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Amtrak squeezed together the words "Acceleration" and "Excellence" to make "AcelaSM", the brand name for their newest high-speed Northeast corridor train service. They wanted a distinctive label to tell the traveling public that these "ultra-modern" trains would be truly something different.
The Acela Express is the fastest train in Amtrak’s 29-year history. Running since December 2000 between Washington and Boston, the new trains are capable of speeds of more than 150 miles per hour. Although currently limited to 135 mph south of New York by the need for right-of-way improvements, the Acela service is the forerunner of high-speed rail projects now under development in 10 other corridors around the country.
12,500 horsepower = 150 mph plus more
Like the Metroliners before them, Acela Express train sets draw power from the corridor’s overhead catenary wire. The electric propulsion system is adapted form the French TGV® and manufactured by ALSTOM. Each train has locomotives front and rear and develops a total of 12, 500 horsepower.
The streamlined trains are manufactured by Bombardier, and the passenger cars incorporate advanced automatic tilting and banking mechanisms to improve ride quality and comfort as they travel through curves at high speeds.
Extensive testing during 2000 proved that the equipment rides both smoothly and quietly. Each Acela Express train consists of six cars: one First Class, four Business Class, and a Café car. There are seats for 304 passengers. Each seat is equipped with electric outlets to plug in laptop computers, three channels of audio entertainment, adjustable headrests, and large fold-down tray tops.
Each month Amtrak will add more Acela Express trains and service, completing the process next summer when the manufacturing consortium of Bombardier and ALSTOM has delivered all 20 sets.
AcelaSM Express by Spectrum
Bachmann is only a step or two behind Bombardier with their licensed HO version of Acela Express. Available both as a train set and as separate locomotives and cars, the models are part of the Spectrum line. The set has two of the distinctive droop-nose Acela locomotives (one powered and one unpowered) and three passenger cars. The cars have working tilt chassis, and yes, the models are capable of that prototypical 150 mph scale speed!
Locomotive and cars are also available separately. This is the loco/dummy set.
The locomotive has a working pantograph and a switch inside to select either overhead power or two-rail operation. It’s also DCC-ready. A 5-pole skew-wound motor drive a mechanism that features a die-cast chassis and gear towers. In addition to directional headlights, the locomotives have operating ditch lights and markers. The lighted passenger cars feature flush windows and detailed interiors. They have blackened RP25-contour metal wheels and blackened photo-etched brass insert detail on their air ducts.
The HO Acela Cafe Car.
Track, pack, and add-on cars
Minimum radius for the Acela models is 22", and the set comes with a 63" x45" oval of 22’-radius nickel-silver E-Z Track™ and a Spectrum power pack. The basic set makes an impressive five-unit train, but modelers who want a full-length eight-car Acela Express can add cars from Bachmann’s separately available stock. There are four different window and interior configurations: First Class, Business Class, Acela Café, and End-Business Class. Amtrak’s typical consist is three Business Class cars and one each of the other three.
The HO Acela Business Coach Car
It’ll take a clubsized model railroad with wide-radius curves to get one of these trains up to full speed, but with its distinctive shape and colorful markings, Bachmann’s Acela Express will look good, even standing still.
The HO Acela First Class Coach Car.
The HO Acela End Business Car.
Buy the Acela Train Complete Set. Buy the A/B Locomotive combo. Buy the Cafe Car. Buy the First Class Coach Car. Buy the Business Coach Car. Buy the End Business Car.
Copyright (c) 2001 Horizon Hobby Distributors. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
