Walthers Amtrak Amfleet Is "Retired"

Something I found interesting, Walthers no longer offers any cars to go with the Amtrak HEP Great Domes. I just thought of this when I decided to take my model of 10031 and Horizons for a spin with my Phase IV AMD-103.

I say this because the Domes are usually ran with single-level equipment. But now, there are no single-level cars to run with the domes.

The only news I've heard from Walthers so far, is "stay tuned"

Jers2709 wrote:The only news I've heard from Walthers so far, is "stay tuned"

That's actually good news! At least better than what some have gotten already which is "No plans at this time".

I still encourage those who haven't done so to write in demonstrating your interest in these so that if there are newly tooled amfleets (from the ground up) the project doesn't get put on the back burner.

I speak optomistically with caution however. If the superliner upgrades are any indication, one could always expect Walthers to finish the amfleets with metal plating using the same shell they've been using for years while adding interiors and maybe improving the trucks.

However my confidence in Walthers to do really good work is strong.

I agree, this is good news. But please still keep sending these requests in for the Amfleet I and II's. As much as I would like to see re-tooled Viewliners, I think that may be a ways off until Amtrak gets their Viewliner II order of Sleeping cars, Dining cars, Baggage-Dorms and Baggage cars. Unless they release a Viewliner I re-tooled Sleeper, followed by the V-II's. One can only hope!

But... if you want metal plated baggage cars, NOW IS THE TIME TO LET WALTHERS KNOW! With the release of their metal-plated Super Chief line, the 73' Budd Baggage car seems like a perfect candidate for this.

-Tom

Sent in the request yesterday, got this back:

"All of the Amfleet I items are retired. This means that they are not being produced at this time but they can be placed on backorder. If enough people place these items on backorder and show to be popular items, Walthers may consider bringing them back. They have not been discontinued at this time."

I asked about the chance of a retooled Amfleet:

"At this time, there is no indication that this would happen."

Now that I work with these cars up close and personal I can say firsthand that the Walthers model is horrible looking anyhow. The roof vents are too large, the profile is very wrong and the doors defiantly don't look right. I like the Bachmann model much better, while the trucks are a bit crude they do roll alot better. If walthers redid these cars they really should scrap them and start from the rails up. The superliners look like the exact same cars just now metalized painted.

ApproachMedium wrote:Now that I work with these cars up close and personal I can say firsthand that the Walthers model is horrible looking anyhow. The roof vents are too large, the profile is very wrong and the doors defiantly don't look right. I like the Bachmann model much better, while the trucks are a bit crude they do roll alot better. If walthers redid these cars they really should scrap them and start from the rails up. The superliners look like the exact same cars just now metalized painted.

I agree with your observations. I feel the original SHELL of Bachmann's Amfleets were probably the MOST accurate (minus the absence of the MU receptacles on the bulkheads). I prefer Walthers' Amfleets because their paint is more accurate. I just can't seem to budge on the Bachmann versions. Bachmann's re-tooled amfleet looks less believable to me.

If Bachmann took the time to re-tool their Amfleet (which is less accurate than it's predecessor) I can't see why Walthers would spend the time re-tooling theirs. It would be great if they improved the tooling within the next two or three years and released them as their prototype counterparts won't be around for much longer at the rate Amtrak is putting out bids for new equipment.

Kyle

Talked to Atlas and Walthers at the WGH show in Edison, NJ this weekend. They told me they're not forgetting Amtrak modelers, so we should be hearing something soon!

Crossing my fingers they do a total retooling on these things or I will be trading all of mine in for Bachmanns and repainting instead of buying any more of the walthers crap!

They were saying the big holdup right now is the plating process, they're trying to figure out the right heat to use without melting the model shells.

Jers2709 wrote:They were saying the big holdup right now is the plating process, they're trying to figure out the right heat to use without melting the model shells.

Not surprising (that they'd be planning a plated release, I mean). I only hope that the "shells" themselves are completely re-tooled. Otherwise, what a waste.

ajp31 wrote:

Jers2709 wrote:They were saying the big holdup right now is the plating process, they're trying to figure out the right heat to use without melting the model shells.

Not surprising (that they'd be planning a plated release, I mean). I only hope that the "shells" themselves are completely re-tooled. Otherwise, what a waste.

Yeah, since the upcoming RDC run has the plated finish. Hopefully, I can get a good discount sometime down the road on one so I can compare the upcoming RDC to the last run of RDCs.

The first generation kits had super-dinkey trucks. In the past two years, I purchased some of the RTR cars and Amfleet II coaches, and I think they're excessively overweight.

If more work was put into the wheels and trucks, weight wouldn't be so critical. Look at European equipment; tap it with your finger and it rolls four feet. Tap American stuff and it barely goes four inches. For some reason thirty years ago, someone sold the industry on weight which was nuts. All that does is burn out your engine. Hopefully the next generation of Amfleet gear will have less weight and better wheelsets.

D/

It seems like its not even really that heavy, same with my NJT cars. When they roll though, its like pulling a car that weights 10x as much. Athearn successfully made inboard bearing trucks that roll excellent for its Bombardier double deck passenger cars. I am going to try putting these trucks onto one of my amfleets or comets and see if it fits. If they do I will be putting in a big order with Athearn for these parts. I have had enough of their crappy trucks!

Kato is advertising a new inboard-bearing truck design on their N scale Amfleet II models. Anybody know how it works and/or how it might be adaptable to HO?