Help me decide on what passenger cars to get...

[michael_balcos]

I'll be getting some Bachmann products in a month. I plan to get an Amtrak Bachmann F40PH. I think Bachmann produces them in phase III colors, but I'm not sure. I'm bound to get 2 phase III coaches. Can a F40PH pull more than that in real life? If so, what cars do you recommend me to add? Please correct me about the phase III colors if I'm wrong.

[Will_Annand]

I have a couple of the Bachmann Jackson Sharp coaches on order, they look great.

[Russ Bellinis]

What radius are you running? The f40ph is short enough to handle almost any radius, but full length passenger cars will require a much bigger radius curve. If you are running 18 or 22 inch radius curves, you will probably need to stick to Athearn "shorty" passenger cars. If you have 26 inch or bigger minimum radius, then you can run the full length cars with some coupler mounting modifications. With a 30 inch or larger radius, you won't have any problems.

[BR60103]

The F40PH pulled 10 cars, regularly, in Toronto's GO Transit commuter service. 10 was the limit that platforms could handle. A pair of them often take 20 or more cars through the Rocky Mountains on The Canadian.
The Phase paint scheme doesn't mean that much, other than setting an earliest date for the model. Unless you're running a prestige train, paint schemes would be mixed all over the place.

[MasonJar]

I have a couple of the Bachmann Jackson Sharp coaches on order, they look great.

Combined with an Amtrak diesel, I'm sure they'd look... strange!

Are the open observation cars a recent thing, or would they be contemporary with your layout WIll?

Andrew

[michael_balcos]

Thanks, everyone. Unfortunately, my minimum curve radius is 18". I model a fictional 1950's era New England layout, but Bachmann seems to have the Amtrak passenger cars very available. I'll be on a trip to Shanghai where Bachmann products are available. The anachronism will be fine with me, but I guess my curve tracks are in the way.

Anywayz, I do have 3 Athearn shorties (a baggage, coach, and diner, all streamlined). I painted them all "silver." I guess I could rather get a Bachmann FT in Santa Fe colors. Again, the anachronism will be fine with me.

[RobertInOntario]

Just curious, would the F40PH be "old' enough for a 1950s layout? Aren't they are more recent/modern engine? Thanks, Rob

[eightyeightfan1]

The F40PH would be more late 1970's until late 1990's.Though Amtrack doesen't use them much anymore, a lot of local commuter lines still use them today. AmTrack wasn't formed until the early '70's, so in the '50's, all the Class 1's would still be operating passenger trains. Some steam was still being used to head these, but were quickly being replaced by diesels.
Late '50s diesels would of been EMD's F's, E's. Alco DL's., PA's.

[michael_balcos]

Yup, the F40PH is too new for a 1950's layout. But it will be fine with me. I've heard people of having a layout with different era's. It's my railroad anyway. But since I've got 18" curves, I'll just get a Bachmann FT in Santa Fe colors and use that for my "silver" Athearn streamlined shorties. Again, the FT in the red warbonnet scheme was used in passenger service in the 40's. So it's another different era.

I tried getting an Athearn F7A shell or dummy in the red Santa Fe warbonnet scheme, but I always get outbidded. I have an Athearn CN F7A whose shell I could transfer to a cheapo LifeLike chassis.

[Will_Annand]

[quote="MasonJarAre the open observation cars a recent thing, or would they be contemporary with your layout WIll?
Andrew[/quote]

Very contemporary Andrew, I have some on order.

They would fit any layout as historical excursion train. The local Portage Flyer (an 0-4-0 tank engine) pulls two similar to these.

http://www.portageflyer.org