cab4
Member
Posts: 149
Primary Railroads: Conrail, NJ DOT, Amtrak, SEPTA, NJT
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Post by cab4 on Mar 21, 2014 22:33:06 GMT -5
Mgswy, Thanks very much for posting these excellent photos! I was wondering if disassembling these units was challenging. I had considered purchasing a few units and refinishing them into the Penn Central scheme. But realized that with the complex body detailing, it might be more trouble than its worth. Apparently Walthers felt that "Penn Central" versions wouldn't sell inspite of the fact that the Metroliners went into service under the Penn Central banner and that a good number of the units remained in their PC scheme well into the late 70s. The Pennsy versions would have been perfect for those of us that wanted these in PC since it would have been a simple matter of removing the Keystone decals and replacing them with the PC worms. But Walthers decides to sell the Pennsy version in $1100+ sets of four. So, it's lose-lose for PC modelers as well as for those of us with extremely limited hobby dollars. Ok, end of rant. I definitely would be in for a Penn Central version. I did email them about it, they said they weren't interested, but that a Rebuilt Metroliner was a possibility. Hopefully, this will change. That is why I only will stick with the 4 Metroliners I have now. I've been reading and researching these metroliners for many years now, and I still have never seen a photograph with all 4 cars in Amtrak paint, except for in the later years after they were all rebuilt. The most I've seen is 3 out of 4. I mentioned the possibility of remaking a PRR into a PC set, and everybody around me groaned, so I don't think thats a good plan either! Perhaps it would be possible to remove the Amtrak stripes and lettering without harming the metallic paint underneath? Nice looking,had expected the use of a PDT type power truck,that drive should work well  I don't remember the underframe color as grey,mostly dirty black/brown from road grime. Did you do a test run yet?? As originally delivered, the under-bodies were indeed this color. I'm hoping the drives from these Metroliners can be adapted to the IHP Arrows, but I wonder how easy it would be to replace these wheels with 33" wheels. |
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Post by acelaphillies on Mar 22, 2014 9:12:20 GMT -5
Great pictures, thanks for sharing! I appreciate all of the pictures so we can get a good overview of the car. I think the fact that the end separates from the carbody sets up well for a cab car version later on down the road. On its maiden run, my 861 Snack bar coach (on the rear of the train) derailed, and a passing train snagged one of the grab irons, and literally pulled the face right off the model! Fortunately, the shell is designed this way, and no obvious damage was spotted. I just snapped it back together! Wow, I'm glad there was no damage, but I'm sure your heart skipped a few beats!!  |
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Post by backshophoss on Mar 24, 2014 22:53:14 GMT -5
Ouch!
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 14, 2014 1:36:05 GMT -5
In the May'14 issue of MR,they did their review of the Walters Metroliners,they were very positive
about the model,and for their subscribers,a video of the cars on their layout.
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 27, 2014 18:44:57 GMT -5
In the current issue of Model Railroad News(aka MRN Apr'14)on pg 50 is a review of the Walters Metroliners, they seem impressed with a few minor peeves,on pg 90 the from the archives column, a short history of the Bachmann's Metroliner attempt,the article was written by Tony Cook with some help from member ihphobbymike. |
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Post by Amtrak207 on Jun 12, 2014 21:26:05 GMT -5
Posted on Walthers site, Penn Central Metroliners as well as Ph II "big Amtrak face" cars.
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cab4
Member
Posts: 149
Primary Railroads: Conrail, NJ DOT, Amtrak, SEPTA, NJT
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Post by cab4 on Jun 13, 2014 11:25:17 GMT -5
Cursses! I should have waited before I picked up my set! I'm going to have to get a 6 car train of the PC/Amtrak ones to get my ratios right.
Also, I wonder if the "Phase II" cars will have the roof humps? I guess we can use the model memories part. That said, some of the unrebuilt Metroliners did get the big "face".
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AlanUS
New Member
Posts: 4 
Primary Railroads: CN, CP, GN, BN, BNSF
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Post by AlanUS on Jun 16, 2014 4:32:16 GMT -5
Gents,
I'm working with the JMRI team and have (almost) finished to update the Soundtraxx Walthers OEM decoder file definition with this new Metroliner.
As I do not own one myself, I’m working only with documentation – when it exists! The one sheet operating instruction posted by Ed (gmpullman) has been very helpful in this regard. It is a pity that some manufacturers do not publish such documentation on their website in a timely manner, especially when they do not event ship the documentation with the model, if I understand well.
This being said, having gathered all pieces of documentation altogether, I came to the conclusion that the function mapping would be as follows:
Function #0 = Headlight
Function #1 ===> not used, no bell on the prototype and model (but CVs set to Bell).
Function #2 = Horn
Function #3 = Short Horn ==> not documented, but CVs set to this.
Function #4 = Fans/RPM+ ==> not documented, but CVs set to this.
Function #5 = Gyralite
Function #6 = # Boards
Function #7 = Dimmer ==> not documented, but CVs set to this.
Function #8 = Mute ==> not documented, but CVs set to this.
Function #9 = Brake + Squeal
Function #10 = Coupler ==> not documented, but CVs set to this.
Function #11 = Interior Lights
Function #12 = Compressor/RPM- ==> not documented, but CVs set to this.
Could any of you happy owners check if the “not documented” functions are well set as I think? I wonder what F4 and F12 really do as this is an unusual remapping of Tsunami sound functions.
Alain LM
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Post by antoniofp45 on Jun 16, 2014 8:29:55 GMT -5
I admit to being pleasantly surprise. In reading Cab4's post in which he states that Walthers was not interested in producing a Penn Central version, I admit to being pleasantly surprised and am glad that Walthers had a change of heart. Perhaps because the Amtrak units sold well, or due to requests from modelers. It's a nice plus that decals are being supplied so that we can model the PC flavors as well as the Amtrak patch-job.
Looking forward to them.
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Post by mttrains on Jun 16, 2014 14:10:51 GMT -5
Yeah!!! Just checked the Walthers website and it is confirmed. They would be nuts to not do them in these schemes. This is how many of us remember the Metroliners. Awesome news...
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Post by antoniofp45 on Jun 16, 2014 15:05:04 GMT -5
I mentioned on another forum that Walthers reps were likely concerned about the so called "Penn Central stigma" and, perhaps felt that PC units might not sell. Hopefully the modeling community is about to prove them wrong, if that was the case. Penn Central was a business disaster yet, for modelers and railfans it was also a gold mine when it came to a wide variety of locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, MOW equipment, maintenance facilities, and industries. A good number of modelers (especially those that grew up during that era) appreciate that facet of the PC and enjoy modeling it.
Additionally, the "Penn Central" Metroliners (even with their glitches) were a hit with the traveling public.
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Post by mttrains on Jun 16, 2014 16:17:10 GMT -5
I have seen many things Penn Central selling rather well. I believe that a new generation of modelers is coming of age that grew up seeing the PC and early Amtrak era. With their fun money they are buying what they saw as kids. I certainly am but of course not all fall into this arena. Just my opinion.  By the way Antoniofp45 your stainless work is awesome!! |
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Post by backshophoss on Jun 16, 2014 18:45:22 GMT -5
PC was known to have a little bit of "everything" somewhere on the RR,depending if the "Red + Green"
computers were working together(or NOT),then add the "shotgun" marriage of the New Haven to the mix,
and even more crazy stuff happened.
The rest is history!
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Post by antoniofp45 on Jun 17, 2014 6:53:02 GMT -5
Hello Mtt, Thank you very much! I hope that you give it a go! There are loads of "silver" painted cars on the market selling for low prices on ebay that would make enjoyable metalizing projects. I have seen many things Penn Central selling rather well. I believe that a new generation of modelers is coming of age that grew up seeing the PC and early Amtrak era. With their fun money they are buying what they saw as kids. I certainly am but of course not all fall into this arena. Just my opinion. By the way Antoniofp45 your stainless work is awesome!! |
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cab4
Member
Posts: 149
Primary Railroads: Conrail, NJ DOT, Amtrak, SEPTA, NJT
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Post by cab4 on Jun 18, 2014 12:02:01 GMT -5
I admit to being pleasantly surprise. In reading Cab4's post in which he states that Walthers was not interested in producing a Penn Central version, I admit to being pleasantly surprised and am glad that Walthers had a change of heart. Perhaps because the Amtrak units sold well, or due to requests from modelers. It's a nice plus that decals are being supplied so that we can model the PC flavors as well as the Amtrak patch-job. Looking forward to them. Me too, except now I wish I saved my money for a set of these rather than the Phase I scheme. I'm still curious If the Phase II cars will be correct, but somehow I doubt it. |
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By the way Antoniofp45 your stainless work is awesome!!