Hi all, I've been wanting to add a P30CH or two to my Amtrak fleet but have come to realize that one has never been produced in N scale. From my research, there also does not appear to have ever been a shell or any kind of kit produced either. This leaves me with the options of either kitbashing or scratchbuilding, neither of which I am familiar with. I have put together resin shell kits before though. I was wondering if anyone has any idea where to begin as far as building one of these locomotives goes or if there is a kit or shell available that I missed in my search. I was thinking a good place to start would be a Kato U30C mechanism, but I have no idea what I'm doing as far as the shell is concerned. I'd appreciate any help I could get on this.
Hate to say it but it will be a "tough row to how" if you intend to scratch build a model (which is about your only option). The curves of the carbody will likely prove to be the most challenging part. That said, I hope that you will be able to succeed... the Pouches were an important part of Amtrak's operations (one was even leased for a while to CSX for use on its track geometry train) and it would be good if a way to model them can be found!!!
This is something I've thought a lot about too. The best place to start would be with the Minitrix GE U30CG. It will take a lot of work, but would be a great model to have! Keep us posted! Here is a picture of that locomotive: [video]http://billsrailroad.tripod.com/amtrak-u30cg.jpg[/video]
I have no dimensional information to rely on, but the Bachmann E60 shell might share some contours, etc with a P30CH. The nose would have to lengthened and the shell seriously shaved and cut, but some features might carry over.
The one place to start is a U30C Kato and use the mech and sill from the walkways will have to be scratch built this seems like it would be fun!
Interesting looking loco. Of course you do know, the minute you finish yours someone will start producing them.
No kidding. I had to go look up some pictures because this is not a locomotive with which I have much familiarity around here. When I was little pretty much everything Amtrak was an F40PH or similar here on the West Coast. It seems very similar down below the body to the U30C, as others have mentioned. That upper part is trickier. I think my approach would be to try to get an F40PH shell and cut it in the middle to lengthen it and then go from there. I know that the F40PH is quite differenty, but I think the shell would at least give me an armature upon which I could proceed.
If you need drawings, try here; http://www.trainweb.org/willstrainart/AutoCad_Index.htm Here's the GE page; http://www.trainweb.org/willstrainart/GE_line.htm Here's the page for the P30CH; http://www.trainweb.org/willstrainart/Train_Art_files/GE_Line/P30CH.htm Maybe this could help, even though there's no dimensions! Trevor D.
Yeah, I've been thinking a U30CG would be a decent start. I've got a Phase II Amtrak U30CG shell already and that's what got me thinking about building a pooch. I also found someone who actually succeeded in kitbashing one, although the only notes he has on his site is that it started life as a U30CG. http://railroad.tomhirano.com/amtrak-model/p30ch-702.html I appreciate the help and feedback I've received so far. I'm currently looking into possible donors for the different panels.
Don't forget that the P30CHs were 72'-4" long which is 5'-1" longer than the U30Cs. This was the cause of the large gap between the fuel tank and the trucks. If you reversed the trucks on the U30C, you'd get truck centers @ 44' approx. whereas the P30CH had 46' truck centers. The U30C has truck centers of about 40'-6". The 46' truck centers are the same as on an SDP45. You could use the Kato AC4400/C44-9W mechanism, but the GE trucks won't fit, you'd have to use the trucks from an SD40/45, which in itself is another problem. Trevor D.
I've since found out that the GE sideframes will fit on the SD40/45/C44-9W/AC4400 truck so you could get the proper-length truck-centers for this! A small piece of the sideframe would have to be cut off to clear the tab on the C44 frame though. Trevor D.
