Some thoughts on MPC

[choochin3]

John,

I'ts about time you got bit by the MPC bug.

You are right about the prices,10-15 years ago a MPC 8100 N&W J would cost 1000.00.

Now you can get one for about 300.-400. bucks.

SCHWEEEEET!

I also like the Blue Comet,and The Alton Limited sets too.

 

Carl T. 

 

[3railguy]

The FARR#1 set is one of my most prized items. I run the cars from this set almost daily, and have done so for about 5 years now.

MPC Lionel is a great "expansion" from the postwar Lionel era. Often overlooked, but fits in well with a semi-scale layout.

I've been eyeing the FARR 1 set as well as no 2 (UP). The Santa-Fe hudson is really sharp and so are all the cars in the set. What's really nice about the hudson is it's practically old school all the way with metal gears, magnetraction, and pullmore motor. The mighty sound of steam sounds rather funky. Another favorite is the Santa-Fe SD-40. The tone of blue they used is drop dead gorgeous.

I remember how MPC and Fundimensions went through the ceiling around the late 80's and early 90's. Especially the earlier Collector Line stuff. Then the bottom sort of fell out when MTH started importing Railking. MPC prices are much more reasonable today.

[mpzpw3]

I was a kid in the 70's and 80's, and my 1st. Lionel catalogs were the 1983 traditional and collector line. I dreamed over the items in those small catalogs for years! Fast forward to about 7 years ago. Making a little spending money, and started buying all those MPC items I had wanted as a kid. I think now I have about all the MPC I want, but there might be something that creeps up that I gotta have.

 Probably due to the catalog thing, I have aquired about all the paper material ever printed during, or about the MPC-era. About a week ago I finished my "collection" of 5700 series weathered reefers, as I kinda collect the factory weathered Lionel stuff. Don't think I have ever paid more than $20.00 for a car. The FARR#1 set is one of my most prized items. I run the cars from this set almost daily, and have done so for about 5 years now.

MPC Lionel is a great "expansion" from the postwar Lionel era. Often overlooked, but fits in well with a semi-scale layout.

[Jumijo]

I've bought several new-in-box MPC boxcars from the early 70's recently. Never paid more than $20, and the graphics are great. I'm an MPC fan. I buy New England roads, mostly. Maine Central, B&M, B&A, and New Haven.

Jim 

[3railguy]

According to the TM book, 634's are transition switchers where MPC used up remaining 634 postwar shells. 634's are easy to fake up by combining a postwar 634 shell with an 8010 chassis and trim. The Pennsy baby madisons are sharp and so are the Milw Road cars.

I got MPC fever a month ago for some reason when a CBQ SD-28 at a local show screamed at me from across the hall. I bought it, ran it, fell in love, and it sent me off on a buying spree. I was into MPC briefly in the early eighties when I first got into the hobby. But soon ditched it for postwar. I turn 50 this year and I think nostalgia has some to do with my recent fling. MPC was made when I was in grade and high school. I vividly remember the Johnny Cash commercials and had the 1971 poster catalog hanging on my bedroom wall. Local train stores carried MPC and I was awed by it. But, I couldn't afford it and settled for Athearn blue box HO (which is great stuff too).

The better engines such as geeps, Uboats, and SD's run decent. I think if you lubricate them properly and are careful not to bog them down to where the wheels hop, the nylon gears and rubber band wheels should last. Yes, MPC is great with graphics. Billboard cars especially. Some of the diesel schemes such as CNW, BN, and FEC are really sharp too. Lionel Fastrack really does a nice job complimenting MPC.

I agree on prices. I like the fact collectors hoarded a sea of MPC and kept it in near mint or mint condition. It's all over the place and the prices are attractive for much of it. The relatively common stuff costs about what quality HO costs.

[LL675]

I've picked up some MPC over the years. I started buying some of the Pennsy 9500 Baby Madisons. Yeah, they're not Postwar, but they are made in the USA. You can still get MPC at a good price. I think they are an important transistion piece btween the Postwar and Modern stuff.

[Jumijo]

If it's really an MPC 634, it's fairly collectible.

Rob 

It is. 

[cnw1995]

Agreed - I have my brothers sets from the early 70s - a blue and yellow Santa Fe FA and Grand Trunk Western 2-4-2; the engines run fine. The rolling stock sure is cheap. But everything loves 027 track

[ADCX Rob]

If it's really an MPC 634, it's fairly collectible.

Rob 

[Jumijo]

We have a few MPC Lionel pieces, and I think the MPC era stuff is nice. I do have a 634 switcher I'm trying to unload though.

Jim 

[3railguy]

MPC ROCKS!!!