will have to use the "Amtrak California" and not the "Amtrak West" version. I don't want to model an exact location, I only wanted to know if it was possible to run some trains in another landscape than "absolutely flat land". Even in times with the Web, all these things are confusing for a "frenchie" like me ... who unfortunately never went to the USA and only knows this beautiful country via movies and television !
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