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Post by markm on Nov 13, 2016 23:09:43 GMT -5
Just wondering if there was a particular reason the sets come with either a lounge or a dinner? Other than the Portland section of the Empire Builder, I've never been on a superliner set without both.
What are the chances we'll see the head end cars to complete the trains?
Mark
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Post by shamoo737 on Nov 14, 2016 13:54:36 GMT -5
That's easy Mark. They want you to buy both sets.
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Post by dazed on Nov 14, 2016 14:36:04 GMT -5
I'd say...what are the chances of running a prototypical Superliner train with only 4 cars? Or, how many Superliner consists have less than 2 coaches and 1 sleeper?
They have part numbers for singles so really I'm not sure what the concern is other than you can't get one TODAY without purchasing all 8 cars at once.
Admittely, the consist I want to run--the Texas Eagle--is most commonly run with 7 cars. So yeah, I have an extra coach but I mostly did that so that I could resell the set in-tact (all 8 cars in a two-4-pack-configuration) which seems to be the best way to get back the price paid. I really prefer not to sell it, but if they do RDC's and ES44's soon and right on top of each other then I'm gonna have a cash flow problem. And those other two are bigger priorities than Amtrak.
And who knows...if I do decide to keep, I may sell the extra coach as a single.
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Post by markm on Nov 14, 2016 16:47:05 GMT -5
I'd say...what are the chances of running a prototypical Superliner train with only 4 cars? Or, how many Superliner consists have less than 2 coaches and 1 sleeper? Actually it's not that uncommon to see the Starlight as a 6 car train (add the diner and baggage). After the sets like the Sunset Limited, perhaps I was just expecting too much. I would have been more interested in a "Coast Starlight in a box" or in your case a "Texas Eagle in a box." Mark |
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Post by dazed on Nov 15, 2016 10:03:02 GMT -5
Cool, I'll have to check out the Coast Starlight. It sounds like a nice "pike size" consist. I originally planned to run a "super-mini" version of the Eagle, with only the one four-car set. (Sleeper, Lounge, Coach, Coach) Figuring, what would be the true minimum....you could have makeshift diner service in the lounge for the Sleeper passengers. A "mini" version would be one sleeper, diner, lounge, and two coaches. It wouldn't surprise me if that consist actually happened during slim/slow times on the Eagle.
While I agree it would be neat to have specific name trains--maybe in a special box--I think the economics of that in Z would be a challenge. Maybe they'll do a "trainset" style set at some point, who knows. This more modular approach should work out fine in the end...just right now it's a bit awkward. And honestly, Shamoo is right...they want you to get stuck buying an extra car or two. It's the model z-scale is built on at the moment. (MTL, too) Hopefully that changes someday but it's reality for now.
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Post by bloodynose on Nov 15, 2016 23:07:15 GMT -5
I took the Sunset Limited from Tucson to San Antonio round trip. From L.A. CA to San Antonio TX the train is the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle. Once it gets to San Antonio it drops off the end cars (Texas Eagle goes north to St Louis from there), 1 or 2 sleepers (depending on demand) and 2 or 3 coaches (depending on demand)are disconnected at San Antonio and then the Sunset Limited continues on to New Orleans with probably 1 or 2 sleepers, Diner car, Observation car, and 1 or 2 Coaches... It was a real shame when Hurricane Katrina hit that area because up until then the Sunset Limited went to Jacksonville FL. Katrina destroyed the tracks that belonged to CSX east of Louisiana and when they were repaired CSX and Amtrak did not negotiate track usage for Amtrak!! A real bummer for those that would like to traverse the southern bounds of the US...
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Post by markm on Nov 16, 2016 14:31:08 GMT -5
Actually the size of the Coast Starlight varies considerably. After NTS in Portland last year, they ran a 16 car train and it was so crowded, my room was actually in the dormitory car.
I'm thinking about going to Orlando NTS next year via the Texas Eagle. The schedule suggests that the Eagle gets a parlor and dining car in TX too.
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Post by shamoo737 on Nov 17, 2016 0:37:39 GMT -5
Are you bringing a module.
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Post by markm on Nov 17, 2016 11:17:08 GMT -5
Are you bringing a module. Unlikely. If I go, it will be a 6-8 train trip. |
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