Does anyone on the forum here collect and run MPC era? How is the quality? I know a gentleman that is unloading some MPC locos that seem to be in excellent shape body wise with original boxes. Do they run and hold up as well as post war? a couple of items caught my eye but I heard that they are cheaply made and many locos had gear problems and overall quality wasn't there.
Bruce
Bruce:
I have some MPA-era items, some of which I still run and enjoy, but you really have to pick and choose. While some new products (like the "Baby Madison" passenger cars) were introduced during the MPC-era, in general, their objective was to reduce production costs and in many cases, this meant reductions in quality. For example, the "traditional" 027 streamlined passenger cars were "re-engineered" by MPC without the metal frames and diecast trucks that the post-war cars had.
On the other hand, I have an F3 set, an RDC set, and a New Haven EP-5 Rectifier Electric that run OK but not nearly as well as the Williams versions. Some of the new versions of the steam engines were reportedly poor runners - I suspect that if you search the forum you'll find a list of MPC lemons.
Mike
Interest in collecting MPC, especially some of the early items is growing. This is evidenced by the prices being realized on Ebay. That written, the prices on most items that were "instant collectables" (whether accidental or intentional) are considerably lower than their original street prices.
IMHO, there are bargains to be had in older modern era trains.
How to they run?Folks on these boards have opinions that vary widely.I know that some of the used modern era trains that have passed through my hands needed tweaking to operate properly. As for me, I'd take an MPC piece with a mechanical e-unit over anything they are making today,
The MPC era is definitely not the high point of Lionel. I see this era as a continuation of the late 60s Lionel era. MPC brought stability, variety, and stewardship to toy trains but not much innovation or quality.
From a collectors standpoint, MPC era trains offer great value. If you are looking to add rolling stock and a few runner or display locomotives to your empire you will find MPC an economical alternative compared to modern era or postwar.
MPC had some good and bad. If you buy GP/SD/U36 type locos learning how to service the motor is a must. Not hard but needs attention now and then. Check drive wheels for off center wheels that will cause a wobble...S.J.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
I have an almost complete collection of the collector line MPC stuff. I really enjoy it. They run great. I even updated a few to TMCC and RS 4.0
I'm an MPC kid. They were the trains on the shelves in the stores when I was a kid. Kuhn didn't come around to buy Lionel till I was sweet 16.
But anyhow, I've always been told to "avoid Mexican made MPC locomotives at all costs". I can't personally tell you what that means because as far as I know I've never owned one to find out. I do have 4 MPC locos which run very well: CN GP-7, Santa Fe Alco A and dummy B, the Chessie 4-4-2 blue atlantic and the much maligned James Gang General. The 2 steam engines are DC only which is something you should watch for since most lionel engines are AC. Off the top of my head I'd say I also own at least a dozen MPC freight cars all of which have performed well for me. ( In spite of the abuse they suffered during my childhood) But some MPC cars have weak couplers so check those too, if you can, before you buy. (A quick forum search will give you at least a dozen ways to fix that issue by the way.)
Cheap trains have been made since day one by every manufacturer. If it doesn't have a lot of detail, it's probably a good guess that it was made for the discount market. And that's just as true about trains being made today. But "low-end" doesn't mean "low-quality". A Lionel 1937 hudson won't command the same price in both prosperous and depressed markets. And the 1970's with waining interest in trains in general and the ever exploding inflation rate made a lot of manufacturers cut costs just to survive. So I applaud Lionel for staying alive long enough for a resurgance to be possible. They may not have had the capital for a lot of innovation, but they did make a lot of great trains during the 16 year period.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Everything MPC I have,,,, I regret getting to date. If,,,,,,, they made something good?????????? I have yet to get one. More so I have to keep cleaning up the cereal crumbs on the layout. I tend to stay away. JMHO To each his own. Post War is best for me and modern is far form trouble free.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Generally speaking, the later MPC years,from about 1975 onward had acceptable to good quality,earlier that that, be careful. I have several of the high end sets from 1979, 80 and they are quite good. They run well to this day. The Greenberg book mentioned above is a good asset.
George
Over the years I've had several MPC-era locomotives, including a GG1 that I'll tune up in the July issue of CTT, and have been very satisfied with them. In many cases they're very, very similar to a postwar locomotive and can run just as well once you clean and lube them. Now that I've cleaned out the old lube and polished a few parts, the GG1 runs extremely well. Plus, the paint and lettering is as good as (often better) than it was in the postwar era.
The cars in the entry-level sets were often very light, which can cause problems if you mix them with heavier cars, and as pointed out already, some of the couplers will open occasionally under heavy loads. Overall, though, there's no reason to stay away from the MPC-era Lionels.
Thanks for reading CTT,
Terry
Most of what I have is MPC era cars and engines. The cars have the fast angle wheels,, they are lighter and easier to pull than 50s era cars. I really have not ran my trains a lot in my 30+ years of this hobby. I have a DM&IR 8158 with a wobble in one of the front wheels but it still pulls well. Can motor 4-4-2 engines can be bought for as cheap as $25. I have about 100 MPC era cheap cars: 71 CN 9013 hoppers, about 10 blue Republic Steel and many other similar gondolas. Since they are not worth much I have felt comfortable modifying several of the gondolas by cutting many of them at 1/3 length. I glued the short ends together to make short gondolas and I glued the long ends together to make extra long gondolas so they look much closer to scale length. Parts seem to be fairly easy to get. The dual can motor GP engines pull quite well. I can't afford having TMCC or anything similar so I am going to modify the wiring on my can motor engines so I can flip a switch when I run multiple engines and the reverse units are not in the same direction. When I go to train shows I overlook the heavy flat wheel 50s cars and have a heyday buying up the cheap MPC stuff. I just started buying C&O 9304 side dump cars. I love 4 wheel 9330 9030 cars and Bobber cabooses but the 9330 9030 are hard to find. MPC is a good fit for me and my thin wallet.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
Most of the engines on my layout are postwar with one modern era 0-6-0. However I do regularly run two MPC engines and have had no problems with them. They are the F3 8566,8567 Southern and the 8603 C&O Hudson which is a reissue of the postwar 2046 but without the whistle but with the sound of steam
tcox009...the 8603 C&O Hudson which is a reissue of the postwar 2046...
The 8603 is a remake of the 665/2055/2065(Baldwin type). The 8600 is the 2046/2056/646 type(Alco)
Rob
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