Rapido N Scale RTLTurboliner

In the early days of Amtrak, the push to improve passenger services along key corridors was paramount. The success of the French-built RTG (Rame à Turbine à Gaz) Turboliners in the mid-1970s in the Midwest set the stage for an American twist. Enter Rohr Industries in California, tasked with building modernized RTL (Rohr Turboliner Light) Turboliners for Amtrak's Empire Corridor.

By September 1976, the new RTL Turboliners roared into service, instantly proving their worth and rekindling public interest in rail travel. These sleek machines, equipped with third-rail shoes, seamlessly switched from electric power through New York's Grand Central Terminal (and later Penn Station) to gas-turbine power once they exited New York City1.

Draped in Amtrak's iconic red, white, and blue Phase III paint scheme, the Turboliners became a familiar sight on most Empire Corridor services. They also made regular appearances on the Adirondack, journeying to and from Montreal in their early years. The versatility of these Turboliners occasionally sent them on rare, thrilling adventures beyond their typical routes, including trips on the Niagara Rainbow to Detroit via Southwestern Ontario and the Maple Leaf to Toronto via Niagara Falls.

Source: Rapido Trains & Wikipedia and AI