I would love to see metal-plated Viewliners along with Amfleet I and II (Especially II's) cars with full interiors. But as stated before, we need a TOTALLY "from the ground up" new carbody.
There is some talk on the Athearn Facebook page about upgrading their AMD-103 line from Ready To Roll to the Genesis line (a Genesis for the Genesis!). Per Athearn, this has been talked about in their company. I for one would LOVE to see this (finally accurate plows, attention to detail, Tsunami sound, etc.)
I am picturing the following:
Cleveland station.... HO scale, it's 2:53 in the morning, a bright headlight and ditch lights flashing pierce the morning fog...
Train 29, the westbound Capitol Limited pulls in, her consist:
P42DC - 191 *Athearn Genesis Ph Vb
P42DC - 203 *Athearn Genesis Ph Vb
Budd 73' Baggage - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Superliner T/S - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
Superliner II Sleeper - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
Superliner I Sleeper - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
Superliner II Dining Car - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
Superliner II Lounge - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
Superliner I Coach - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
Superliner I Coach - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
Superliner I Coach-Baggage - Walthers metal plated Superliner Ph IVb
She departs onwards to Chicago, a little over an hour goes by, the fog has increased from the Great Lake.... an announcement follows:
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please, announcing the arrival of Train 49, the westbound Lake Shore Limited from New York/Boston to Chicago, please make your way to the platform for boarding." (Yea I know, I never heard that polite of an announcement at CLE either
)
As you walk out the door, a towering P42DC # 10 rolls by along with the rest of her consist:
P42DC #10 *Athearn Genesis Ph Vb
P42DC #151*Athearn Genesis Ph Vb
Budd 73' Baggage - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Viewliner Sleeper - Walthers metal plated Ph IV
Amfleet II Coach - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Amfleet II Coach - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Amfleet II Lounge -Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Amfleet II Coach - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Amfleet II Coach - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Amfleet II Coach - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Amfleet II Coach - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Amfleet II Lounge - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Heritage Diner - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Viewliner Sleeper - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
Viewliner Sleeper - Walthers metal plated Ph IVb
1700-series Baggage - Walthers metal plated Ph IV (Then again, I do not believe these cars are stainless steel on the prototype, time to crack out the airbrush with some brown and dust!)
Well that's a poetic note, and it's a start, and I can dream can't I???? =D
With the metal-plated release of the Super Chief train, the baggage cars seem to be a natural for "Amtraking" in Phase I, II, III, IV, IVb. One can only hope!
-Tom