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Subject: Aristo E-8 Diesel Amtrak Availablity?

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Steeeeve

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Posts:66

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09/21/2008 2:25 PM
Looks like it will be a phase 1 design on the Amtrak...I love it " border=0> > It would be nice to have some passenger cars to go with that were the same style but they don't exist " border=0>> The USA Trains might be the closest. The LGB ones are bothering me with the dimensions being so far off.

Robert Fasnacht User is Offline

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Posts:29

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09/22/2008 6:40 PM
Re passenger cars. The USAT passenger cars in AMTRAK motif are truly awesome plus you get two of each as it applies to coach, vista dome and sleeper. Ro & Company have said that the AMTRAK run for 2008 would also include the RPO, baggage, and crew cars but I've seen no recent confirmation of such. What I did to add these cars to the entire consist is buy Santa Fe cars, strip them and then detail them identically to the factory run. USAT makes an SD40-2 in AMTRAK. Unless you are absolutely, forevermore determined to buy an E8 the SD49-2 looks good. I run three of them lashed together when I pull the passenger cars. Striping and colors all match, which may not be the case with an Aristo E8, if and when it is finally produced. One other concern, which you have not mentioned, is coupling. I am pretty expert in changing any factory coupler to Aristo-Craft since Aristo-Craft is my coupler of choice. Common sense prevailed with the USAT passenger cars though. While I think I worked out a way to remove the USAT coupler and remount an Aristo it would have never looked quite right and may not have even worked properly. With the SD40-2, I already have the USAT couplers front and back so it is an easy matter to simply make up the train. Bob

Chris France User is Offline

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Laurel, MD

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Posts:55

09/22/2008 7:26 PM
Bob, Once I actually tackled it I found that putting Aristo Couplers on my USA Streamliners was much easier than I thought it would be. No fuss, no muss, no drilling, no glue. it was a simple matter of removing all of the USA coupler assembly down to the little extended platform that it sits on, turning the platform around (optional if you don't want to close couple) and screwing an Aristo coupler to the existing hole. It works if you have wider radius curves (I have none tighter than 20') and the screw may need to be tightened from time to time as the coupler pivots on it. Mine have been this way for a year with no problems.

Stan Cedarleaf User is Offline

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Dewey, AZ
Foreman

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Posts:478

09/23/2008 2:47 PM
Posted By Greg Elmassian on 09/18/2008 11:30 AM I have the Aristo E8 with a QSI and 6 pounds (3 Aristo weights worth) of extra weight. Runs great, smooth, quiet. The loco is really light stock, no weights were included. Watch clearances, the tail can swing out quite a bit. Regards, Greg Hi Greg..... It might be interesting to note that because I'm battery powered on most of my locomotives, I have removed much of the weight from my current U-25's and the Genesis I had and they pulled very well and I got more battery time out of them. I "reasoned" that much of the weight in the locomotives is to hold it down on the track to get better continuity for electrical pickup. Since with battery power, I don't have to worry about the wheels picking up and supplying voltage to the motor, so I did a number of tests just to satisfy my "feelings". When I pulled the weights, the locomotives ran better and pulled just as much or more. Go Figure...

Dewey, AZ Cedarleaf Custom Railroad Decals

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