I haven’t made an update post in a few weeks… Not because I’ve neglected the site, but because there really hasn’t been any updates.
The closest thing I have to an update is that the P42s seem to be multiplying on the layout…
When I built the first layout, finding anything Amtrak in N Scale could be a challenge. Bachmann Amfleets could be found in random hobby shops – but honestly they didn’t look that great, you could also find full length dome cars in Amtrak colors from Bachmann. ConCor also made Superliners and I found a Viewliner from them once too… Bachmann’s stuff looked bad, and ConCor’s stuff was light but given the options it worked.
Engines on the other hand were harder to find. Bachmann sold versions of the E60 and F40 in their cheaper sets. Much like the Amfleets, those E60s and F40s looked and ran like the cheapo Bachmann’s that they were. What you absolutely couldn’t find was a P42 even though they were a pretty common sight.
I mentioned before that not long after I left the hobby 20 or so years ago that Bachmann released N Scale versions of the HHP-8 and the Acela. Both with DCC preinstalled, both with some terrific detailing especially for Bachmann – and both poor runners… Not long after that Kato started producing Amtrak engines and rolling stock in N, and when I came back into the hobby two years ago – Kato’s Amtrak stock has been near the top of my buy list.
I picked up the first P42 two years ago, Amtrak 66 in 40th Anniversary Phase II paint and have been running it with an Amfleet/Viewliner Sleeper consist and a full Superliner consist. Since getting that one I’ve been on the lookout for one in the Dash 8 Phase III and Phase IV schemes.
Amtrak 77 is currently sitting on the workbench now.. I got it a few weeks ago on Ebay – but it’s DC which is why it’s on the workbench waiting for me to order a Digitrax DN163K0A. I thought about installing a LokSound decoder, but I’ve heard those require milling the frame which is not something I’m ready to try yet.
Right after I placed the bid on 77, Juan Navarette posted on Facebook that he was selling off a few items from his collection – one of which was a Kato P42 in the Phase IV 40th Anniversary scheme, with a DN163K0A already installed for not much more than a new P42 that was DCC ready… So I couldn’t pass that one up…
As for the Dash 8 Phase III – Kato is shipping those now, although I haven’t pulled the trigger on one…. But only because I put in a pre-order for the DCC/Sound version on Trainworld that isn’t expected until the Spring…
Oh, and there’s a seller on eBay that I’ve been watching who’s been offering repaints of the Kato P42s in MetroNorth colors… I want one of those because it would look great pulling the Rapido MetroNorth Comet cars…
And if there’s a chance of getting a P42 painted in Shore Line East’s version of the New Haven McGinness scheme, I’d want one of those too…
Don’t judge me…