PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The Surfliner is a family of bi-level intercity railcars derived from the California Car. Like its predecessor, it is derived from the Superliner in design, and operated on Amtrak California’s intercity routes in California. They are owned by both Amtrak and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

In February 1998, Amtrak ordered 40 Surfliner cars that were delivered by Alstom between 2000 and 2001 (all numbered in the 6xxx series). The first cars started operating on the Pacific Surfliner in April 2000. In September 1999, Caltrans placed a smaller order for 22 cars. 10 cars (numbered in the 6x5x series) are used to supplement the Amtrak-owned cars on the Pacific Surfliner and the other 12 (numbered in the 6x6x series) are used to expand the fleet used on the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin. These were the final Surfliner cars to be built and delivery was completed in 2002.

Surfliner cars were delivered in several types: coach cars, café/coach cars equipped for food sales on the lower level, business-class cars which have two small galleys to allow an attendant to offer complimentary beverage service, and coach/baggage/cab cars equipped with coach seating, a checked baggage space on the lower level, and engineer’s operating cab and headlights on one end, allowing the train to be operated in push-pull mode. All Surfliner cars are equipped with overhead luggage racks, reclining seats with tray tables and footrests, reading lights, restrooms, AmtrakConnect WiFi, 120 V power outlets, and a wheelchair ramp. The Surfliner has a maximum speed of 90 mph.

 

BRAND NEW GENESIS TOOLING!

AMTRAK CALIFORNIA II ‘SURFLINER’ PASSENGER CAR

FEATURES:

• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run

• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more

• Accurate painting and printing featuring licensed Amtrak paint colors and artwork

• Each car individually named and numbered

• Tinted window glass

• Full end details including train line hoses & HEP receptacles

• Cab cars feature three different antenna arrangements per era

• Unique interior details for each car type

• Detailed paint colors including separate colors for floors, walls, seats, tables, control compartment, etc.

• Business class cars feature complete upper & lower service areas

• Café cars feature complete kitchen & serving area

• Interior stair & luggage rack details

• McHenry scale knuckle couplers – Kadee compatible

• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow

• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track

• Packaging securely holds model for safe storage

 

LED LIGHT-EQUIPPED FEATURES:

• On-board DCC Decoder by NCE

– Operates in DCC and Analog (DC) with lighting functions controllable in DCC

• LED Interior Lights on upper and lower levels

 

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:

• Soundtraxx Tsunami SoundCar decoder w/ exclusive sounds recorded from actual Surfliner cars:

- A/C compressor operation

- Doors opening & closing with associated “beep”

- Generic station announcements with associated “beep” for PA system use

- Vacuum toilet operation sound

- “Clickety Clack” rail sound

- Brake system sounds including brake set & application, and emergency brake air dump sound

- Cab cars feature authentic K5LA horn and bell

• Interior LED lights on upper & lower levels

• Cab cars feature working headlights and flashing ditch lights

 

 

Order Due Date: July 29, 2022

Anticipated Delivery Date: September 2023

Looking for more Athearn Passenger Cars? Click here!

 

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