a quick question to the MPC experts out there. I find it hard to find information in some of the guide books because the cab numbers don't always match catalogue numbers in some of these years. So, going through a collection I found these two diesels, both with the same road number. Both repaints? just the switcher? (saw a larger engine on ebay with this number at one time)
Thanks in advance.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I believe MPC Lionel produced a Conrail GP7.
Modern Lionel produced a Conrail U36Ba few years ago.
During the MPC era, "road numbers" or "cab nos" were more infrequently used than they are today, i.e., the catalog no. and the number on the cab were identical.
For the catalog no's, the first number was always an 8 and the second number was first year the item was first made. For example, 8030 was the IC GP9 catalogued in 1970. The dummy that went with the IC GP9 wasn't introduced until 1972 and it was numbered 8254.
My friend and I used to wonder what was going to happen when the calendar hit 1980 and they'd have to repeat the 10-year sequence. As it turned out, Lionel simply looped around and kept going with this numbering system until the business was sold in 1986. Among the last steam engines made before the Kughn era was the 8615 L&N Steamer from 1986.
thanks for the info. MPC is an area I'm just now really learning about. One thing I do know though, these things run first time after sitting on a shelf for 30-40 years!
Tim
Whatever their heritage, they're fine-looking engines, Timothy. 
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
