(N) Amtrak SC-44 & Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 4 Unit Base Set

The Pacific Surfliner is a 350-mile passenger train the serves coastal communities in Southern California between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, with notable stops in Los Angeles and Anaheim. Since there are no wyes at the terminus of the corridor the Pacific Surfliner runs in Push-Pull service with a locomotive at one end and a cab car at the other end.

Amtrak SC-44 and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Prototype Overview

The route is the successor the San Diegan a service between Los Angeles and San Diego that had been operated by the Santa Fe since 1938. It was one of the premier routes for Santa Fe until Amtrak took over operations in 1971. In 1988 the service was extended to Santa Barbara, and in 1995 the line was extended to San Luis Obispo. To reflect the nature of the route which follows the coastline for much of its journey the San Diegan service was renamed “Pacific Surfliner” in 2000.

The trainsets used for regular service are composed from a fleet of 52 Bi-Level Surfliner coaches, and 9 Amtrak Superliners modified for push-pull Operation. First introduced in 2000 the Surfliner coaches were designed specifically to handle the demand for the rail corridor by including 2 sets of doors on each coach. The Pacific Surfliner runs with a dedicated fleet of SC-44 Siemens Charger locomotives with a unique cowl to streamline the locomotives and coaches. Unique to the Pacific Surfliner is a special blue and silver livery resembling its namesake of the Pacific Ocean.

Amtrak SC-44 and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Model Overview

Kato’s new SC-44 “Charger” model represents the Siemens Diesel-Electric engine as it has been ordered by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service. This model differs from other variations of the “Charger” model with a shorted nose section, a cowl, a destination marking. All of these details have been carefully and lovingly replicated on the brand-new Kato model, which features brand new molding and design from the ground up.

The smooth curves of the engine are precisely modeled to match the prototype, with a visible engine compartment beneath the engine’s distinctive large grill on the side. In order to duplicate the illuminated engine compartment from the prototype model, an interior lighting kit is capable of being installed into the rear of the engine, allowing modelers to enjoy this extra lighting feature

Features

Equipped with body mounted KATO magnetic knuckle couplers.

Directional Golden White LED headlights and illuminated preprinted number boards.

A powerful five pole motor with all wheel electrical pickup and blackened wheels.

Locomotives are DCC friendly with a pre-built speaker housing space in the fuel tank.

Prototypical see through venting on the side of the engine which can be illuminated with the installation of an optional 11-211 Interior Lighting Kit.

Hybrid steel and plastic wheels give all-wheel electrical pickup with unprecedented prototype details on the visible wheel exterior.

All cars are DCC friendly, with FR11 decoders available for optional 11-211/212 Version 2 Interior Lighting Kits with LED.

Bi-Level cab coaches feature directional lighting for push-pull operation, with alternate illuminating headlight and taillights with an on/off switch for mid-train operation. An optional FL12 decoder can be installed in the place of the slider switch to provide DCC control over the directional lighting.

Smooth rolling blackened metal wheels on all Bi-level cars with all-wheel electrical pickup.

DCC compatible with the use of the Kato FL12 Tail Light DCC Decoder installed into the Cab-Coach.