MTH York meet boxcar question

I have one.

I have them all.  Many I have doubles.  They are all in boxes at the moment.    I do plan on a display in the foyer to my home.  I have every box signed by Mike Wolf.

they use the 40' boxcar every year to ,imo, keep the cost low,as many of their premier cars list $65-70,plus they do look pretty good displayed on a wall or run on your layout. a boxcar body must be used to show the next catalog cover..

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

I have them all.  Many I have doubles.  They are all in boxes at the moment.    I do plan on a display in the foyer to my home.  I have every box signed by Mike Wolf.

So Marty, do you know the exact count on the cars released?  Definitely over 40, right?  Good idea on getting Mike to sign.  If I get one this week... maybe I'll ask him to sign right on the car itself with a black sharpie.  

The total count is  not over 40, I am pretty sure. 

I'd need to check the exact first one, but I recall before the catalog covers started, there was one car with graphics made to commemorate the release of DCS (I am not 100% sure if that car was from the same York that DCS started showing up (April 2002), but it might make sense).  I think there was only one York car before the DCS car that had logos for all the various lines (Premier, RK, One Gauge, Tinplate Traditions at the time, I believe).

Guessing based on plus or minus a meet or 2 for the DCS and the earlier car, I'd guess at maybe 32 cars total before this meet. All meets from 2002 to 2016 inclusive would be 30 cars, April 2017 would be # 31.

-Dave

I've got the first 20 or so. Some of them signed by Mike Wolf.  One by Mike & Dick Maddox.  I stopped buying them after missing a couple York Meets; figured it was a good breaking point. 

Someone wanted them more than I, but he was a no-show at York.   That was a few years ago.  Maybe I should find all the boxcars and try again. 

Yeah, its not like MTH has ever released a special loco to pull of those cars, right?

RadioRon posted:

Yeah, its not like MTH has ever released a special loco to pull of those cars, right?

Correct, I believe. (though there were a limited couple of  EVOs offered (to MTH RRC members I think) that I missed - I know one said DCS on the side, I forget what the second said, but I don't think it was meant as a complement for these cars)

It would be sort of difficult to do a special graphic that would fit, but a neutral cream colored steamer or diesel would look OK pulling most of them (yeah, I know there is really nothing "OK" about a cream colored steamer - seems wrong, except maybe for Tinplate ).  I'm sure if he thought it would sell, it would have happened by now. 

It's probably a lot harder to convince people to spend a couple hundred on a commemorative engine than it is to get them to spend $25-$40 on a boxcar.

-Dave

There were several MTH Club locomotives.  I never bought one but a lot of folks did. 

I just checked my records.  The 1st MTH York boxcar was in October 2002, followed by the DCS York car in April of 2003.  If my math is right,  think that makes the total count so far 29, with this week's edition bringing it to an even 30.

Farmer_Bill posted:

There were several MTH Club locomotives.  I never bought one but a lot of folks did. 

 

I bought a few.  I have I think the 1st one (Hudson) and the Imperial SD 70 ACE.  I initially bought the Rugged Rails small steamer (I forget the config), but it unfortunately had what I considered unacceptable paint flaws and MTH did not have any more to exchange it for me.

-Dave

I have most, if not all of them:

In addition to the club SD70ACE in the above video, I have the RK ES44 released in 2014, that will be paired up with it:

The Premier units that I can also assign to this train are as follows:

I had been collecting club cars from various manufacturers to create an "industry special" display train bearing all the various O-Gauge names (getting a Williams one was a challenge, but eventually bore fruit). When the York boxcars began to dominate the consist, I split them off into their own dedicated train. Since the consist I videotaped in 2013 at the top of the post, I've continued to acquire them. Eventually the entire train will take a few spins on the test track, (and maybe one day the NJ HiRailers layout) for more YouTube-ry, 

---PCJ

Who said that "collecting" was dead? 

I have a total of three.  I bought one as a souvenir of my first York, the second being the one with the Coors Silver Bullet on it, and last but not least, the one with the first Lionel Corp. Tinplate catalog cover.  I only buy them if there is something on the catalog cover that interests me.  I wish they would have put the CP Holiday Train on the cover this time - I would have bought that one for sure.  If I had been around since the beginning, I might have collected them all, but I have too much on my want list to consider adding another theme to collect.  It is cool to see them all running together in a consist though.

Andy

according to the mth newsletter, 28 have been made . spring  2017 will/is #29....

If anyone is looking for cars from 2005 - 2014, Sidetrack Hobbies has them. Enter "tca" in the search window.

I am not a collector but just keep buying them.  Sort of a York trophy.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

I have them all.  Many I have doubles.  They are all in boxes at the moment.    I do plan on a display in the foyer to my home.  I have every box signed by Mike Wolf.

I have them all as well signed by Mike. All of them sitting in the attic along with my complete collection of K-Line Quarter cars. I did buy an extra DCS car and the one with the N&W 1776.

Scott Smith

I recently changed my approach to commemorative cars... I'm a senior citizen, have MTH cars from York in the late nineties, early 2000's; also Lionel CC cars, etc, etc.

I also have a variety of dealer special sets from the late nineties: Coke, NJ Transport, etc.

I've decided keeping this stuff in cartons is silly. My executors will just toss it, or give it away in a bulk sell-off.

I've remodeled my workshop to add shelves to display these treasures. They are fun, and bring back memories. Most will never run on the layout. So be it.

After perhaps 30 years of collecting cartons containing trains, I finally said "What's the Point".

Jan

I never knew about the MTH cars until it was mentioned in the OGR forums. Thought to myself that I'd check it out and perhaps buy one last week.

Of course, with all the times I walked past or stopped at the MTH booth, the thought went "poof" and I'm still without a car (or even seeing one!).

Carl Orton posted:

..walked past or stopped at the MTH booth, the thought went "poof" and I'm still without a car (or even seeing one!).

Not to rub it in, but that means you missed a 2008 MTHRRC car for only $10. The trucks alone are worth that much!

It is a very nice 34' Woodsided box car. Perfect candidate for anyone that does repaint. The Silver/purple is perfect for my younger granddaughter's train.

Years ago I collected Toy Fair cars.  No value.  My MTH York cars will go to my Grandson who is friendly with Mike.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Years ago I collected Toy Fair cars.  No value.  My MTH York cars will go to my Grandson who is friendly with Mike.

 

I recently bought about a half dozen Lionel Toy Fair cars, whose designs I liked, all for less than $20 each.  Some were $10, I think.  In my opinion, interest in these MTH York boxcars has peaked.  I wish Mike would move on to producing something different for each York meet.    

You think they peaked.  Mike builds more each York.  He must be doing something right.  The line of members picking them up from Midge seems constant.  I never gave any thought about him selling something different.  Are you thinking rolling stock or something else.  Good food for thought.  I remember years ago when Toy Fair cars were hot.  Lionel could do a car like Mike does and sell them at York.  You are in good shape on what you paid for your cars.  I would like to think you could double your money.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

I never gave any thought about him selling something different.  Are you thinking rolling stock or something else.  Good food for thought.  I remember years ago when Toy Fair cars were hot.  Lionel could do a car like Mike does and sell them at York.  You are in good shape on what you paid for your cars.  I would like to think you could double your money.

I was thinking it would be nice for Mike to get out of the "catalog photo on boxcar" theme.  Or, if not, offer a second, piece for York that varies each year.   My Toy Fair car findings were not that unusual... prices were similar for many identical pieces on E-Bay.  And as for Lionel offering a York car (don't get me started) ... I am sure you remember the stunt they pulled at the Spring York meet... offering a car, but only making 100 pieces.  Many went to insiders & dealers who got to line-up early in the Orange Hall (before it even opened!) on Thursday morning.  If Lionel is doing another car this fall, hopefully they got an ear full from regular Joes like me & will either produce ENOUGH cars to sell immediately at York (like MTH does).. or at least be able to take orders for later delivery.  I would rather get a car eventually... than none at all on the day of the event. 

Nobody has proof Lionel sold cars before the meet opened.  I have heard that from people who were not in the line on time.  I have heard that from people who do not go to York.   That was a legit program and none went to insiders or dealers.  I saw the line on my way to say hello to Dean Brasseur.  Were you able to get a car?  I was there in time to get in line but passed.

At some point one realizes that we don't need any more cars... absolutely none!

Having said that...  sometimes a car connects with your past: example the NJ Club 'Burt and Harry Piels' car.

Here in Maine our 3 Railers Club issues a car every year in the livery of a Maine business. Another No Brainer. This year it is Wilburs Chocolates.

I honor a point of collecting cars from former consulting clients of mine... Lionel just announced another Union Carbide car. Oh well.

In any given year this stuff amounts to five or six cars... I just keep looking for new places to put display shelves...

Jan

RadioRon posted:

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

I never gave any thought about him selling something different.  Are you thinking rolling stock or something else.  Good food for thought.  I remember years ago when Toy Fair cars were hot.  Lionel could do a car like Mike does and sell them at York.  You are in good shape on what you paid for your cars.  I would like to think you could double your money.

I was thinking it would be nice for Mike to get out of the "catalog photo on boxcar" theme.  Or, if not, offer a second, piece for York that varies each year.   My Toy Fair car findings were not that unusual... prices were similar for many identical pieces on E-Bay.  And as for Lionel offering a York car (don't get me started) ... I am sure you remember the stunt they pulled at the Spring York meet... offering a car, but only making 100 pieces.  Many went to insiders & dealers who got to line-up early in the Orange Hall (before it even opened!) on Thursday morning.  If Lionel is doing another car this fall, hopefully they got an ear full from regular Joes like me & will either produce ENOUGH cars to sell immediately at York (like MTH does).. or at least be able to take orders for later delivery.  I would rather get a car eventually... than none at all on the day of the event. 

Wrong on so many counts. 

Fifty instead of one hundred.  No prior sales as the rumors had.  Blah. Blah.  I was in line as #31 after walking in the door at high noon.

FWIW....You can also add into the mix the six cars MTH made as gifts for those attending the "OGR Tour" trips.  These MTH cars were made from 2006 to 2011.  Production of the cars was as low as 50 pieces some years.  They were essentially identical to the regular York Show cars of the season, but graphically were slightly different with the graphics reflecting the "OGR Tour" aspect for them.

rthomps posted:

RadioRon posted:

I was thinking it would be nice for Mike to get out of the "catalog photo on boxcar" theme.  Or, if not, offer a second, piece for York that varies each year.   My Toy Fair car findings were not that unusual... prices were similar for many identical pieces on E-Bay.  And as for Lionel offering a York car (don't get me started) ... I am sure you remember the stunt they pulled at the Spring York meet... offering a car, but only making 100 pieces.  Many went to insiders & dealers who got to line-up early in the Orange Hall (before it even opened!) on Thursday morning.  If Lionel is doing another car this fall, hopefully they got an ear full from regular Joes like me & will either produce ENOUGH cars to sell immediately at York (like MTH does).. or at least be able to take orders for later delivery.  I would rather get a car eventually... than none at all on the day of the event. 

Wrong on so many counts. 

Fifty instead of one hundred.  No prior sales as the rumors had.  Blah. Blah.  I was in line as #31 after walking in the door at high noon.

Ok, 50 boxcars instead of 100... even worse.  I remembered wrong, excuse me.   Some dealers who were in line before the doors were open, got one or two.  Ro was among them selling the boxcars on e-bay within a week or two at prices of several hundred dollars.  Since you have all of the information, let me know where I was "wrong on so many counts."   Lines formed before the doors were open, I didn't say there were SALES before the doors opened.   Why the rude "Blah. Blah?"