MOC: Amtrak Cabbage

[dr_spock]

The EMD F40PH was my favorite locomotive engine growing up. I used to watch Amtrak F40PHs coming and going out of Boston's South Station. I even had an HO model of one. Now that I have the train bug again, I have to make one. After researching, I learned that they have been replaced by the GE Genesis locomotives. I felt like I had a 30 years Dark Ages in railroading too. They have been sold off, scraped or repurposed.

In the late 1990s to early 2000s, Amtrak rebuilt some of their aging fleet of F40PH locomotives into non-powered control units baggage cars. They are also called Cabbages by railfans. The prime mover engine and traction gears have been removed from the units leaving a big space inside for baggage. The advantage of the NPCU in push-pull operation over a passenger car with cab control is there is a big locomotive frame in between if a collision occurs at a level crossing. It's also roomier for the engineer.

I made my MOC in Amtrak latest phase V paint scheme to match my AEM-7AC. I tried to keep to a more 1980ish Lego trains look. It's the first time I made clear stickers. I used Avery transparent inkjet label sheets. They seem to work well on a single brick. Sticker across multiple bricks seem to leave gaps and I'm afraid to smudge the ink if I pressed any harder. I also decided to sticker my AEM-7AC MOC.

Amtrak AEM-7AC pulling Cabbage by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

Our honeymooning bride sure has a lot of luggage for the Cabbage,

Amtrak Cabbage by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

[zephyr1934]

Wow, very nice, you did a good job keeping the feel for the 1980's trains while still capturing the essence of an F40.

[pacc]

The advantage of the NPCU in push-pull operation over a passenger car with cab control is there is a big locomotive frame in between if a collision occurs at a level crossing.

Feeling safer already!

The same line of thought explains why cab-over trucks are not preferred in the US. Recycled locomotive frames are probably costly in their own right once the weight has been lugged around all over.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

The last picture is amazing, that lady (queen) with all those luggage and the two porters looks like a frame from half century ago!

Great train!

[Hrw-Amen]

^{You think thst is a lot of luggage for a honeymoon! My wife takes that much for a weekend! Nice build though, it does still resemble a locomotive but with a nice door and interior space for all that luggage. Well done with that build.}

[Man with a hat]

Nice. Very recognizable trains and also very 1980s style. Now I only miss the 12V track.

I see that you needed to cheat with the hinges of the pantographs in the down position. But that's a problem of the current hinges and I also don't have a suggestion to do it any other way.

[dr_spock]

Wow, very nice, you did a good job keeping the feel for the 1980's trains while still capturing the essence of an F40.

Thanks

Feeling safer already!

The same line of thought explains why cab-over trucks are not preferred in the US. Recycled locomotive frames are probably costly in their own right once the weight has been lugged around all over.

I believe they remove all the unused stuff from the locomotive like engine, traction motors, radiators, generators, etc. They might fill the fuel tank with concrete so that it's not top heavy. There is probably stilll maintenance to be done on the NPCU like wheels, brakes, lights, etc.

The last picture is amazing, that lady (queen) with all those luggage and the two porters looks like a frame from half century ago!

Great train!

Thanks. Half a century ago I would probably build an Alco PA or PRR GG1.

^{You think thst is a lot of luggage for a honeymoon! My wife takes that much for a weekend! Nice build though, it does still resemble a locomotive but with a nice door and interior space for all that luggage. Well done with that build.}

Thanks. Do you have porter all her gear?

Nice. Very recognizable trains and also very 1980s style. Now I only miss the 12V track.

I see that you needed to cheat with the hinges of the pantographs in the down position. But that's a problem of the current hinges and I also don't have a suggestion to do it any other way.

Thanks. I was tempted to do 7740 type pantographs. Back in the 1980s I used to look at the trains in the LEGO catalogue and dream...

[Aaron]

I've always been wondering if those Avery sticker sheets would be any good as LEGO decals. Now I know.