I have never seen a photo or video of a 1/1 observation car (no rear platform), that looks like the MTH model. Does anyone know what prototype MTH used to model their car?
John
Attachments
Images (1)
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Well, your question prompted me to go looking. The simple answers taken from the comments and knowledge of others, is that the 'Madison' car was just a name given to a line of Heavyweights that Lionel produced, named after towns around their plant. So, MTH is modeling a Lionel model of a car that did not really exist, so MTH or anybody could create anything they wanted. I guess you would have to research the real cars in the heavyweight category to find something close. I wondered about that rear door, half of which is covered by the herald, but did they have split doors, like a bifold on those cars, if in fact that is what is being represented? Have to add in that I have many of Lionel's 'Madison' style cars, some complete sets, actually more of them than the more accurate heavyweights, and the Lionels run well and look good,
CALNNC, thanks for your response. Note the herald isn’t original, it’s a tie tack I glued on to the railings. The rear door does look like a bifold door, I didn’t notice that.
Tracing the “Madison” name to the Lionel heavyweights sounds plausible, but I don’t think the MTH cars are copies. The MTH design looks unique to me, but I don’t have a Lionel to compare it to. I also have haven’t seen a Lionel observation without a platform.
I’m still thinking there’s an unusual prototype out there that MTH used for its model. Perhaps more research or a fellow Forumite will enlighten us.
John
Just google "railroad solarium cars", in images and you'll see a whole bunch of cars similar to those .
Penn-Pacific, thank you! The Pullman heavyweight solarium, Mt Harvard, at the Illinois RR Museum looks like the car MTH used to model their car. I enjoy a model more when I know there’s an actual prototype.
John
