Thank goodness for MPC. There would be no Lionel if they didn't take over the trains when they did. General Mills realized Lionel still had a great name and reputation. The guys that had Lionel Trains when they were kids, now had kids and they wanted them to have a Lionel Train. MPC had a huge job ahead of them when they took over. They did some impressive stuff to get trains out for Christmas, like the GP-9 Illinois Central. For handrail posts they used the metal posts from the old Lionel log cars. They later changed them. Once they got going they really moved right along. A GP20, fast angle wheels for really long trains, SD18 with six wheel trucks and some of the older style steam engines appeared. The Trainmaster in black widow, GG1s, U36C, dual motor F-3 and the aluminum passenger cars that everyone was waiting for. High cube box cars and something new called Standard "O" series cars with sprung die-cast trucks. There seemed to be an endless flow of new boxcars, and billboard reefers. Boxcars sold for $7.20 Even a new track system called Trutrack, but it never came out. Yes, MPC came along at the right time. Don
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