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Kato - N Scale - Amtrak Superliner II Transition Sleeper Phase IVb - Amtrak (AMTK) - #39027 - Silver w/Phase IVb scheme (SKU 381-1560954)

Available On: October 1, 2014

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 The original Santa Fe “Step Down Coach” was, for many years, an absolutely necessary car for any Superliner Consist as trains had to accommodate both single and bi-level cars in order to deal with baggage and crew accommodations.

With the construction of Amtrak’s fleet of second generation Superliner cars in 1990 (the appropriately named Superliner II’s), Amtrak turned its attention to replacing the now-decades old Step Down Coaches it had inherited from the Santa Fe with the new “Transition Sleeper” or “Transition Dormitory” car. With roomette accommodations for the train’s crew as well as dining and lounge space, these crew cars were to take the place of the older Santa Fe Step Down cars in Amtrak’s fleet, functioning both as a crew quarters and a hi-low transition car.

Currently, virtually every Superliner Consist in operation in Amtrak Service has some form of transition car, with the latest paint schemes being reserved for the newer Superliner II Cars. This Kato N scale model will be a fully licensed and accurate recreation of this new, Modern Transition car and will be a must-have for any N scale modeler who operates existing Phase IVb Superliner Trains!

The Superliner II fleet was introduced in 1990 as Amtrak's next generation of its now ubiquitous Superliners. Visually very similar to their older cousins, the Superliner II's have a host of mechanical and electrical improvements to their design as well as construction. One of the new styles of car introduced with this new generation of cars was the "Transition Sleeper", or "Transition Dormitory" car. Intended to replace the aging High-Level Step Down cars, the Transition Sleeper fulfills a similar role by having high and low level diaphragms on either side of the car as well as having on-board crew accomodations.

Budd Hi-Level Cars: The Budd-built Hi-Level cars had a great influence on Amtrak's passenger service, revolutionizing economy coach travel with their double-decker design. Even after the advent of the Superliner car, many of these Budd cars remained in service, in particular the "Step-Down" coach originally used to transition between single level and hi-level cars on the "El Capitan". These cars, along with de-skirted (for easier maintenance) Santa Fe Baggage cars, were a staple on all Superliner trains up to the introduction of the Superliner II car in 1990.

Model Features:

  • Fully detailed interiors can be lit with optional Interior lighting kit with LED #11-209/11-210
  • Finely detailed with prototype accurate painting and lettering
  • Free and smooth rolling trucks for maximum performance
  • All cars are equipped with Kato semi-automatic knuckle couplers
  • Designed to be pulled by Kato's EMD F40PH or GE P42 "Genesis" Locomotives






$30.00 US