LionelFlyer, Obviously, the operative word is "modern". Have you and your son ever ridden the Newark Subway, now called "Light Rail"? It was a really neat little line that used beautifully maintained second hand Minneapolis PCCs, back when I rode it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Light_Rail
MTH made PCCs in two versions, the old, very classy gray and white with blue stripe and anticlimbers:
30-2559-1
and the more pedestrian NJT racing stripe scheme:
The trolley poles later gave way to Faiveley pantographs before the cars were replaced by modern LRVs. The PCCs were not "modern", as such, but they lasted until August 2001. Replacing the trolley poles with pantographs on the models would be a relatively easy project to modernize the cars.
The line has a fascinating history in that it was built in the bed of the old Morris Canal and had various branches that were trimmed over the years. The term "subway" is something of a misnomer since much of the line runs above ground. It's worth a ride and perhaps your son's imagination would be piqued by the experience.
Note: I presume that using MTH catalog illustrations does not constitute copyright infringement since every online "O" hobby shop uses them and I'm promoting sales.
