The Illinois Central's Hawkeye, Land-O-Corn and others:
Both Atlas O and MTH Rail King have issued IC GP9s but neither were numbered in the ranks of passenger locomotives nor were they equipped with "torpedo tanks". Lionel has listed GP9s with torpedo tanks in their recent catalog but not in IC colors; MTH has offered GP9s with t-tanks, in the past, but not in IC colors.
MTH has issued a very handsome version of their 70' smooth sided passenger cars that make up a good looking train. Replacement of the two axle trucks with their three axle "heavyweight" trucks brings the train's appearance much closer to the prototype AND provides "close coupling" even with the "claws" in place.
Therefore, it would seem that MTH would be the logical manufacturer of not only the IC GP9 (offering both Hi-Rail and Scale Wheel) but it would also be the logical builder of the first O Scale/Gauge Flexi-Van equipment which operated in many of the IC's GP9 powered trains. The New York Central, Santa Fe and Milwaukee Road also operated Flexi-Van equipment, the history of which is quite interesting:
http://www.truckinginfo.com/bl...ermodal-history.aspx
The Flexi-Van was ahead of its time and, therefore, suffered an untimely demise. The railroads' objections were to the specialized equipment needed and the number of extra rubber tired "bogies" needed at terminals. Fortunately, we don't have any of those kinds of issues with containerization on the rails, today!
