Had been eyeing this for awhile, and finally found one NIB on the auction site for a good price with free shipping. Being an SP fan, I really love the paint scheme! Anyone else have a soft spot for this MPC gem from 1979?
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That is a beautiful locomotive. Also, its a good runner. The Chicago Northwestern was my favorite.
I own only one MPC locomotive and set. The locomotive to the left in the photo below is an MPC interpretation of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Blue Comet. I acquired the full MPC Blue Comet passenger set with the two extra add-on coaches while we (me, my uncle and my son) were still in the business of selling trains and accessories. I am a Blue Comet junky! By the time we had sold off most of the massive collection we bought that included this set, we had made enough profit that we had nothing invested in the Blue Comet set. So, my son and I decided to adopt it.
The MPC engine is a relatively good model of the original Blue Comet prototype with only the following 2 errors. The first is that the Central RR of New Jersey's steam fleet burned anthracite coal and had the wider fireboxes for more burning grate area. Also, the prototype Blue Comet locomotives were 4-6-2 Pacific type engines. The MPC Blue Comet comes a 4-6-4 Hudson. We corrected the wheel configuration by purchasing and installing (with some minor modification) a 2-wheeled Lionel trailing truck and a longer draw bar made for another type of post-war/MPC Lionel locomotive. We find this MPC an inexpensive and convincing representation of the legendary, short-lived Blue Comet for our 3-rail, O gauge layout.
So, though it is my only MPC locomotive, it also is my favorite MPC engine and set.
@Randy Harrison posted:I own only one MPC locomotive and set. The locomotive to the left in the photo below is an MPC interpretation of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Blue Comet. I acquired the full MPC Blue Comet passenger set with the two extra add-on coaches while we (me, my uncle and my son) were still in the business of selling trains and accessories. I am a Blue Comet junky! By the time we had sold off most of the massive collection we bought that included this set, we had made enough profit that we had nothing invested in the Blue Comet set. So, my son and I decided to adopt it.
The MPC engine is a relatively good model of the original Blue Comet prototype with only the following 2 errors. The first is that the Central RR of New Jersey's steam fleet burned anthracite coal and had the wider fireboxes for more burning grate area. Also, the prototype Blue Comet locomotives were 4-6-2 Pacific type engines. The MPC Blue Comet comes a a 4-6-4 Hudson. We corrected the wheel configuration by purchasing and installing (with some minor modification) a 2-wheeled Lionel trailing truck and a longer draw bar made for another type of post-war/MPC Lionel locomotive. We find this MPC an inexpensive and convincing representation of the legendary, short-lived Blue Comet for our 3-rail, O gauge layout.
So, though it is my only MPC locomotive, it also is my favorite MPC engine and set.
What a beautiful specimen! Thanks for sharing this!
I always loved the MPC Green Southern Crescent, the Blue Blue Comet and the Dark Red Chicago and Alton Steam engines.
The higher end MPC is pretty good stuff. Congratulations on your loco! Mine is the MPC Daylight F3 set.
@brr posted:The higher end MPC is pretty good stuff. Congratulations on your loco! Mine is the MPC Daylight F3 set.
Also a beautiful set! 
I agree, MPC has a strong place with me. I have two Atlantic Coast Line #8006 (aka Silver Shadow), a N&W 611, the PRR Turbine #6200, two of the GN Berkshires (?) #3100, the Joshua Lionel Cohen tribute #8210, plus the red Chicago and Alton #659. Great looking engines and strong runners, however I don't care for the "sound of steam". The only MPC set I own is the GN 3100 FARR #3. My family had drifted from the 40's and 50's Lionel hobby, but Dad and I easily acknowledged that MPC gave us a kick-start at the right time. To each their own, just enjoy and smile.
Always liked the red striping above the pilot on the 8951. An extra touch that adds a lot. I can't think of any other rendition of the Black Widow FM that has that.
Although I have “rehomed” most of my MPC engines (I have become a hopeless command control freak 
), I have kept 4 for nostalgia reasons…
My first GG1…
Second, a NYC 783 Hudson…
A pair of F3’s - the NYC 8370 and PRR 8970…
@CoastsideKevin posted:Had been eyeing this for awhile, and finally found one NIB on the auction site for a good price with free shipping. Being an SP fan, I really love the paint scheme! Anyone else have a soft spot for this MPC gem from 1979?
I have the all blue Santa Fe version and I love it……..many years of happy running.
No pix, but I really liked the Lionel high quality series of GP9s, NYC #8477, JC Penney Wabash #484 w/ display case, and Milwaukee Road #8500 (?). Not sure if this Milwaukee Road engine was included as part of the Fallen Flag set.
@breezinup posted:Always liked the red striping above the pilot on the 8951. An extra touch that adds a lot. I can't think of any other rendition of the Black Widow FM that has that.
Agree! Definitely adds a lot to the aesthetic.
@ThatGuy posted:I have the all blue Santa Fe version and I love it……..many years of happy running.
Awesome! So I have a question and a bit of an issue with mine. Last night I gave it some lube and put power to it for the first time. After 20 minutes or so, it was running very smooth. I hooked it up to a very heavy consist (multiple die cast hoppers, 16 wheel low-boys, etc) and while it pulled fine, I found that the couplers would spontaneously open. Both ends of the locomotive did this. Is it an issue with these, or is this something unique to mine? Any ideas on fixes? Thanks, all!
@Apples55 posted:Although I have “rehomed” most of my MPC engines (I have become a hopeless command control freak
.....A pair of F3’s - the NYC 8370 and PRR 8970…
I'm also fully into command control. I have four MPC & LTI era F3 sets (Illinois Central, Southern Pacific, Southern, Santa Fe blue), all of which I've converted to TMCC and RailSounds by swapping shells with F3s from the Postwar Celebration Series I picked up along the way (which are already equipped with TMCC, RailSounds, electrocouplers, constant voltage headlights, cab interiors and figures, etc.). (Incidentally, given the prices of ERR components these days, retrofiting TMCC and RailSounds into these engines using ERR components would be a good bit more expensive.)
Most of my collection is MPC. I like them and if well cared for, they run great and parts are still available. I have the 8951 FM & it's an excellent runner like most of the higher end MPC engines. An idea for you , if you want a cool set to run with it is to pair the consist of the 1979 Southern Pacific Limited set with this engine. That set originally included a pair of U36Cs in hideous daylight style scheme that SP had used on a pair of rebuilt U25Bs into M-K TE70-4S . I never cared for the engines but loved the rolling stock, so I paired it up with the FM for a 'what if' style set
@CoastsideKevin posted:Awesome! So I have a question and a bit of an issue with mine. Last night I gave it some lube and put power to it for the first time. After 20 minutes or so, it was running very smooth. I hooked it up to a very heavy consist (multiple die cast hoppers, 16 wheel low-boys, etc) and while it pulled fine, I found that the couplers would spontaneously open. Both ends of the locomotive did this. Is it an issue with these, or is this something unique to mine? Any ideas on fixes? Thanks, all!
Mine, does not do it at all. Check the fronts and back for clearance to see if that’s the issue.
@ThatGuy posted:Mine, does not do it at all. Check the fronts and back for clearance to see if that’s the issue.
By that do you mean the plunger may be too close to the center rail? I hope it's that simple of a fix!
You might remove the spring and stretch it for more tension.
@CoastsideKevin posted:By that do you mean the plunger may be too close to the center rail? I hope it's that simple of a fix!
Yes sorry try some tape for a fast test. Of that solves it then we can move forward.
Got one on the shelf:
@Chuck Sartor posted:You might remove the spring and stretch it for more tension.
I've done this method many times, loses tension and coupler armature is loose. Like Chuck says remove spring and stretch a little to add more tension to armature. That should keep it tighter. It has worked for me every time.
@Christopher2035 posted:Most of my collection is MPC. I like them and if well cared for, they run great and parts are still available. I have the 8951 FM & it's an excellent runner like most of the higher end MPC engines. An idea for you , if you want a cool set to run with it is to pair the consist of the 1979 Southern Pacific Limited set with this engine. That set originally included a pair of U36Cs in hideous daylight style scheme that SP had used on a pair of rebuilt U25Bs into M-K TE70-4S . I never cared for the engines but loved the rolling stock, so I paired it up with the FM for a 'what if' style set
That is a very cool set, except, as you say, for the engines. I'd love to get that exact caboose. Do you know the number? I see 93..
@Tommy_F posted:Got one on the shelf:
Very nice!! 👍
@trains52 posted:I've done this method many times, loses tension and coupler armature is loose. Like Chuck says remove spring and stretch a little to add more tension to armature. That should keep it tighter. It has worked for me every time.
Thank you. I am going to try this - fingers crossed!
@CoastsideKevin posted:Very nice!! 👍
Hey that’s my Santa Fe…..
Off hand I'd say my favorite is the early General from MPC. I gave mine to a close friend who had the 1862 set as a boy. I always liked the colors better than my 1872. It ran well and smoked very well.
The caboose is # 6-9316
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