Hey all!
I've gotten ahold of one of BLI's new NYC Dreyfuss Hudsons (1940) and was looking for passenger cars for it, but to no avail. Does anyone here know if there'll be reruns of it, or where to find them?
Check out eBay.
Rich
Alton Junction
The MTH cars are an excellent choice for this engine. Walthers offered a few single cars from the 1938 era but the MTH cars are quite well suited.
With Scale Trains acquiring the MTH HO end of the business they may take a look at running the cars again. I would inquire with S-T and let them know you're interested.
Good Luck, Ed
James,
You choice one of my favorite locomotives - She's a beaut!
Yea, the MTH cars are terrific. Had wished they would have released another run of the '40 cars but with different car names - in particular, another diner. Asked MTH directly about that - in person and twice byemail - but obviously nothing ever materialized. Now the sets command a very hefty price on eBay.
I really hope ScaleTrains decides to re-release these AND with the spendid interior lighting module. I think it would be a very good seller for them. I know I'd order some more if the opportunity arose.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Unfortunantly, it seems like nearly all MTH passenger cars besides for the heavyweights are extremely rare these days...both NYC sets (emiper builder and 20th cen), the SP coast daylight, N&W Powhatan Arrow, etc.
Even the Walthers 20th Cen cars are rare. Good luck finding a set!
Good thing I model ATSF lol, super chief cars sell for dirt cheap these days.
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
The Walthers set is for the '48 TCL with the E-units. I don't think they are anywhere as nice as the MTH cars, difficult to disassemble, and use batteries for the interior lighting rather than a super cap.
Yes! I've been keeping my eyes locked on it for the past month or so
I purchased the BLI '40 Dreyfuss when it was released in 2010(?). When MTH announced they would be releasing a 10-car set of the '40 20th Century passenger cars, I wasted no time in pre-ordering the 5-car set then eventually obtained the two 2-car sets and single passenger car. So glad I did because they are now commanding a very stiff NIB price at least 2x original MSRP.
I thought MTH would have done very well with an additional run of the '40 20th Century cars but they obviously felt differently.
tstage I purchased the BLI '40 Dreyfuss when it was released in 2010(?). When MTH announced they would be releasing a 10-car set of the '40 20th Century passenger cars, I wasted no time in pre-ordering the 5-car set then eventually obtained the two 2-car sets and single passenger car. So glad I did because they are now commanding a very stiff NIB price at least 2x original MSRP. I thought MTH would have done very well with an additional run of the '40 20th Century cars but they obviously felt differently. Tom
When Rapido came out with their version of the Monon passenger cars, I hesitated because the cars were priced at $80 apiece. Oh joy, I saved $400 by not acting. Now, the cars are not to be found anywhere. Nice move, Rich!
I have a set (plus an extension set) of the MTH Santa Fe cars. They run very well, manage to do 22" curves easily, and the lighting works beautifully. However, it is obvious that they are close (more or less, depending on the type of car), but not true reproductions of actual Santa Fe cars. Does anybody know what the prototype railroad of these cars is? Or are they completely freelanced?
DrWHowever, it is obvious that they are close (more or less, depending on the type of car), but not true reproductions of actual Santa Fe cars.
I have the Budd, Empire State Express cars from MTH. Very nicely done and, although I haven't done an exact measurement of each car they seem to be very close to the original NYC order. The interior detailing is superb and, as you mention, the lighting is also above par.
Maybe MTH used these cars as the basis of the Santa Fe set? There always seem to be small details that are overlooked such as rounded corners on the vestibule "Dutch" doors or, in the case of some Santa Fe Budds, the elimination of the eave molding above the letterboard.
MTH is was one of those manufacturers that has a broad spectrum of products. Many consider them toylike, yet in some areas they produced some very well detailed models. I have some of their HO ore cars and they are "almost" in the category of a Kadee or Intermountain model.
Regards, Ed
I really rate the 20th Century Limited cars from MTH. I have the Daylight and Powhattan Arrow but I'd possibly say these are just a little better.
If you want the 1938 version - and can find one - they didn't make the 4-4-2 if memory serves, but I have in the cut 3 Walthers 932-9345 Pullmans which are the matching ones and are described as "NYC Pre-war" not the one which is marked up as "NYC 1938" as one may suspect. They are an eerily similar colour. Indistingushable. I added blinds, lighting and these diaphrams from American Models Ltd
http://www.americanlimitedmodels.com/ho-full-width-diaphragms-4-cars-gray/
So now the match is perfect.
Here's a comparison of the observation with a top self brass rendition:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnxrJNiESp0KgekPlsEaplmyL-PgWA?e=ioe6rK
Pretty good to my eyes. In some respects better even.
The great difficulty is going to be finding them. I had to buy an unboxed 10 car set just to get my signature twin unit diner and in the last year and a half since then only one or two of the 5 cars have come availabe on my watch list which I know isn't perfect.
Amazing to think these things sat on discount for a while. My feeling is that the further away from the time passenger trains were commonplace in the US and as the generation who knew them moves on the less interest there is. Could be wrong. Certainly over the last 15 or so years we have been very well served with prototypical formations at not the umpteen thousand $$ tag that had to be paid before. Of course easy curves are what's really needed too. I have some 36 but stick to 38" as a minimum and normally the 85' passenger stuff runs on the 40'
On the topic of re-runs; I, like others, asked that of MTH without response but the pressure will be there with this BLI coming on-stream so maybe. Wonder what ScaleTrains may do.
Currently I'm just finishing off detailing a 1948 Walthers 20th Century obs to see where I can get it to. Pretty pleased with the results but it's a lot of work when you think these MTH ones come out the box looking so prototypical.
I am waiting for Antonio to work the Alclad magic on a set of the MTH Empire State Cars. That would be very very nice indeed.
If you're not put off by the fact that they're 72' cars, I think Con-Cor is the only manufacturer that offers NYC passenger cars in the early two-tone gray paint scheme (light gray body with dark gray through the windows). If nothing else, you could use them until a better option comes along.
https://www.con-cor.com/shop/ho-72-ft-passenger-car-new-york-central-20th-century-limited/
Walthers did offer the 1940 paint in both the 4-4-2 (932-15253) and the 10-5 (932-6741) that occasionally come up on auction sites.
TheFlyingScotsmanAmazing to think these things sat on discount for a while.
Yes, I recall buying several of the 1940 add-on (two-car) sets along with the original MTH 5 car set at greatly reduced prices. I carefully removed duplicate car names and used an old "Blue Ribbon" set of Champ decals to rename some cars.
The painted finish of the Budd stainlass isn't too bad. Not as nice as the Walthers plated finish but still pretty good for paint. I'll have to get some recent photos.