I am looking at the Kato passenger car sets. Kato indicates that Amtrak runs the VIb cars primarily on the east coast and down to NO. The Kato Zephyr cars are I believe circa early 60's Amtrak is still selling tickets on the "Zephyr". What cars and engines are being used on the Zephyr trains today? Are they similar to Kato's VIb or like Kato's Zephyr? baffled:
This would be a good question for Mark Watson, as he's ridden the Zephyr a few times. I believe your best bet would be P42 locomotives and mostly Superliner cars, but I couldn't tell you for sure which schemes would be the most likely. I see the Coast Starlight frequently and its consist is a little mixed but not too much.
that one is all superliners IVbs, a baggage and two p42s just like the coast starlight. except i dont think the california Zephyr has a parlour lounge coast starlight is really consistent right? i see it all the time with 3 sleepers, a parlour lounge, diner, observation, and 3 coaches. last one i took had 3 engines, 2x p42 and a cascades f59 pulling (4 sleepers and coaches with a amtrak california coach too). and ive seen it pull private cars too in the rear. i dont think anyone runs the original Zephyr cars in regular service anymore do they?
Specifically, the CZ runs today (usually) with two Phase V P42s (Elephant style), a Phase VI or IV baggage car then Phase VI Superliners in this order: Transitional Sleeper, Sleeper, Sleeper, Diner, Lounge, Coach, Coach, Coach and sometimes an other Coach. Here is a good picture: http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=297789&nseq=58 Kato makes all these items in Phase VI and V (for the locos) except the Transition Sleeper. Currently, the P42s that are available are in the older version of the current scheme (Red and blue stripe near the bottom as apposed to just the the red stripe as it now looks) The new version is due to come out in sets in the near future though. For reference, here is version one of Phase V on the P42s: http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtGEN42f_123_132/amt123a.jpg Here is the newer and current version of Phase V: http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtGEN42f_123_132/amt130e.jpg Chris
Here are a couple of CZ from the mid-2000s. I hope that they will help. Consists from the Passenger Train Consist list at Yahoo! Groups... October 28, 2004 AMTK No. 6 California Zephyr 188 GE P42 3 GE P42 1135 Baggage 39030 Transition Sleeper 34042 Chair 31005 Baggage Chair 34095 Chair 33022 Sightseer's Lounge 38036 Diner 32042 Sleeper 32009 Sleeper 6/16/05 142 GE P42 66 GE P42 1234 Baggage 39039 Dorm 32002 Sleeper 32027 Sleeper 38014 Diner 33003 Sightseer's Lounge 31520 Coach 34090 Coach 34031 Coach Sierra Hotel Private Car
Down here in SoFla, two Amtrak trains run close to my home every day, and return from Miami (25 miles) so we see essentially 4 trains per day. The only thing I have seen that is considered old are some fluted side passenger coaches or sleepers, but everything else is pure Amtrak since 1971. At the station the old names of ACL trains are retained although the locos and varnish are modern. I think that is the case all around the US, so patrons can identify with a particular train from a local standpoint. Just my observation, and it could be wrong, but until I am told different, that is the story I am going with. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
