Custom Runs.

That's a great idea, your two stores working together. Look at the beautiful engine, you two will have for sell.

@bluelinec4 posted:

The engine you had mentioned is already being done by my LHS

Hi Ben!

Been a long time and it’s good to hear from you!

This was an excursion to our station this weekend, maybe these are next!

Thanks!

- Mario

Nassau Hobby Center is doing a number of custom runs, all prototypical.  Check out what's coming and preorder on there website.

It’s a good time to be collecting!

- Mario

Some time back in the 90's we did this reefer. I got the idea from a sign in front of a small market in Crabtree PA. I called Fike's Dairy and ask them if I could use their logo and they said yes. It was always one of my favorites.

@CentralFan1976 posted:

Hi Ben!

Been a long time and it’s good to hear from you!

This was an excursion to our station this weekend, maybe these are next!

Thanks!

- Mario

MArio

Still have some of  the solder you sent me awhile back

@PRRMP54 posted:

Maybe they should open up the offer to non-TCA members if they are not selling well now. I tried to open that link but one must be a member just to look at the car?

I believe that to be correct.  If I am not signed in on the TCA website, I only see 4 cars for sale, and not all of the others.

@CentralFan1976 posted:

It’s a good time to be collecting!

- Mario

I'm going broke!  And, the only thing I am collecting are MTH 36' woodsided reefers!  (I have ordered a handful of boxcars too).

For those that are collecting all things Strasburg, I'd suggest getting your order in for this asap!

METCA MTH Pennsylvania Union Line Box Car

Order NOW – Limited Quantity Offering... AS PAINTED BY THE STRASBURG RAILROAD! Pennsylvania Railroad Double Sheathed Box Car #96451 is on the property of the Strasburg Railroad. It’s currently decorated in the PRR Union Line livery. Never before offered in O Gauge, from any manufacturer, METCA is offering this MTH Exclusive Custom Run of this famous car. This Premier Double Sheathed woodside box car (20-99358) features MTH’s historically top of the line features. The car features a stamped metal frame, metal handrails and die-cast sprung trucks. Please, do not delay; order today. Production quantity already determined. Less than 100 being made. First come, first served.

I have always enjoyed seeing custom run cars.  I think that the are colorful and add to a layout if one is inclined to buy them.

Over the years I have purchased a few,mostly models of real cars.  However,two of my favorites are fantasy cars from Jim's Train Shop: Fikes Dairy and Altoona Curve Beer cars. 

Speaking of Jim's Train Shop,it was always an interesting visit,over and above,to see the many Weaver custom run cars over the years.

Jim did many hoppers that would have never been made if he did not do them,good stuff!  Custom run cars really represent a selection of rolling stock that we would never see otherwise.

Norm

Norm, Thanks for those kind words. They are appreciated.

I’m clueless regarding the finances of running a train store, so disregard this entire thought if need be.  But, custom runs have become one of my favorite parts of the hobby. I really enjoy them and have bought quite a few of them. I hope the minimums don’t get raised to the point of making them undoable.

@Greg Houser posted:

You realize that was a real life company and the car features the actual company logo, right?

And now I want one--you can always tell the wife that it is prototypical!

@jim sutter posted:

Some time back in the 90's we did this reefer. I got the idea from a sign in front of a small market in Crabtree PA. I called Fike's Dairy and ask them if I could use their logo and they said yes. It was always one of my favorites.

That was a nice-looking car, Jim!

@Tuscan Jim posted:

And now I want one--you can always tell the wife that it is prototypical!

Funny, but true story.  I also have the MTH Buxom Mellons roadside stand.  I'm going to edit the sign using Evans Designs and make decals to add my wife's name to the logo and place on roadside stand sign and the reefer.   Fortunately, my wife has a great sense of humor and doesn't mind in the least.

-Greg

Tuscan Jim, Thank you.

@Greg Houser posted:

You realize that was a real life company and the car features the actual company logo, right?

-Greg

You realize that having a prototype doesn't make it classy, right?

In this thread, Greg Houser writes:

“You realize that was a real life company and the car features the actual company logo, right?”

Then, further along in this thread, Greg Houser writes:

”AFAIK it's a fantasy scheme....Greg”

I’m confused. Which is correct?

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

In this thread, Greg Houser writes:

“You realize that was a real life company and the car features the actual company logo, right?”

Then, further along in this thread, Greg Houser writes:

”AFAIK it's a fantasy scheme....Greg”

I’m confused. Which is correct?

Both

@MikeH posted:

Both

Please explain as the quoted statements appear contradictory. Thanks.

It was a real company and the car in question features the actual company logo.  However, the car itself is not prototypical.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

In this thread, Greg Houser writes:

“You realize that was a real life company and the car features the actual company logo, right?”

Then, further along in this thread, Greg Houser writes:

”AFAIK it's a fantasy scheme....Greg”

I’m confused. Which is correct?

What's confusing? It was a real company and that was one of their logos but they never had advertising on a reefer.

- Greg

@BenLMaggi posted:

You realize that having a prototype doesn't make it classy, right?

We just don't share the same sense of humor.

-Greg

@MikeH posted:

It was a real company and the car in question features the actual company logo.  However, the car itself is not prototypical.

Greg mentioned nothing about the type of car. He wrote “scheme”

What's confusing? It was a real company and that was one of their logos but they never had advertising on a reefer.

- Greg

Certainly that point was not made clear from your post.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Greg mentioned nothing about the type of car. He wrote “scheme”

Mark, I beg your pardon.  The paint scheme is not prototypical.

I, too, passed on the Buxom Melons car as thought all was fantasy ..while having seen other fruit labels that LOOKED like fantasy, but were marketing attractions, so l should have known better.  But appreciate the discussion, as was a western company, if still a fantasy car.  I , in Atlas reefers, bought by"real estate rules", location, location, location, and if based on reality.  I have been pleased with some of the UP Mich. cars, but the hobby shop profit discussion, in a hobby segment dependent on "population, population, population" explains the dearth of custom cars for less common roads west of Chicago. My opportunity loss.  That IH covered hopper is interesting, but l understand such hoppers weren't in (wide?) use until after WWII stream era.  I just wonder where all these cars are advertised, as am guessing I have missed some (as first seen above).

Hello All, not that long ago, someone advertised a special run of a "wood" box car with the "Western Electric" logo and I lost track of the advertisement.

I worked for Western Electric and its successors for 40 years in Massachusetts and I would like to add one of those cars to my layout. I know that the company started in Milwaukee and spread around the country when the Bell System took it over.

Any information about this car will be appreciated.

@Art Howes posted:

Hello All, not that long ago, someone advertised a special run of a "wood" box car with the "Western Electric" logo and I lost track of the advertisement.

I worked for Western Electric and its successors for 40 years in Massachusetts and I would like to add one of those cars to my layout. I know that the company started in Milwaukee and spread around the country when the Bell System took it over.

Any information about this car will be appreciated.

I believe this is what you are looking for: Berwyn's custom run

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

What's confusing? It was a real company and that was one of their logos but they never had advertising on a reefer.

- Greg

Certainly that point was not made clear from your post.

@MikeH posted:

Mark, I beg your pardon.  The paint scheme is not prototypical.

'Fantasy scheme' is common vernacular for anything not prototypical.  For example putting PRR on the tender for a Berk or Big Boy or putting advertising on the side of rolling stock if it was never done in real life.   A forum search will most likely return several threads as examples.  By posting the pic of the historical advertising I was providing proof the company and advertising actually existed while stating that as far as I know, the reefer is a fantasy scheme.  But it could have existed...

-Greg

"This is a joint custom run between us and Scags EZ Catch Electric Train Shop.  When produced it will be available at both stores."

Is this listed on your website?  I see the Atlas HO Fingers Lakes special run, but not the O gauge three rail loco.  Thanks.

@Landsteiner posted:

"This is a joint custom run between us and Scags EZ Catch Electric Train Shop.  When produced it will be available at both stores."

Is this listed on your website?  I see the Atlas HO Fingers Lakes special run, but not the O gauge three rail loco.  Thanks.

Here's a quick link; https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...finger-lakes-railway

Thanks!

- Mario

Thanks. Much appreciated. 

@Landsteiner posted:

"This is a joint custom run between us and Scags EZ Catch Electric Train Shop.  When produced it will be available at both stores."  Is this listed on your website?  I see the Atlas HO Fingers Lakes special run, but not the O gauge three rail loco.  Thanks.

We are only taking advance reservations for now.  MTH has not assigned a product number to it yet so we cannot put it on our web site like other products.  This locomotive most likely won't get run until sometime next year.  If you are interested, please give us a call at (315) 451-6551 to reserve.

Thank you Frank. I placed an order for one car with Berwyn's.

@jim sutter posted:

PS-2 covered hoppers are what I would like to see.

You could start with this one.

I have to agree Jim, I’ve been hoping that MTH would do these in an RJ Corman scheme. It’s been a long time since they have done Corman items and RJ runs a lot of these.

@Frank Mulligan posted:

For those that are collecting all things Strasburg, I'd suggest getting your order in for this asap!

METCA MTH Pennsylvania Union Line Box Car

Order NOW – Limited Quantity Offering... AS PAINTED BY THE STRASBURG RAILROAD! Pennsylvania Railroad Double Sheathed Box Car #96451 is on the property of the Strasburg Railroad. It’s currently decorated in the PRR Union Line livery. Never before offered in O Gauge, from any manufacturer, METCA is offering this MTH Exclusive Custom Run of this famous car. This Premier Double Sheathed woodside box car (20-99358) features MTH’s historically top of the line features. The car features a stamped metal frame, metal handrails and die-cast sprung trucks. Please, do not delay; order today. Production quantity already determined. Less than 100 being made. First come, first served.

What class PRR car does this represent?

@mwb posted:

What class PRR car does this represent?

I tried to find the ancestry of the car in Strasburg but I failed.  Anyone?

I think most, if not all, of the rolling stock in the Strasburg Railroad's possession are repaints and not representations of their original heritage.

@mwb posted:

What class PRR car does this represent?

I don't know, but here's 2 photos I took of the actual car.  Maybe some of that stenciled data contains the answer.

Stu

Enjoying this thread. Here are the custom runs I currently have on order. What custom runs do you have on order?

1. TCA Lionel “As Cataloged” MP 6464-150 / RG -650                                                       
2. RoundHouse South MTH Genco Boxcar (2) 20-94615 36’ Reefer #104           
3. Berwyn’s MTH RCA 40’ Dbl Sheathed Box Car 20-99334

Sorry, couldn't find a pic of the TCA cars for some reason but I LOVE the above two boxcars.

The Genco, besides the obvious Godfather reference, has great colors and graphics. The PRSL boxcar has one of my favorite logos - The gramaphone and dog