LIONEL MPC: Why did Lionel MPC go with Symington Wayne freight truck?

[brianel027]

I know I have an article on railroad freight trucks somewhere, but I can't find it... so I'm going by memory. So I also hope I have spellings correct.

I've always wondered why Lionel MPC opted to go with the Symington Wayne truck over the more common Bettendorf or Roller Bearing freight trucks. Seems to me I've read the Symington Wayne truck was not at all typically used for railroad freight cars. Very early Lionel MPC cars did come with the other type of freight truck - seems they even retooled these to adapt to the plastic coupler arm/thumbtack design - before the Symington Wayne truck became the standard on Lionel cars with plastic trucks until the around 1993. K-Line still uses the Symington Wayne plastic truck.

I like the looks of the other plastic freight trucks and have always wondered about this. Any one out there have any info what prompted MPC to go with the Symington Wayne type truck??

[Kooljock1]

My guess, and this is only a guess, is that LIONEL, MPC knew they needed a new truck design to accept their use of Delrin, needle point bearings, and one-piece thumbtack couplers.

At that point they asked somebody to research a modern freight truck. That person in turn picked up a copy of Railway Age magazine which had an ad for the Symington-Wayne Corp.'s new freight truck. They took the picture back and tooled it up. I'm guessing too, that little or no research was done to ascertain how many of these trucks were in service, or what kind of rolling stock they were used on.

Ditto the Baby Madison "wood beam" passenger trucks. Although I'm guessing somebody took a picture of a passenger car truck at some railroad museum.

Jon [8D]

[mersenne6]

Kooljock1's guess is about all I can confirm as well. I checked the McComas Book on Lionel Vol. 4 and all they have to say about the truck change was the need for new truck design for the needle point bearings and that a change was made. No why's or wherefore's about the choice of truck type at all.

[brianel027]

Thanks guys. I figured it might be something like what Jon suggested. And of course, Lionel buyers 35 years ago weren't as demanding on prototypical realism. Even more importantly, there wasn't much competition for Lionel. And there was no internet either with forums like this for folks to voice their feelings and wishes.

[Anonymous]

What does MPC stand for?

[lionelsoni]

Model Products Corporation

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In!!! I checked my Greenburg's Guide to Lionel Trains 1970-1991 Vol.1.
The symington-wayne trucks(also known as type II)were used from 1970 to 1990. It was used starting in the early 1960's by modern railroads. It was known as the symington-wayne high-speed XL-70 truck. Lionel used the following models of type II: A,B,C,D,E, F, G and H.
The H model had non-working couplers. For more info; Look at Pg.324 of the above mentioned book. Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly Evil Doctor!!![}:)]

[philo426]

I think that the evil Fu Manchu is Das Teufel in disguise!

[alton6]

Does anyone know if there was a Mr. Smington and/or a Mr. Wayne?

Carl

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In !!! philo426, Who is this person you call "Das Teufel" ? And why do you think that he is Me ! Ask anyone on the the forum, I Am Not, Nor Have Been "Das Teufel"
And I take Deep Umbrage for you to say that I am some one else !!!!! How do we know that you are who you say your who you say you are? I think you this humble doctor a retraction of your statement !
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly Evil Doctor (not "Das Teufel")[}:)]

[lionelsoni]

He is "strangly evil". So is it not appropriately strang that he would be das Teufel rather than der Teufel?

[FJ and G]

Good question, Brian, and some interesting responses, esp. from the evil doctor.

[philo426]

Looks like an apology is in order to the evil doctor!The reason that I thought you were Das Teufel was because his posts on the other train forum were similar in tone to yours.(By the way "Das Teufel" means little devil in German).It seems I was in error!Mea culpa.I herby re=tract my earlier asssertion!

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In !!! philo426: The Humble Doctor will take your apology ! German Is not something I have studied. It was not covered in Evil Doctor 101. I will call off the Killer Ninja Monkeys I was planning to send to your house(collect freight, of course) And as I said, I give advise to all who ask or are in need of it. I happen to have had to learn alot of things with out the help of others, Hence I try to help others as I can. And remember, There are different levels of good & evil in all of us ! It's how we use it that matters.
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly Evil Doctor !!![}:)]

[brianel027]

Oh my Dear Humble Doctor, it would be too easy to crack a joke about the Killer Ninja Monkeys. Should I? Shouldn't I? Oh what the heck....
--------
Killer Ninja Monkeys, LLC
Dear Dr. Fu-Manchu
We apologize, but there has been a scheduling conflict with the availability of the Killer Ninja Monkeys. Their scheudule is currently full with all the legal troubles between the train companies. We are sorry for the inconvenience. May we recommend the Super Sumo-Wrestling Squirrels. We believe they still have some openings.
Sincerly, the Killer Ninja Monkeys, LLC
-----------

[:D][:D][:D]

It's kinda cool that I wrote this question a year ago, and it's come back up.

And I don't believe I have ever, ever seen a Symington-Wayne freight truck on a real train car. I guess there is still possibly a first time.

[lionelsoni]

"Teufel" just means "devil" in German. But as far as I know it's got to be "der Teufel", not "das Teufel", since the word is masculine, not neuter.

[philo426]

Phew! that's a relief!When I was a kid the flying monkeys in the Wizard Of Oz always freaked me out!Even today,they still make me a tad uneasy.[:O]

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In !!! Brianel027, We find you most funny. It is nice to see you have a sense of humor. philo426, I am still looking for the flying monkeys ! I think Nayland Smith has hidden them !! As to shipping of Killer Ninja Monkeys, The Railroads want too many permits ! Makes it most hard to do evil things! Things were easer in the old days, no complaints about tourture and such things. And Brianel, Be most careful when you wish for something, You may just get it when you least expect it !
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly Evil (with a sense of humor)
Doctor !!![}:)][(-D]

[brianel027]

Thanks Doctor Fu-Manchu. I was recently joking with a neighbor when I asked "I hope God has a sense of humor." My neighbor put his arm around me and said "Of course He does... He made you!"

I loved that. Needless to say, it is written that the tongue can be a double edged sword. And that we shouldn't worry what we put into our mouth, but should concern ourselves with what comes out of the mouth. In otherwords, oh I am being careful what I wish for.

Even here on this Forum, I know more bridges will be built with courtesy than with unkind attacks... I like bridges more than ditches. Besides, my opinions are exactly that. Though once in a while I do actually get it right.

I'm no doctor, but I remain humbly yours.

[:D] Oh, and I do believe "The Monkee's" may have returned from the last train to Clarksville and might me available.... minus Mike Nesmith (Godbless Mike, always liked him best).

[1688torpedo]

Hello Everyone ! I have never seen any of the Symington-Wayne Trucks around,The only ones I've observed are the American Standard Freight Trucks,Andrews arch Bar on some old rolling stock at the Pa State Railroad museum in Strasburg. and a couple of others that looked just like Lionel's postwar Timken & Bettendorf style Trucks.( The 560 & 480 series respectively) I think a more appropiate name for the Symington -Wayne Trucks should be Dingledorf Trucks due to their rarity on the real railroads![:)][;)] Have a nice day !................Keith