New MTH Chicago Metra Cars (Pics)(Added Video)

The 2 car BI LEVEL SET is 20-66192and the 4 car Gi Level set is 20-65192

FINALLY! Found and bought a mth metra premier engine. Love it. Amazing.

I see four nice photos of a METRA diesel locomotive, but no METRA car or cars. Were you also able to find MTH METRA passenger cars?

Now, some of the METRA F40PH's have smaller RTA logos on them.  I thought the RTA dis not exsist anymore.

the Metra cars with the center doors came in two sets the original orange and blue broad stripe that match the engine colors and the current silver chrome.

The MTH silver version lacks any of  the fluting that is present on the actual cars. The silver is rather drab looking without the flutes.

Although that is just my opinion, but it did stop me from buying the cars. But I do have the blue and orange versions that are just fine.

Nick you might consider placing a WANT TO BUY WTB ad here on the OGR for the cars besides duhBay and I would call and leave my name at some of the LHS like Berywns and others in the area, Good Luck!!!

Nick,

I have the same City of Joliet diesel and was lucky to pick early MTH Metra Rock Island bi levels. Good luck with your search.

"Leave The Driving To Us"

franktrain 

Very cool.

Southern Pacific also had some very similar bi-level cars like these that were built by Pullman-Standard and ACF that were used on their commuter train service between San Francisco and San Jose. 

85-MLC-1, #3700-3709, Pullman-Standard, 10, May-Jun 1955
85-MLC-2, #3710-3730, American Car & Foundry, 21, Apr-Jul 1957
85-MLC-3, #3731-3745, Pullman-Standard, 15, Oct-Dec 1968

If MTH or someone else made SP versions with the prototype-specific configurations such as window configurations/tinting and grab iron configurations, they would be perfect for the SP Train Masters that have been released in the past in O gauge since that's what they did the majority of their lives while on their roster.

The RTA, i.e. Regional Transit Authority, is over EVERYTHING in the Chicago area. Thus, the CTA, METRA, PACE, and anything else related to public transportation that is tax payer funded is controlled by the RTA.

The RTA is just an example of the Democrats in Illinois adding another layer of political money grabbing and patronage politics!   

Frank

Nice set of pictures of your METRA. Nice layout also. Thanks for sharing with us.

Also thanks for the email today. Bill

I'd add that as I recall, when I used to head down rt 38 towards west chicago, they seemed smooth sided from where I was looking...might be wrong.....but those sure do look good.  I miss seeing the BNs in town at the roundhouse...

the present metra silver cars that run today are fluted; MTH had the smooth sided ones from the prior color run.

So instead of doing the cars right MTH did the cars "cost-effective."

According to Hot-Water, unlike the Illinois democrats who he thinks created the RTA. The RTA was actually created after a referendum in 1974 voted in by the citizens of the state because the CTA and several other independent bus companies were failing. The Rock Island and Milwaukee Road were already facing financial distress, which would lead to their eventual bankruptcy, and the Illinois Central was petitioning the Interstate Commerce Commission to increase commuter fares. [See Wikipedia.]

Was browsing around the web, found these metra passenger cars from kato, wow, really wish mth's version would liked this. if the kato's were o scale i'd be buying them for sure.

Link: 

http://www.katousa.com/Zcart/i...amp;products_id=1167

All the C&NW bi-levels were smooth side.  The Rock Island had both smooth sided and fluted bi-levels.  Milwaukee Road had only fluted bi-levels. 

All Milw, C&NW and RI cars were built by Pullman Standard.  CB&Q's bi-levels were built by Budd and of course, all fluted stainless steel.

Here's what the C&NW and RI cars looked like repainted to RTA/Metra:

Rusty