Amtrak Acela v. 1.0

[@jgarleo]

This layout is FANTASTIC!!! A true "labor of Love". Great job Woody! :-)

[@53wes]

I love the length of your ACELA and the size of your layout. Hope to see more videos as you scenic the railroad. Will post an ACELA video on my pike some day, WESRR

[@GavinSimmons]

I'm jealous you have the curves for it. Maybe one day well after grad school I will try to build something in the shadow of your amazing layout. Good job and good luck.

[@cesarisaias95]

It's so cool how the doors actually close.

[@woodynj]

You're correct. That video was made before the block signal system was fully installed. One-half or more of the signals were not yet working. That's a big reason why only two trains were running on the layout.

[@woodynj]

Doors opening/closing on the LIONEL Aceala are a standard feature. You've gotta pay up in order to get all of Lionel's offerings on the most sophisticated model train ever built.

[@woodynj]

Thanks for the suggestion. Working on improvements. Penn Station now looks entirely different, with arches and flying buttresses holding up the streets of Midtown Manhattan. Platforms are being built. Lights are in. The grand old Penn Station building is under construction--to scale (about 6 feet wide and 10 feet long).

[@woodynj]

Thanks for the additional information. The earlier agreement only covered 2000 sets? Wow, no wonder I haven't seen any pop up on auctions.

[@VipericVampire]

Absolutely wonderful. You should decorate the area more like the package cover.

[@woodynj]

They're in the trailing block, where power is cut off as the engine moves forward. This occurred before I put in a reduced-power system in the trailing block so that the lights would stay on in the rear cars. Thanks for noticing and for writing!

[@VipericVampire]

Excellent, I look forward to seeing all that if you post a video. Also, just a thought, but you should put large tunnels, they can be so beautiful.

[@woodynj]

It's O-gauge. I use (primarily) Ross track. The 3rd rail is there...in the center. It's just camoflauged a bit (painted black).

[@woodynj]

Right, looks like there was a problem that day in the infra-red communications link from the engine by the time the signal got to the rear of the train. Hence, the doors stayed open. Thanks for being so observant!

[@woodynj]

Lionel produced the Acela 5-car train set and the 3-car add-on 4 years ago. Only a limited number were made. You can rummage around and find it in on-line auctions. Be care of condition and make sure it's made by Lionel (only Lionel has the door opening/closing announcements, tilt-train feature and other goodies). Expect to pay around $1,500 for the 5-car set, maybe $550 or so for the 3-car add-on.

[@woodynj]

Thanks. I'd really like to get a 2nd set. Maybe Lionel will remake. Another super feature of this train--adding to above comments--is the tilt feature as the train go around curves, just like the real-life Acela. (You can see the tilt at about 4:00 minutes in the vid.)

[@woodynj]

thanks for the comment. I'm not aware of any shinkansen trains made or sold by the leading U.S. companies, certainly not in O scale. I've seen lots of Japanese trains in HO, N, and Z gauges in Japan, but not over here.

[@intercity73]

I'd love one of these for my own collection - problem is that here in the UK the only ones I ever seem to see are N gauge - it would stand out like a sore thumb alongside my OO gauge stuff! Nice to see one in action though - great video and nice big layout.

[@GavinSimmons]

snowball- The set comes with two end business class cars and a regular business class car. The add-on is $500 so I can't say for certain but I think it has two regular business class cars and I know it has a bistro. So there you go, to ends, and 3 regulars (+ a cafe car). I take the Acela home from school on Christmas and Thanksgiving break and that is what I see when I'm on there: 1 cafe, 4 business class and 1 quiet business class. There are no tickets other than reserved business class.

[@Echo_Sierra]

Yes, it's O scale. To anyone who's wondering, Bachmann Spectrum makes Acela in the HO scale but the detail isn't as great as the Lionel one. Lionel only makes the Aclea in O scale. Bachmann Spectrum is actually pretty good compared to the regular plastic stuff that Bachmann makes regularly. What is that cracking noise? Is that the camera or are the rails/wheels sparking?

[@woodynj]

Hit Alt1 followed by either the F (for left-side doors) or R (for right) and they'll open. Hit Alt2 followed by the same letter you touched above and they'll close after the attendant makes the door closing announcement. This is also in the instruction booklet.

[@woodynj]

thanks for the note. Yes, I know about the break-off feature of the pantograph. But I can't use the pantographs. They wouldn't clear the signal bridges and a couple of very tight track overpasses.

[@woodynj]

Thanks for the comment. You should save your pennies for the Lionel O-gauge version. It really is terrific! Meanwhile, I'll see if I can make you a short video clip just of the doors opening and closing.

[@woodynj]

Yeah, thanks, I agree. I've got a couple more Acela vids that you might enjoy. Thanks for posting!

[@things343]

God thats great "please stand clear of the closing doors"

[@woodynj]

Discounted, one can probably pick up the basic 5-car Acela set for $1,500 or so, well below the $2,000 list price. The extra 3 car set is harder to find....Might cost you $500 - 600. Well worth the price. Best model train ever made.

[@ed1011]

The Lionel Acela is so cool, namely the doors and sound. Is it possible to take another video of just the door openning and closing? I have the HO gauge Acela and can not afford the O gauge Acela.

[@woodynj]

Well, once the Penn Station building is finished, forming an upper layer to what you now see, I think you'll be convinced that it looks like the pre-1965 scene. Thanks for the comment!

[@Amtrakacela8]

Its a great set up!!!!!

[@woodynj]

Thanks for your posting. No catenary in the forseeable future on this line, but I'm building a "Lackawanna MU electric" line, with a huge Hoboken terminal and yard (ferryboats, too) and tracks out to Summit and the west. If I wire an overhead line, this will get it first, but it will be a HUGE amount of work. Any volunteers to help?

[@woodynj]

The layout is still a "work in progress." It's been underway for 2 years. The current task is to finish building and installing Penn Station and the streets around it. Money? What was the old JP Morgan line about the cost of his yacht? "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." The trains, building materials, track, etc., add to a lot but first I had to construct a 2,400 sq ft addition to this place! That's big bucks.

[@GavinSimmons]

Only one engine is powered. One engine has two motors with the odessy system and the other is a dummy with a speaker in it so that it can seem like a powered unit. That same set-up could pull a powered, two dummies and a fair freight train so it ends up being fast because its so short. There are a lot of lighting sequences on the Lionel Acela set too. The door sequence sold it. Still for the price you can have a fleet in HO. And I sure wish someone would model the HHP-8 for us already!

[@woodynj]

Not quite. Lionel had a license from Amtrak to make only 2,000 of the Acelas, as I recall. It's true, there were some operating problems with the Acelas (both the real ones and Lionel's), but Lionel has worked very hard to fix them all. I know, because some of my cars have made more than one trip each back to the repair shop. At the moment, all 8 cars on each of my 2 Acela trains are running perfectly.

[@woodynj]

I'll make another vid with the Acela running at higher speed. One prob w/ that: it just becomes a blue/gray blur on video. But thanks for the suggestion.

[@woodynj]

This was my first Acela vid. At scale speed of 150 mph, the video clip would have been very blurry--I tried it that way and then slowed the train speed down. One of the later Acela vids has the train going a lot faster

[@joshuaellerby579]

The amtrak acela is so cool

[@woodynj]

Thanks for the comments. I'll have an update shortly which will show the Acela running at speed, as well as a bunch of other trains. (The wiring for all the signals and block traffic controls has been completed, so it's safe to run a dozen trains at once.)

[@woodynj]

Lionel produced the Acela in 2006, so you'll have to try to find the trainset in auctions (I've seen it trade occasionally on the choochoo dot com auction site).

[@woodynj]

My new high-speed layout in NJ, starting with old Penn Station in New York.

[@woodynj]

No more than the usual start-up problems. The track has to be really smooth and flat or else the cars want to uncouple. Minor hills or valleys in the track will cause that. Is it worth $2k? Well, the train's technology is awesome. There are unparalleled features in this train, ranging from the incredible speed and acceleration to doors opening/closing on command, to lots of voice announcements. Also, note the above comments on the very impressive sound of the horn.

[@woodynj]

True that there is only one powered unit, but the set I have includes the extra 3 cars, so it's an 8-car train. Still, the one engine has plenty of pulling power and lots of speed--the speed is way too fast for a video clip, which would just be a featureless blur. I much prefer O-gauge for the realism and great accessories that are available.

[@woodynj]

Glad you like. This is Lionel O-gauge. Have no idea about Bachman.

[@woodynj]

because it would be a gray/blue blur of motion that would zip across the screen in a second. You would see nothing clearly.

[@Amtrakacela8]

Where Did you get it??????!!!! Its so cool!!! Can you just get the coaches for Bachman Track???!!!!!!

[@woodynj]

Not quite sure what you mean. The area of the station? It's 10 ft wide, 16 feet long. Let me know, please, if you were asking a different question. Thanks

[@pubertlerpaul]

GOOD TRIP

[@Peter43John]

I love electric locomotives! GG-1's, AEM-7's, ect...but I do not have one because it is too much work to run them as you should:CANTANARY! Are you planning to add operational cantanary to your layout????

[@snowball787]

the bachman main stuff is tilt tecnology engine lights i don't know how fast it goes but its a lot faster than my other trains, umm interior lighting, and panograph operation, and thats basicly it. oh ya and does it have 2 dual power engiens or just 1 powered

[@woodynj]

The buzzing noise at the beginning is a malfunctioning (signal) relay. It has since been fixed. Sorry for the racket.

[@thetrainshop]

Airchime K5LA, nice! How did you get the doors to close like that?

[@joshuaellerby579]

I got one and I have a power line when my acelas pantograph touches it its cool

[@woodynj]

Re: the question about where to buy the Acela. Try looking (regularly) on the choochooauctions dot com (I think I've seen 2 Acelas there in the past year). This is a very reliable auction site. Or try calling the Train-Station dot com. They may have one in inventory.

[@b5kalad]

O gauge! It very big setup then. Meaning you need a lot of space but of course it is worth it.

[@Am-Not-Jarvis]

First of all, it goes UP TO 150 MPH, in fact it doesn't go near that speed in most areas! Second, I think he's referring to the model.

[@nabeezc]

Great video! How long did it take you to make this layout? How about money wise?

[@Josephcavagnaro]

so nostalgic

[@GavinSimmons]

holy toledo! you have room to run it?!!

[@vze428s7]

lol wow how u make the doors open and close did u by it like that beause mines is made closed cause mines was manufacted by bachmans

[@woodynj]

I have no idea. The Acela seen here is O gauge.

[@woodynj]

Thanks much!

[@Amtrakacela8]

The Bachman acela set goes 100MPH & has 1 powered engine, 1 dummy engine,1 First Class & Business Class car.Also 1 cafe Car

[@Superiorpakfan]

Where can i find this? are there different specs on these models? like how yours has the announcement of doors closing and the doors closing? is that optional or it is already on there? cheers

[@woodynj]

a Lionel O-gauge? It must be the 3-car expansion pack, which doesn't have a motor. You'd need the basic 5-car set (with motor) to pull the 3-car expansion pack. Be careful what you bid on

[@tanneradams7059]

they should build a high speed train that runs from la to new York but make it 200mph the whole way

[@SASenglish]

damn thats a nice track,, how much they cost ya?

[@woodynj]

It's easy. I press the door-close button on the Lionel remote control. The announcement is automatic.

[@woodynj]

Standard feature in Lionel's Acela

[@woodynj]

Yes.

[@woodynj]

yeah, save your pennies. I finally acquired a second Acela (with the extra 3 cars).

[@woodynj]

You can try to find one on auctions (I use the auctions at train-station and choochooauctions [dot com in both cases] --never ebay because of serious misrepresentation of merchandise). You might have to pay a premium price (over original list) because the product is so spectacular. I regret I have only one.

[@bwood6104]

thanks

[@snowball787]

you can't The Bachman acela includes everyting below but the dummy doesn't have sound. Oh and you don't have to buy the Bachman one in a pack, you can just buy them seperate.

[@things343]

0:21 is awsome

[@woodynj]

It's Lionel O gauge.

[@gskaplan]

Where is this layout? I'd love to see the layout!

[@disneylandguy10]

Why did the lights and the rear power car keep on changing?

[@MegaKomandant]

Nice!!

[@woodynj]

in western New Jersey, off I-78. A visit is possible, if you'll be in the neighborhood. Send a reply here, please.

[@Amtrakacela8]

Where can you get the dummy engine that has a speak in it by Bachman

[@SignalLightProductions]

what is the sound the train or some thing else

[@woodynj]

Ahhhh, it's Lionel O gauge!!

[@mrjohnson253]

It looks like H-O, Not O, where is the 3rd rail?

[@TheJayjay1312]

WHERE YOU GOT THAT

[@gtafanlol]

where do you buy these

[@Sharkformer]

yea im talkin bout the model goin 30+ mph

[@b5kalad]

Is that N scale or HO scale?

[@Amtrakacela8]

The station at the begining looks like BWI Airport!!!!

[@bwood6104]

were do u buy that

[@Sharkformer]

doesnt this thing go 30+ mph??

[@woodynj]

a local Lionel dealer

[@snowball787]

well ya it looks pretty cool but i perfer the bachman one just because its got the main stuff and its A LOT cheaper. Oh ya and not to be picky just wondering, why do you have two end buisness class cars and 2 buisness class.

[@musubi69]

Oh its alright I was just messing around anyways. Nice video though.

[@musubi69]

Why isn't it going 150 mph? =o

[@five0fan]

Over 150 MPH

[@woodynj]

Dave Shaw at the Train-Station dot com says he has one Lionel Amtrak Acela in inventory and 2 of the expansion packs. Call him at 973 263 1979

[@things343]

i mean 0:23

[@gebix95]

To coś acella jest szybsze od PKP

[@thetrainshop]

Damn, too bad im HO scale

[@SpywareHater]

when u die can i have that?

[@Amtrakacela8]

Where can you get the dummy engine that has a speaker in it by Bachman