MPC Pennsylvania F3 Diesel Locomotive Opinions

My experience with mpc is that they aren't nearly as reliable as postwar, although they also aren't nearly as expensive. Though that may just be me, some may have had different experiences

MPC twin motor F3s are comparable to postwar 2383 style F3s, as far as running goes. They are smooth, reliable engines that shouldn't give you any trouble. Any USA made Lionel F3 is going to be a reliable locomotive. 

Make certain you check features. Some MPC F3's are single motor, and some have Zamac wheels and tire traction.
I like them all.

I have a number of MPC era single and dual motor F3s and have found all to be smooth and reliable. They all use the "premium" motor, just as most of the post war F3s did (after the early horizontal "growlers" Lionel changed to the current motor). I had the Tuscan MPC F3s and they are fine runners and look really good. 

Operationally they are good locomotives. My only 'gripe' with them is the paint mask lines molded in the body.

If you are buying a used one and it hasn’t been run in a while, you may need to disassemble to remove the old grease. A friend of mine has both the Tuscan and Brunswick and I had to completely disassemble to remove old grease. Other then that, they ran great.

Steve

There was a long thread on here very recently about this same locomotive with lots of input from other owners.  Search the archives.

Bill

I had teh Tuscan pair and a plus for me personally was the color - many Tuscan engines look too brown for my taste (Had a JLC scale 5 stripe GG1 that looked like a Hershey bar). The MPC F3's were a beautiful 'Maroon' shade that really stood out. It may not quite prototypical but I certainly like it.

Did these have the nylon gearing that some had?

c.sam posted:

 

Did these have the nylon gearing that some had?

All Lionel MPC/LTI/LLC F3s made in the USA up till 2001 had nylon worm gears and idler gears. I've had a LTI 6-18117 F3 set for 22 years and a couple hundred hours of operation. It's been regularly lubricated over the years and the gears are like new with no wear. 

I’ve had both the MPC dual moter Pennsy tuscan ABA and NYC lightning stripe sets since they were issued back in the 70’s or 80’s. I used them to head up a consist of 7 (NYC) or 8 (PRR) aluminum passenger cars. They looked great and handled the load well and smoothly. Unfortunately, since I’ve become a Legacy only runner, they have been relegated to Shelf Queen status - and they still look great!!!

And as painful as it is to admit, I must agree with @C.SAM... the JLC scale 5 stripe GG1 does look like a washed out Hershey bar. That being said, I have one and run it occasionally - gotta love those GG1’s. The MPC era F3’s, as well as the MPC Tuscan GG1 have better color (the MPC F3’s color is a great match for the Tuscan stripes on the passenger cars).

I had the Tuscan F3 and it ran very well, never a problem. I have to agree the Tuscan red was great looking, allot better then some more modern engines and cars.

Dave

I have the dual motor version which I converted to TMCC and I have run it many hours pulling an ABA and 9 cars. It does get warm but has never skipped a beat and I have run it at quite a few shows.

I had both sets of diesels. The Tuscan version and the Brunswick green. Both sets ran fantastic. I ran them for years on my layout without any problems. 

There was a B unit. 

Second shelf, left center.

I can make out a little of the description in Mike's photo.
Between that and his other photos, it looks like the engine has two motors, and Zamac wheels with traction tires. Probably does not have a horn.

As I wrote before, I wouldn't hesitate to buy or run one.

I have a B&O F3. Solid engine for sure. Very clean lines as well. One comment would be to change out the old E-unit for a electronic one. Unless you like the buzzing of course 😁

C W Burfle posted:

I can make out a little of the description in Mike's photo.
Between that and his other photos, it looks like the engine has two motors, and Zamac wheels with traction tires. Probably does not have a horn.

As I wrote before, I wouldn't hesitate to buy or run one.

CW;

The Tuscan unit does have two motors and no horn. The NYC lightning strip also had two motors and no horn, but there was an available B unit (8371) which had an “electronic diesel horn”. The Tuscan B lacked the horn.

The PRR F3s I had ran well. Never had any issues. I was partial to the Brunswick green though.  If you are not fond of the traction tires, you could always replace the power truck w/ a postwar one that has magnetraction. 

Christopher,

I don't belong to Facebook but I loved your pictures.

Christopher2035 posted:

The PRR F3s I had ran well. Never had any issues. I was partial to the Brunswick green though.  If you are not fond of the traction tires, you could always replace the power truck w/ a postwar one that has magnetraction.  

Christopher;

Great pictures. Although I have always preferred the tuscan Pennsy scheme, I have to say the MPC Brunswick green was one sharp engine (and the JLC GG1 got it right too).

One question... were the opaque windshields original??? The Tuscan version had clear windshields.

Depends on condition and price. As others have said, I would clean the E-unit, gears and lube all moving parts. These are older locos now so take that into consideration. You might think about a Williams set. Don

Apples55 posted:

One question... were the opaque windshields original??? The Tuscan version had clear windshields.

Paul:

My Tuscan version has clear windshields like yours and my Green one has opaque windshields as in Christopher's photo above.  I'm the original owner of both of mine having bought them when they first came out so they are the original windshields.  Anyone know why they changed?

Bill

Apples55 posted:

Christopher2035 posted:

The PRR F3s I had ran well. Never had any issues. I was partial to the Brunswick green though.  If you are not fond of the traction tires, you could always replace the power truck w/ a postwar one that has magnetraction.  

Christopher;

Great pictures. Although I have always preferred the tuscan Pennsy scheme, I have to say the MPC Brunswick green was one sharp engine (and the JLC GG1 got it right too).

One question... were the opaque windshields original??? The Tuscan version had clear windshields.

yes, those are the original windshields.  It caused a big stir back in 79. From what I understand, they made an error at the factory or something like that which led to the windshields being opaque  

My Tuscan version has clear windshields like yours and my Green one has opaque windshields as in Christopher's photo above.  I'm the original owner of both of mine having bought them when they first came out so they are the original windshields.  Anyone know why they changed?

If I recall correctly, this was covered in Volume IV of the TM history books. The opaque windshields were the result of an ordering error. (Or maybe the book was discussing ALCO windshields only)