barrister.2u posted:For example, I acquired the VGN, NH, and CR rectifiers and built variations of the PW VGN rectifier set (the one with the Timken box car) using MPC pieces, which then generated new enthusiasm.
I know that VGN set well. Very colorful.
I like to build PW sets one car at a time. The pursuit is fun and can usually do it more cheaply than paying auction prices for complete sets. I've been known to slip in MPC pieces when needed!
Marty Fitzhenry posted:Some MPC rolling stock was ok. Engines are not ok.
I have had long lasting success with the MPC engines with metal gears. I actually prefer several of them over my postwar, like the Fallen Flags engines; the NYC , Union Pacific. &Illinois Central F3's; and several steamers like the Chessie, Blue Comet. Chicago &Alton. Also the FM's I have had run really well, as do the nicer GP's (NYC, Wabash , & Milwaukee Road).
But then maybe I've just been lucky.
johnstrains posted:barrister.2u posted:For example, I acquired the VGN, NH, and CR rectifiers and built variations of the PW VGN rectifier set (the one with the Timken box car) using MPC pieces, which then generated new enthusiasm.I know that VGN set well. Very colorful.
I like to build PW sets one car at a time. The pursuit is fun and can usually do it more cheaply than paying auction prices for complete sets. I've been known to slip in MPC pieces when needed!
I had the set of the Virginian SD18s at one time. Wish I hadn't sold them. They were a beautiful set.
The worst part about this thread?
It’s got me trolling around the ‘Net looking for MPC stuff I don’t really need. 
breezinup posted:johnstrains posted:barrister.2u posted:For example, I acquired the VGN, NH, and CR rectifiers and built variations of the PW VGN rectifier set (the one with the Timken box car) using MPC pieces, which then generated new enthusiasm.I know that VGN set well. Very colorful.
I like to build PW sets one car at a time. The pursuit is fun and can usually do it more cheaply than paying auction prices for complete sets. I've been known to slip in MPC pieces when needed!
I had the set of the Virginian SD18s at one time. Wish I hadn't sold them. They were a beautiful set.
You asked for it and here they are. We can offer you Free Shipping.
Thanks
Pat
  ZOOM | $119.99 | Lionel 8072 Virginian SD-18 Dummy (Mint) |
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 ZOOM | $159.95 | Lionel 8072 Virginian SD-18 Powered (Mint) |
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breezinup posted:johnstrains posted:barrister.2u posted:For example, I acquired the VGN, NH, and CR rectifiers and built variations of the PW VGN rectifier set (the one with the Timken box car) using MPC pieces, which then generated new enthusiasm.I know that VGN set well. Very colorful.
I like to build PW sets one car at a time. The pursuit is fun and can usually do it more cheaply than paying auction prices for complete sets. I've been known to slip in MPC pieces when needed!
I had the set of the Virginian SD18s at one time. Wish I hadn't sold them. They were a beautiful set.
LOL, over the years I sold off 99% of my MPC/LTI holdings but for some odd reason I kept that set. BTW, that dummy unit was sold in a year end special where dealers had to buy over $6000 worth of trains & track in that end of year deal to get just one piece. It's probably the hardest to find dummy unit in the entire MPC collection. Call them classic toys from a bygone era. Nothing inside or out, from Pulmors & E units down to the type of paint used resembles todays offshore production. Except for those who truly appreciate the added value of holding an iconic toy built in America one piece at a time, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who still cares about stuff like that.
joe
In general, I'm not a huge fan of modern toy trains (my definition of "modern" is anything with a knuckle coupler), but I'll always have an appreciation for MPC-era trains since those were my first. I still have my 8204 C&O steamer, 8200 Kickapoo Valley switcher, and 8030 Illinois Central GP9s. They were the first trains I received as a kid, they have a lot of miles on them, and they have never needed any service other than a little lube. Growing up the son of a tinplate collector, that's really my first love and always will be.
John
Although I have most of it, I am still buying MPC stanard 6464 style boxcars, and other freights. You just cant beat MPC :-)
I have a collection of MPC that filled a gap for me. I came back into trains in the MPC era, but I was focused on post-war. So back when you wanted everything (I used to say I was limiting my collection. All I wanted has one of everything) I would pick up MPC because that's what was new. I did appreciate the graphics and the fast angle wheels. What I didn't appreciate was what I felt to be crummy engines. I know that they weren't all bad, but too many were.
If you want to run trains on the cheap MPC is great rolling stock (though some cars need to be weighted). But I've sold all of the engines I had acquired. There weren't many, but they're gone. I'd sell the rolling stock just to clean up things, but they're really not worth much. I really did like the Standard O cars. In their time they were really nice, but even those aren't worth much today.
Alan
Former Member posted:C W Burfle posted:But it wasn't all sunshine. Gramps cried over MPCs tarnishing of Lionel quality and stopped ordering sight unseen after about 43 years of "just build it and send it".
MPC did make some junk, but late Postwar Lionel (1968-69) production stuff wasn't so great either.
Agreed CW but Lionel LLC has had more than it's fair share of "stinkers". Some of the recent starter sets are so cheap, silly looking and miserable it turns my stomach to even see the Lionel name on them. And don't get me started on the Lionel branded battery powered G gauge!
You to !Well I had a few lionel sets plastic locomotives.The thing that rubbed me the wrong way.Was the price of these trains.A down payment on a car for any locomotive of any size.But I feel sorry for all who brought the rock island locomotives.They had plastic worm gears.And we all know plastic will wear down faster than metal.
seaboardm2 posted:And we all know plastic will wear down faster than metal.
No, we don't all know that.
For the time, MPC made pretty good trains. The fewer the features, the less to go wrong. I had very good luck with the engines, even the cheaper ones. A lot more trouble these days with malfunctioning electronics right out of the box. And, of course, the prices! You could go to a train show in the 1980s and pick up a new MPC Geep or such for around $100. Imagine...
I agree with Dave W. MPC made trains that were fun to run. No gimmicks or gadgets to worry about, like electronics getting fried because our train derailed.
MPC brought out some very nice items that were never made by Lionel prior to 1969. The heavy weight passenger cars in more road names than you can shake a stick at. And what about the SD series diesels with their six wheel trucks !
In this day and age of high priced scale or near scale trains, MPC is a breath of fresh air. If and when our high-tech society burns out all of it's transistors, we will still be able to run MPC trains !
I'm sorry but i can't tell an SD70 from a 45 or 90. Same goes for the position of the trucks. Horn, windshield wipers, fuel tank, handrails, vents, brake lines, valve covers, or cheese grater .
On a mpc engine I can add some fancy sound system and tmcc if i like. If it ever quits working I can strip the goods out and throw it away, buy a new for less than the shipping and aggravation and new engine warranty returns.
The crew talk, , , well after you've heard it six times it begins to sound stupid.
Most all of my smoke units are turned off except postwar. Mpc and LTI. Just another thing to burn out on the newer engines.
Bottom line is they're cheap, reliable and easy to handle without the piping, chains, delicate horns, etc to break off.
Not necessarily for everyone, but I prefer reliability and value.
seaboardm2 posted:But I feel sorry for all who brought the rock island locomotives.They had plastic worm gears.And we all know plastic will wear down faster than metal.
The problem with the Rock Island Northerns wasn't the material, it was the motor alignment. Bad alignment will chew up gears, regardless of material.
Rusty
I loved the offerings and most other Lionel fans did too at that time.
I vividly remember the start of the General Mills era (MPC/Fundimensions) in 1970. I was so excited when saw the ad in a 1970 Model Railroader for the new Lionel catalog that opened into a poster.
I remember when the first new sets hit Penney's,Sears,Western Auto and Otasco.
With my only source of train funds mowing lawns and raking leaves (My parents did not give me an allowance-I had to earn it) I bought mostly rolling stock,especially the 9700 series boxcars, to run behind my post war locomotives. I thought they were a great buy for $4-8 each. I did not buy any locomotives until 1977 when they released the FM Trainmasters. I think the high water mark for this era was 1980-82. In the 1980's I collected quite a bit of the new trains but eventually thinned everything out except the best items of that period. The UP,SP,NYC and N&W passenger sets are my favorites and I still have them. The 8150 Green GG1 is still a stunner. The 783 and 784 Hudsons are proudly displayed with their Postwar and Modern Era siblings.
Sure there were some "stinkers" but there were also some "rotten eggs" in the Postwar era,the LTI era and continuing into the present Modern era.
However you see it,this era was critical for Lionel to continue as a viable/profitable train manufacturer.
Ricky 
I love the Amtrak F3 ABA. First Lionel F3 withba roadname not from the postwar era.
When MPC was king in our store.
jim sutter posted:When MPC was king in our store.
What a store! I probably would have just moved in.
@seaboardm2 The Rock Island Northern wasn't an MPC piece, the MPC era officially ended in 1985. 1986 was a hybrid year, and in 1987 LTI took over. LTI made some great products too, but the Northern (based on a postwar Berkshire chassis) definitely had some issues!
MPC was pretty conservative with their product choices. But I would put their dual-motored diesels on par with Postwar. And I think the small Alco FA and SW switchers were better than their postwar 200- and 600-series counterparts. Once fully broken in, the 783 is a decent alternative to the 773, maybe better than the '60s version. MPC kept the fires burning, and if you're not obsessed with realism, IMO it represents a good value today.
My favorite MPC set.
John
I was enamored of the PW stuff when I was a kid in the 50-early 60s. and some was obviously the "good" stuff to envied as my buddy had a Southern F3 set, an EL Train Master and a set of RDCs that I thought were neat.
Later when I grew up, I got some MPC stuff and found it disappointing. To me, it just did not look as nice and seemed to be a lot less well built. A lot of stuff was press fit or riveted vs screws on the older stuff. It was harder to repair because everything seemed flimsy to me. Even the colors looked more toylike to me that the older stuff.
So I don't like the MPC stuff much at all. But it probably all depends on what we grew up with.
jim sutter posted:When MPC was king in our store.
I'm going to guess that in addition to all that MPC on the shelves there are tootsie-pops in the basket at the end of the front counter.
Breezinup and Keystone,
Thank you for your comments. Breezinup, my wife and I would of been glad to have you as a customer. Keystone, The fact you know about the Tootsie Pops tells me you were a customer. Thank you.
Forgive my ignorance but wasn't the original sd40 that Lionel made an MPC release? Around like 1985 or 87 I don't have my modern Lionel guide on me right now I am at school
paigetrain posted:Forgive my ignorance but wasn't the original sd40 that Lionel made an MPC release? Around like 1985 or 87 I don't have my modern Lionel guide on me right now I am at school
The first SD40, the No. 8265 Santa Fe, was introduced in 1982. Still the Fundimensions (MPC)) era. Kughn bought the company in 1986.
I'm still picking up MPC era trains. I recently put together this Milwaukee Road set one car at a time. Easier to just buy the whole set at once but I find this to be fun and rewarding.
Big_Boy_4005 posted:Nah, I'm totally over MPC. I have a ton of it that I really should get rid of, cause it's just taking up space. Conventional and non scale pieces are obsolete in my world.
If you want to sell some of your MPC send me a list I maybe interested.
johnstrains posted:barrister.2u posted:For example, I acquired the VGN, NH, and CR rectifiers and built variations of the PW VGN rectifier set (the one with the Timken box car) using MPC pieces, which then generated new enthusiasm.I know that VGN set well. Very colorful.
I like to build PW sets one car at a time. The pursuit is fun and can usually do it more cheaply than paying auction prices for complete sets. I've been known to slip in MPC pieces when needed!
I added postwar trucks with Magnatraction to my Virginian electric runs extremely well.
When I think about it, I don't even give MPC stuff a first look, let alone a second, when at a show. And I don't own any. That may be due to the fact that during those formative years of mine, I was more interested in N and HO. So, while it obviously does not have much appeal to me, I have to confess Jim Sutter's store sure had an impressive collection!
TUSCAN JIM,
Thank you, for your nice comment about our store. We always tried to maintain a inventory of 500 to 600 different Lionel freight cars. Each one was new never run. Back in the late 90's when we were eliminating Lionel from our store, we sold all the different box cars at $18.00 each.
Tuscan Jim posted:When I think about it, I don't even give MPC stuff a first look, let alone a second, when at a show. And I don't own any.
Other types of trains appeal to many folks, certainly. However, the MPC stuff is ideal for the LionChief line of engines, which are extremely popular. And given the positive reception to the Menards line, there certainly seems to be a demand for these kinds of items.
jim sutter posted:TUSCAN JIM,
Thank you, for your nice comment about our store. We always tried to maintain a inventory of 500 to 600 different Lionel freight cars. Each one was new never run. Back in the late 90's when we were eliminating Lionel from our store, we sold all the different box cars at $18.00 each.
That was a huge inventory!
$18.00 in January 1998 - be about $29.00 in today's dollars, for example.
B'up,
I do enjoy Lionchief (scale, as rare as that is) and also own some Menards rolling stock. I've never thought of mixing in any MPC, perhaps I should consider that.
MPC/Fundimensions/General Mills carried the torch when Lionel quit train production. The products were simple, affordable and made well enough to run well. I have several MPC engines and many pieces of rolling stock. Today they sit mainly on the shelf as later Lionel items kicked off during the Kuhn era provided more detail and improved operating characteristics. If anyone wishes to get into this hobby on a budget MPC is the ticket.
I received an MPC Conrail rectifier in the mail, yesterday, that I purchased from an Ebay seller. It's the first MPC piece I've had in a long time. Sold all my previous stuff years ago. I'm very impressed with it. I had forgotten how well they run, even at relatively slow speed.
I also have a Lionel Lines SD28 Flat Top diesel coming soon. Always liked the look of six wheeled trucks on Lionel diesels.
NO, don’t like “living” in the PAST ! Like NEW Technologies, Legacy Control, Sound, Scale Engines & Cars ! And, I’m only 86 Years Young !! My last Layout was 50’ X 40’, with 5 Mainlines all 072. Can run all the Big Scale Stuff.
You asked, and I’m saying!!
FREDSTRAINS
Tuscan Jim posted:B'up,
I do enjoy Lionchief (scale, as rare as that is) and also own some Menards rolling stock. I've never thought of mixing in any MPC, perhaps I should consider that.
I regularly run MPC rolling stock with LionChief engines. They're great together. There's a lot of great MPC cars available (including passenger cars), colorful and interesting with terrific graphics, at very reasonable prices. Same size as most Menards cars, but much more variety available. Just looking at beverage cars, for example, strings of the soft drink cars, liquor cars and beer cars are crowd-pleasers, to name just a few of the choices.
breezinup posted:Tuscan Jim posted:B'up,
I do enjoy Lionchief (scale, as rare as that is) and also own some Menards rolling stock. I've never thought of mixing in any MPC, perhaps I should consider that.
I regularly run MPC rolling stock with LionChief engines. They're great together. There's a lot of great MPC cars available (including passenger cars), colorful and interesting with terrific graphics, at very reasonable prices. Same size as most Menards cars, but much more variety available. Just looking at beverage cars, for example, strings of the soft drink cars, liquor cars and beer cars are crowd-pleasers, to name just a few of the choices.
Don’t forget the politically incorrect Tabacco cars! Ironic that cigarette companies got their product logos on Lionel box cars.
I like some of the MPC rolling stock. The single motored diesels are a no-go for me.
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