Micro Trains 5 car Passenger sets and corresponding passenger power...

[MRLX1020]

I was just musing over the weekend about how nice the MTL 5 Car Heavyweight sets are, I have both Illinois Central releases, Gulf Mobile & Ohio, Missouri Pacific and Wabash on the way.

And then - the Broadway Limited Imports P4 Pacific announcement hit yesterday!

Frisco and Missouri Kansas Texas (among other roads) are high on my list, and before I go scrambling to round up loose MTL heavyweights and decals, was curious if there is a plan to release some future sets that would correspond with these BLI releases?

These BLI Pacifics are swell little runners on TTrak - my GM&O Pacific looks great on the MTL GM&O set, so it would follow that I am expecting MKT and Frisco (Bluebonnet would be awesome) sets from MTL.  Surely having both an engine and train available would drive sales.

How presumptuous (and wishful) can one be?  What is the secret handshake with Micro Trains?

I've been an avid N scaler now for 28 years, and this hobby never ceases to amaze me!

Justin
MRLX1020

[JoeD]

I was just musing over the weekend about how nice the MTL 5 Car Heavyweight sets are, I have both Illinois Central releases, Gulf Mobile & Ohio, Missouri Pacific and Wabash on the way.

And then - the Broadway Limited Imports P4 Pacific announcement hit yesterday!

Frisco and Missouri Kansas Texas (among other roads) are high on my list, and before I go scrambling to round up loose MTL heavyweights and decals, was curious if there is a plan to release some future sets that would correspond with these BLI releases?

These BLI Pacifics are swell little runners on TTrak - my GM&O Pacific looks great on the MTL GM&O set, so it would follow that I am expecting MKT and Frisco (Bluebonnet would be awesome) sets from MTL.  Surely having both an engine and train available would drive sales.

How presumptuous (and wishful) can one be?  What is the secret handshake with Micro Trains?

I've been an avid N scaler now for 28 years, and this hobby never ceases to amaze me!

Justin
MRLX1020

if you have any specific requests, please let me know.   always looking for new set ideas.

Cheers

Joe

[Missaberoad]

@MTLJoe

Would there be any possibility of producing a Soo Line set?

I would be willing to do some research into cars matching or closely matching your product line if it could help the process along. 

[MRLX1020]

@MTLJoe

Here's some info on the MKT cars that are close to what MTL offers:

Head end -
https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/id/1500
https://rr-fallenflags.org/acfx/mkt-br232asw.jpg

Coaches -
https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/id/1507

https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll22/id/67471

Katy had a handful of cars with cast pedestal trucks that were "rebuilt" in 1949!
http://www.rgusrail.com/album/kykrm/atsf_2546_02.jpg

Dining Car -
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=406086

Observation/Business car # 403 -
https://rr-fallenflags.org/mkt/mkt-bc403aca.jpg
https://rr-fallenflags.org/steamtown/mkt-bc403gga.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vegster149/5999874919


There seems to be no rule to the gold sill stripe - like the recent Virginian set release, I think the sill stripe makes these cars stand out (especialy with other Pullman pool equipment) and the KATY herald on the head end cars is a nice touch as well.

I think these would make a dandy 5 pack with room for expansion (baggage, more coaches or some assigned sleepers, MKT and SLSF also had solarium lounge cars...)

Again, happy to assist in the research process if it helps bring something to production.

Thanks for humoring me!

Justin
MRLX1020

[CBQ Fan]

if you have any specific requests, please let me know.   always looking for new set ideas.

Cheers

Joe

Burlington Route Exposition Flyer! @MTLJoe

[learmoia]

These BLI Pacifics are swell little runners on TTrak - my GM&O Pacific looks great on the MTL GM&O set, so it would follow that I am expecting MKT and Frisco (Bluebonnet would be awesome) sets from MTL.  Surely having both an engine and train available would drive sales.

How presumptuous (and wishful) can one be?  What is the secret handshake with Micro Trains?

I've been an avid N scaler now for 28 years, and this hobby never ceases to amaze me!

Justin
MRLX1020

I made this exact suggestion for the Broadway T-1 (with prototype pictures) and Joe was very receptive to the idea. 

A few weeks later I asked if there was any traction to my ideas and he gave one of those cryptic 'I can't say yes but I'm not saying no' kind of answers.

Not sure how closely he watches our begging on TRW so your best bet is to compile your idea into an email with photos and send it to him directly.
..

~Ian

P.S.. It probably helps to structure your ideas into the form of runner packs that fit within MTL's Body styles.. and the more legwork you can do on the research side the better.

[learmoia]

@MRLX1020

One of the sites you linked has a great resource of 1200 historical photos...
https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/search/searchterm/Everett%20L.%20DeGolyer%20Jr.%20collection%20of%20United%20States%20railroad%20photographs/field/part/mode/exact/conn/and/page/1


Specifically starting at around Record #550 you get into MKT Passenger cars with lots of options for an MTL Pack.
(80% of the way down Page 3 if you have your results to 200 per page)

https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/search/searchterm/Everett%20L.%20DeGolyer%20Jr.%20collection%20of%20United%20States%20railroad%20photographs/field/part/mode/exact/conn/and/page/3

What about mixing these in?


Or a 5 pack of pullman green and a 5 pack of 2 tone, and modelers could get one or the other or both.

[sd45elect2000]

@MTLJoe

Would there be any possibility of producing a Soo Line set?

I would be willing to do some research into cars matching or closely matching your product line if it could help the process along. 

I don’t think the “Laker” had any specialized or unique cars. Certainly doable.

Randy

[MRLX1020]

@MRLX1020

One of the sites you linked has a great resource of 1200 historical photos...
https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/search/searchterm/Everett%20L.%20DeGolyer%20Jr.%20collection%20of%20United%20States%20railroad%20photographs/field/part/mode/exact/conn/and/page/1


Specifically starting at around Record #550 you get into MKT Passenger cars with lots of options for an MTL Pack.
(80% of the way down Page 3 if you have your results to 200 per page)

https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/search/searchterm/Everett%20L.%20DeGolyer%20Jr.%20collection%20of%20United%20States%20railroad%20photographs/field/part/mode/exact/conn/and/page/3

What about mixing these in?


Or a 5 pack of pullman green and a 5 pack of 2 tone, and modelers could get one or the other or both.

@learmoia   

My thought initially was to steer clear of the red/silver heavyweights that were updated for Texas Special use - only because Lowell Smith has done a heavyweight head end car so far, and those would fall into that territory.  The green cars are pre-1949 and would go great with the BLI Pacific. 

The DeGolyer Library is a great resource for southwestern roads, which is why I had linked it.

[thomasjmdavis]

Since Soo Line got a mention-

Here are a couple consists circa 1964, from here: https://www.trains.com/ctr/railroads/passenger-service/midwest-passenger-train-consists/ (Note the PRR Cascade sleeper- assuming it is a Cascade 10-5, they have been made by Intermountain/Centralia, as Des Plaines kits, or as sides from several makers.)

Soo No. 3, Laker, Chicago–Owen, Wis., July 24-25: 2556/2555/2554 (GP9’s), 12 cars (Soo unless noted): 37 storage mail, 45 express baggage, 41 express baggage, 33 express baggage, 35 express baggage, 87 RPO, 84 RPO, 36 express baggage, 1031 coach, 1954 coach, 986 coach, Pullman sleeper PRR Cascade Pinnacle

Soo No. 5, nameless, Owen–St. Paul, July 25: 2556 (GP9), 3 cars (1 RPO, 2 coaches off No. 3)

Various photos from Jerry Laboda's Passenger Car Photo Index-

Soo Baggage Mail is almost (give or take a window on some) stock MTL (From looking at photos, it appears that Soo Line renumbered all their head end cars to 2 digit numbers from original numbers with 3 or 4 digits, by the 1960s- I'm sure someone here would know.  Just a guess, but perhaps with the DSS&A merger of 1960?)-
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/soo96.jpg
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/soo542.jpg

All the coaches I could find in Soo Line paint were shorties (68', I think...seems to me that MR or RMC had drawings of the Soo Line shorties in an issue long, long time ago...) BUT, here is a coach belonging to DSS&A in pre-merger lettering-
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4474101

Here is a diner they made out of a diner parlor that in turn was made from a 12-1 (per our late friend Jerry Laboda on the Passenger Car Photo Index):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gschmidt1/3316869636

A diner-lounge- albeit with paired windows in the dining area:
https://www.midcontinent.org/equipment-roster/steel-passenger-cars/soo-line-2017/

All the coaches I could find in Soo Line paint were shorties (68', I think...seems to me that MR or RMC had drawings of the Soo Line shorties in an issue long, long time ago...) BUT, here is a coach belonging to DSS&A in pre-merger paint-
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4474101

[pjm20]

I know this would require new/modifying tooling, but express reefers based on the troop sleepers (not my own photos):













There are plenty more too, with different paint schemes. If you offered these as runner packs, frankly anyone modeling a mail or express train in the 50s and 60s could use the entire set. Additionally, the trucks were often changed from the full cushion, and MTL's Commonwealth express trucks would fit the bill. RPC #5 has a great article on Troop Sleepers and their conversions.

[thomasjmdavis]

There are plenty more too, with different paint schemes. If you offered these as runner packs, frankly anyone modeling a mail or express train in the 50s and 60s could use the entire set. Additionally, the trucks were often changed from the full cushion, and MTL's Commonwealth express trucks would fit the bill. RPC #5 has a great article on Troop Sleepers and their conversions.

Lots of possibilities. C&EI even turned a couple troop kitchens into milk cars. (I don't think they lasted in that service very long- becoming regular box express). And don't forget the REA express refrigerators.
Maybe even a multi-road runner pack- I could use NYC, NH, B&O for mail trains headed west....just not 4 of each. Of a "Dearborn station" runner pack with C&EI, Monon,  and NYC (the latter would be headed west). (I'm working on some of my own). And does anyone know....were the EL express cars originally Erie or Lackawanna?

And a thought- I don't know if this becomes a tooling nightmare, but it strikes me that if the model could have interchangeable doors, it would make it easier both for production and for modelers. 1 body with windows blanked, with an inset door cut out, and then separate inset and exterior doors that could mount inside or outside as appropriate. Granted, probably only makes a "perfect" model for NYC inside and outside door versions, but with door variations, you could get very close to many others.

I

And might also provide some use for various high speed freight trucks- ASF A-3's with friction bearings for certain and I would bet Barber S-2s and various roller bearing options as well.

[keeper]

@MTLJoe

Would there be any possibility of producing a Soo Line set?

I would like that as well. 

[Wardie]

if you have any specific requests, please let me know.   always looking for new set ideas.

Cheers

Joe

Some Maine Central and Boston and Maine would be nice and on the Bangor/Boston trains you could find both roads equipment

[nscaler711]

@MTLJoe I have one request for a set,
The ATSF Valley Flyer.
I know its super unique, but a few of us happen to own ATSF 1369, a swell little Model Power Pacific in a gorgeous paint scheme, but no matching cars to go with it.
http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/flyer39.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Flyer
just a thought!