Modeling the lake shore limited

[Amtrak Kid]

Hi I'm 12 years old and am very interested in trains My dad Built a track that goes around my room and since I live about 7 doors down I guess I grew up around amtrak's Lake Sore limited. I just wanted to know about what Cars are used in the lake shore limited and aproximitly what order they go in. I recently have 2 Veiwliners 2 Express box cars and an amfleet coach and a grill diner any feedback would realy help thanks!

 

[Trogdor]

Generally speaking, there are two P42 engines, a baggage car, Heritage dorm, two Viewliners, a Heritage diner, Amfleet II lounge, probably four Amfleet II coaches. At least, that's the way it's supposed to be. On any given day, there may be a Horizon dinette subbing for the Am-II lounge, a Horizon or Amfleet I coach instead of an Am II coach. On really unlucky days, there is no diner.

ExpressTrak refrigerated boxcars depends on the day. The freight will be going away completely sometime in the near future.

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Thanks for the info, now all i need to do is do enough chores to buy most of these cars in Ho scale. Do you Know if they use any amfleet 1 cars.

 

[AlanB]

Actually it depends on what time of the year it is, as to what you'll see on the Lake Shore.

Right now for the winter, you'll see in this order:

2 - P42's (Albany & west), 1 P32 AC-DM (south of Albany)

1 Baggage car

1 Heritage Dorm

2 Viewliner Sleepers (3 thru early January)

1 Diner

1 Cafe car

3 or 4 Amfleet II's

ExpressTrak

During the summer (west of Albany):

2 - P42's

1 Viewliner

2 Amfleet II's

1 Cafe car

1 Diner

3 or 4 Amfleets

2 Viewliners

1 Dorm

1 Bag

ExpressTrak

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Thanks I would go down to the mainline at the end of my street but the lake shore comes around at either 8 in the morning or at 10 at night has any body here ever been on it? Oh yeah I noticed on a train going by that it loooks like a amfleet car but with porch type platform on the back anyone Know what it is?

 

[AMTRAK-P42]

Thanks I would go down to the mainline at the end of my street but the lake shore comes around at either 8 in the morning or at 10 at night has any body here ever been on it? Oh yeah I noticed on a train going by that it loooks like a amfleet car but with porch type platform on the back anyone Know what it is?

The car you saw was President and CEO David Gunn's private railroad car. The name is Beech Grove.

 

[Trogdor]

I rode the Lake Shore both ways in January 2003. Not the greatest trip in the world since, westbound, they blanked my sleeper and downgraded me to coach.

In any event, I'll be doing it again eastbound in a couple of weeks (in coach). Unless, of course, the train leaves Chicago so late that I decide to swap my ticket to one on the Three Rivers (and they let me).

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Theres no better sound to put me to sleep than 2 P-42's hauling the Eastbound Lakeshore limited yet it also wakes me at 5:00 on school mornings do you really work for amtrak someday i want to be an engineer that is if amtraks still around.

Also, I noticed a unusual car called an automat car what are they used for.

 

[Trogdor]

If you were asking me, no, I don't work for Amtrak.

An "Automat" car was a lounge car with vending machines instead of a food-service counter staffed by an attendant. Amtrak only has/had one in its inventory, and I'm not sure where it is right now. It's not in service (to my knowledge), so, if it's still around, it's probably parked in Beech Grove, IN.

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Thanks but how do you get that title. I also wish my parents would take me on amtraks more often I only had the pleasure of experiimenting a ride on the empire service about 370 miles.

 

[AlanB]

Thanks but how do you get that title. I also wish my parents would take me on amtraks more often I only had the pleasure of experiimenting a ride on the empire service about 370 miles.

The title is based upon the number of posts that a member makes. As you make postings to the boards, the counter increases and you too will change jobs.

With regard to your other question, I've been on the Lake Shore at least 8 or 9 times over the last few years.

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Does any one have any Ideas on what company would have the cheapest P-42s I'll need to find a company with cheap yet looking realistic looking models if I need to buy 2 of them>

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Actually it depends on what time of the year it is, as to what you'll see on the Lake Shore.
Right now for the winter, you'll see in this order:

2 - P42's (Albany & west), 1 P32 AC-DM (south of Albany)

1 Baggage car

1 Heritage Dorm

2 Viewliner Sleepers (3 thru early January)

1 Diner

1 Cafe car

3 or 4 Amfleet II's

ExpressTrak

During the summer (west of Albany):

2 - P42's

1 Viewliner

2 Amfleet II's

1 Cafe car

1 Diner

3 or 4 Amfleets

2 Viewliners

1 Dorm

1 Bag

ExpressTrak

Do they still use the ancient 10-6 sleepers?

 

[AlanB]

Do they still use the ancient 10-6 sleepers?

Nope.

The last 5 were retired about 2 or 3 years ago and then they were all sold to VIA Rail in June of 2003.

 

[Amtrak Kid]

AlanB,

Weren't some converted to dorm lounge cars. And what type of dormitory car should I use on my Layout

 

[AlanB]

AlanB,
Weren't some converted to dorm lounge cars. And what type of dormitory car should I use on my Layout

Nope all 5 were sold to VIA Rail. You can find that info here.

Note: On Track On Line's Roster page is a great source of info concerning Amtrak's equipment.

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Thanks for the help. Does walthers make Dorm Lounges

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Impereal hobby productions is coming out with amtrak cab cars in ho scale.I'm so excited

 

[Amtrak Kid]

I noticed at Internettrains.com a amd 103 in a Intercity scheme would that be a common sight on the lakeshore?

 

[mlrr]

You got to also ask yourself what era you want to model. If you decide to do the current LSL, you'll need to search long and hard for Athearn/Walthers AMD-103s in phase V. List price was about 70/80 dollars as there were two runs, the second cost a bit more.

As for the 10-6 sleepers, I think a number are still in service as Crew Dorm cars. I see them all the time when I am at and around 30th Street Station. I will say that the last time I saw the LSL, I did not see one on there but on other trains like the Silver Service trains, I've seen them on a regular basis. Most of the time they are the first car in the consist.

I model the LSL. Depending on the space you have, if you feel you don't have the room for the prototypical length train, you can do what I do and cut it down to 1 baggage, 1 Crew Dorm (optional), 1 viewliner, 1 Heritage Diner, 1 Amfleet II Food Service Car and 2 Amfleet II Coaches.

 

[Amtrak Kid]

Thanks Kyle but do you know where i can find a heritage dorm. I also noticed you had on your website roster a dorm lounge did you kit bash or is it stock!

 

[Firebert]

I think Walthers has the former 10&6 dorms out... Does that help?

-Firebert

 

[Amtrak Kid]

yeah but I was thnking of an already made into adorm lounge

 

[Viewliner]

yeah but I was thnking of an already made into adorm lounge

I believe that's what he meant. Walthers already makes a Dorm Lounge Ready Made, one is the Pacific series (decals it comes with), the other is from the exATSF Pine Series. They're about $35-40 IIRC.

 

[Amtrak Kid]

sorry I misunderstood you. But I wish it were cheaper than $40!