Guys,
I received this email from Ryan Kunkle today. I know there was a Mopac color post going but I could not find it and I thought a new post since there was some good information on the 21" cars as well. I post this email because he has told me to share it.
For Mopac guys this real good news. He is responding to the colors of the Mopac SD40 and the number's on the PA's (8018 is correct but 8019 was a phase 3 Pa with no arched drip guard above the door and I suggested any number below 8018)I had already taken the chance on the Mopac PA's on the number change and hopes that the paint would be correct. Now it sounds like an order for 2 Mopac SD40's are next.
Also sounds like I will have to order a set of Texas Special Cars even thought the dome car will never adventure out of the box. (I wonder if they will ever sell shells of the Pullmans ready to go so a guy could toss out the dome and replace it with a correct sleeper). Any way Ryan talks about the Texas Special set in the second paragraph.
But there is also great 21" passenger car information on other sets in the email as well.
Joe,
Thank you for the information. Sorry I couldn’t follow up until this morning.
I have already pulled a new paint color for the MP SD40s which I think provides a very good match. We are in the process of adjusting all of the art and paperwork on the number for the PA (I’ll be double checking the paint code on that one too – I’ve seen the discussion on the Forum!)
As to the passenger cars, changing the name on the diner should not be an issue. The other two names are indeed typos in the catalog. This set will include a dome car. I too realize that this is not prototypical for the train but we still get a lot of requests for dome cars (and others) for roads and trains that never had them. While we will be introducing some prototype variations between cars on this run, and will certainly be introducing new car types and more options in the coming catalogs, we also recognize a need for “generic” cars which will help us meet the needs of many modelers. The new 21” cars will be no less prototypical for these trains than the 18” aluminum cars we had hoped to produce, but for most of these roads there will still be some compromises.
With catalog lead times, we had to go to press with a limited amount of firm information on these cars. For future releases we should be able to do a much better job of highlighting the details and road-specific details for each set that we do. Our factory for these cars has been very responsive. We were exchanging drawings right up until Chinese New Year and are just about at a final approval now. Hopefully we’ll be able to share some more images and details in early March. Should you wish to repost any of this on the Forum (and by all means feel free to share!) it is also worth noting that the cars for the Empire State Express will all be built from drawings of the prototype. I’m sure there have been questions on that one as well. As soon as we can, we’ll make sure to update our dealers and post a note on the Forum as well on all of these projects.
Thank you as always for your time and comments!
Ryan
Any way I thank Ryan for getting the information to us. It sure helps me to decide on what to order.
Also I know there are a bunch of guys out there complaining about the price of the Diesels, etc. (And I agree with you). But as a guy who does not run a bunch of Santa Fe, Pennsy, and New York Central, etc. there are not a lot of choices for the Mopac, Texas & Pacific, Cotton Belt, Kansas City Southern and T&NO railroads. Atlas has done me right with many choices and I have bought all of these (Mopac GP35's, F3's and have the GP7's on order - Cotton Belt GP 60's, Alligators - Texas & Pacific GP7's - Kansas City Southern Erie Built and T&NO(SP) GP9's). But when it comes to Lionel the things I have ordered were cancelled (Mopac Alco FA's & U33C) I did get a Mopac S-2. I got the KCS E8's but the cars were cancelled and had to track down a set of MTH cars. So I feel with the BTO order plan If I order I will get it. The Pennsy, NYC, SF, etc guys will always get another chance. As a Mopac guy I have to strike while the irons hot! (sorry - just a little rant by me)
Hope the information from Ryan helps some of you decide.
Joe
