My Amtrak cars like to give me problems. My Bi-Level cab car keeps derailing on 22" curves when coupled K46 to K46 with another Bi-Level.

The Amfleets for the most part are the Bachmann ones. I removed the light pickups so the cars roll a bit more freely and so a couple of Walthers cars don't stick out in the consist that bad.

The Horizons were equipped with lowered head couplers when this issue first presented itself. But, I think they still sit too high to stay coupled to a Walthers Amfleet even with the lowered head couplers. The only car I really have that I can run with them right now is more or less 10031.

I am now having problems with the HHP-8 staying coupled to the delighted Amfleets. I have also sent in a complaint to Walthers about a height problem with my Horizon Fleet cars in that they won't stay coupled to anything even using lowered head couplers. I had to run them recently using a diesel on both ends of the train since they were mixed in with Amfleet and Heritage cars.

EDIT: Changing the thread title to reflect the new use of this thread.

Quote from: mlrr on September 07, 2010, 09:54:51 AMVERY good point!  I noticed that myself.  I'm tempted to say that the Full Dome was a new product all together.  I don't recall that being in their product line until the last few years.

It came out as part of the Empire Builder Series.

Quote from: mlrr on August 13, 2010, 07:30:25 AM
There's more that Bachmann would have to do to improve the Amfleet model.  I personally feel the original tooling had more accurate dimensions.  It almost seems as if the re-tooled Bachmann "Silver Series" amfleet tried to mimmic Walthers' style a little bit.

I wouldn't bet on Bachmann re-tooling the Amfleet I in the currnet series for a while as it's still relatively new tooling.

I'd much rather encourage Bachmann to not only re-evaluate the quality and accuracy of the paint jobs for the Amfleet I paint schemes but produce the Amfleet I in its spectrum line.  Imagine an Amfleet I that is on par with the accuracy of the Acela Express passenger cars (**Note: Bachmann has a big light blue splotch on the Acela Cafe car that should actually be Green otherwise the paint is correct everywhere else)

Otherwise I wouldn't write Walthers off just yet.  Remember, Kato was coming out with the HO Superliners with interiors when Walthers "retired" their Superliners and low and behold, Walthers not only has Superliners with interiors, but a real metal finish!  Who knows what to expect in a few years as far as Walthers Amfleets go.

I found it interesting that Walthers never bothered with the Amfleets in Phase IVB yet tooled and offered a HEP version of the Great Dome in that scheme.

Quote from: Atlantic Central on August 21, 2010, 01:32:08 PM
They also produced a RTR line for COX during the late 60's, then no RTR until what we have now.

Additionally, Athearn and MDC were actually very close "friends", did tooling for each other based on equipment/abilities and had very little "overlap" in their product lines on purpose - so it was a perfect fit when Horizon both both companies.

Sheldon

I guess some of the "overlap" is why I have Railbox cars from both Athearn and MDC.

Horizon actually intergrated both lines. I have a couple of MDC hoppers that were sold as Athearn kits and many other MDC kits were resold as Athearn kits as well as being merged into the RTR line. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Athearn RS3 the MDC RS3.

Quote from: mlrr on August 12, 2010, 08:45:39 AM
You may have to check the rollability of the cars in your consist.  This has been an issue for me in the past.  Apply conductalube to the axle bearings and make sure that if there are any Walthers-style pickup shoes making contact with the axles that they are not tightly pressed against them.

The HHPs are actually very good haulers.  The latest run actually runs at prototypical speeds under DCC.  the older run not so much.  I have to call the Bachmann parts department to see if they can send replacement circuit boards (I think that's the source of the problem) or perhaps the motor).

I have unit 664 which I think is part of the older run. I removed the lighting anyway since it makes a Walthers car mixed in stick out like a sore thumb.

Time for Bachmann to put its foot forward. I would suggest a major overhaul of the paintwork on the cars and adding the Phase I and Northeast Direct schemes to the mix. The paint issue and the easily correctable if you don't mind losing the lighting wheel issue are the only two drawbacks to an otherwise decent model and now the only choice for those not wanting to hunt down brass models or search ebay for hours on end looking for Walthers cars that may be from before working diaphragms were included with the cars.

Quote from: Blink_182_Fan on August 07, 2010, 11:54:36 PM
Thanks for tips on the pickups. I'll try it tomorrow.
As for the cab cars, do Amtrak trains never use cab cars then? Or do they just use Metroliner ones? Just curious. Thanks again.

There's the Metroliner Cabs, the California Cabs, and the NPCUs.

The Metroliner Cabs run in the Northeast.
The California cabs run in California of course.
The NPCUs run on the Downeaster, Midwest services, and Cascades.

Quote from: Blink_182_Fan on August 07, 2010, 03:25:49 PM
I realize I'm quadruple posting but I got 2 videos up on YouTube of the Nor'Easter set.
Here's a video of running it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQBiQQ4vLG8
And a review of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtJ0yut5nmk&feature=fvw

So, I have two questions. Can anyone tell me how to take out the light pickups on the trucks? I took the cover off one and I don't know what and how to take it out. The second question is does anyone know if any company makes Acela scheme cab cars. It would be cool to have one but I don't think anyone makes any. I think Bachmann should look into that.

The first one you need a small slot screwdriver and a pair of needlenose pliers. You have to use the screwdriver to pry the metal pickup away from the plastic and use the pliers to yank it out.

As for the second one. The Metroliner Cab cars never wore the Acela Regional paint scheme.

I removed the lighting pickups from an extra coach I have. I bought IVB coaches to go with the V cafe and then found the V coaches. It seems to be moving ok and no sparks were sent up.

Quote from: pipefitter on July 25, 2010, 01:18:59 PMI have two E60CP DCC locos and they also run perfectly on DC.

Robert

I run DC and the E60 gives me no grief as the video I linked to shows.

Quote from: Blink_182_Fan on July 25, 2010, 12:23:21 AM
Im going to just so that there's no drag on these cars and so that the lights themselves aren't draining power from my power pack. It's a feature I could care less about, but that's just me.

That's why I'm thinking about doing it. But, I think the HHP is a poor hauler anyway since it strained pulling 4 Walthers Comets and strains when pulling my Three Rivers consist.

I saw something in another thread about disabling the lighting. Would that be a good idea?

You are better off with the E60CP. I have the HHP and the E60 and the E60 for a standard line product is a heavy hauler. I honestly think it would take 2 HHPs to haul an 8-car set of Walthers Heritage Fleet cars, yet 1 E60 hauled that same consist on my imperfect track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXcMOtrh4_Y