Pull out the MPC!

Here's another shot from yesterday's after Church operating session.

Anybody else running these great MPC GG-1s?

ok ,i "pulled out this mpc" from the shipping box,,i had this set and most mpc when it all came out,over time ,new and better came along and out went the mpc,now with this thread it awaked my desire for some mpc again,this was my favorite passenger set,will get cars at some point .my question is ,i know this hasnt been run if a long time,so i should replace the pad under the board in the tender,,what is the best thing to use for that,thanks

I use double sided sticky tape from the auto parts store.

Definitely change out the old foam with double sided foam tape. This would be a good time to add a switch to pickup power to turn off Sound of Steam, There is no volume control. Have fun with MPC!

Love that Berkshire!  When my foam went bad, I pulled the guts for mighty sound of static and installed a traditional postwar style whistle like those found in my dad’s 671 turbine tender.  It was a fun project.  Just another option if you don’t rescue the foam issue in time.

@dmestan posted:

A few from my collection.  Actually trying to sell some now.

Was the 8 car “set” of woodsided reefers, 5700 - 5707, Lionel’s only attempt at releasing factory weathered product? I had this set in my antediluvian era.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Was the 8 car “set” of woodsided reefers, 5700 - 5707, Lionel’s only attempt at releasing factory weathered product? I had this set in my antediluvian era.

In the early 90’s (a bit post MPC), Lionel issued a couple of “Warhorse” sets with the engines and freight cars factory weathered. There was a Norfolk Western J set and a Santa Fe Hudson set. I still have the SF set which includes 4 weathered boxcars.

Paul - I knew that, just didn’t dredge it up before I asked. 🤦🏼‍♂️ I lost the SF Hudson set in Sandy, also the Cotton Belt and N&W coal hoppers from the other warhorse  sets!

I recently purchased a Southern Crescent set and the "sound of static" was AWFUL! The foam was also pretty far gone so I gutted and cleaned the tender and added realsound Vanderbilt sounds into it. It sounds so nice. I removed the chuff magnet as it was super annoying and loud. The trains are loud enough for my poor ears.

Really happy with doing the work and learned a lot.

@pault posted:

I recently purchased a Southern Crescent set and the "sound of static" was AWFUL! The foam was also pretty far gone so I gutted and cleaned the tender and added realsound Vanderbilt sounds into it. It sounds so nice. I removed the chuff magnet as it was super annoying and loud. The trains are loud enough for my poor ears.

Really happy with doing the work and learned a lot.

snikie,that is super nice,could you please advise me where that sound unit came from,its a got to have item ,wowowie,t

@terry hudon posted:

snikie,that is super nice,could you please advise me where that sound unit came from,its a got to have item ,wowowie,t

Shoot I forgot that!! It's off Ebay from the seller paperbooth. I am in no way/shape/form associated with this seller. I randomly stumbled across it after hating the sound of static on the SC. Figured I would give it a shot. Took me about 90 minutes to install as I never done something like this before. I also had to use a dremmel and cut some of the inside plastic on the tender so everything would fit, its SUPER tight. I can see why people use box cars. There is still a rattle somewhere I have to address but overall love it.

EBAY link removed per OGR terms of service...

You can listen to what it will sound like and they send some great instructions. Its a bit pricey, $90,  but I had a lot of fun with it and love the outcome. They are selling lots of different engine sounds, pick the one that best suits your taste/locomotive.

I did the same, but different sound.

@pault posted:

Shoot I forgot that!! It's off Ebay from the seller paperbooth. I am in no way/shape/form associated with this seller. I randomly stumbled across it after hating the sound of static on the SC. Figured I would give it a shot. Took me about 90 minutes to install as I never done something like this before. I also had to use a dremmel and cut some of the inside plastic on the tender so everything would fit, its SUPER tight. I can see why people use box cars. There is still a rattle somewhere I have to address but overall love it.

EBAY link removed per OGR terms of service...

You can listen to what it will sound like and they send some great instructions. Its a bit pricey, $90,  but I had a lot of fun with it and love the outcome. They are selling lots of different engine sounds, pick the one that best suits your taste/locomotive.

found it,its on the way,thanks will post vid when completed !

@terry hudon posted:

found it,its on the way,thanks will post vid when completed !

nice! I see I broke a rule by posting an ebay link, sorry everyone. @terry hudon I hope you have as much fun installing your soundboard as I did and hearing it for the first time.

@pault posted:

nice! I see I broke a rule by posting an ebay link, sorry everyone. @terry hudon I hope you have as much fun installing your soundboard as I did and hearing it for the first time.

i'm good at resoursing !!!

@pault posted:

nice! I see I broke a rule by posting an ebay link, sorry everyone. @terry hudon I hope you have as much fun installing your soundboard as I did and hearing it for the first time.

Drat Pault, I just reread the TOS a couple of weeks ago, but didn’t even think of it when I checked your link.  I might have remembered if I was the one posting, but not reading the post.  It’s so easy for me to forget.  🙁

I know I've said this before but I actually enjoy the Sound Of Steam. I will be quite now! Haha

@RamblerDon posted:

I know I've said this before but I actually enjoy the Sound Of Steam. I will be quite now! Haha

To each their own. Lol. No, I don't mind sos. I just like the project and got a good deal on the whistle.

@terry hudon posted:

ok ,i "pulled out this mpc" from the shipping box,,i had this set and most mpc when it all came out,over time ,new and better came along and out went the mpc,now with this thread it awaked my desire for some mpc again,this was my favorite passenger set,will get cars at some point .my question is ,i know this hasnt been run if a long time,so i should replace the pad under the board in the tender,,what is the best thing to use for that,thanks

Double sided tape works great, as suggested.  If you are not a stickler for getting the original cars that came with the set, Williams made a very nice set of Madisons that go really well with the locomotive and look more substantial.  The originals are fine too.  One of my favorite locomotives.  Good luck with it!

@RamblerDon posted:

I know I've said this before but I actually enjoy the Sound Of Steam. I will be quite now! Haha

I have a couple of years/decades on you, Don, but I still remember when the first SOS engines came out - I owned a few!!! They were a revelation when compared to my PW steamer (and diesels for that matter), especially the whistle. While they haven’t really stood the onslaught of technology, they were an important step in the progress to the amazing sound systems we enjoy today.

Well I finally made access to some of the "MPC " trains.  I'm not sure they are all "MPC " but I liked them enough to buy them.  I couldn't get access to the tank cars, pass cars and engines .

Love the Cheerios and that M&M one. It would look good on my M&M freight line

Marx also had a static machine noise maker they used briefly. Predating Lionel actually. Weird fact for those that are interested. It is a very similar concept but done much more simply. It sounds about the same at the end of the day.

@pault posted:

Love the Cheerios and that M&M one. It would look good on my M&M freight line

The M&M lites up and flashes in varying degrees of brightness

The Cheerios is difficult to find and I don't know why.

The UPS operating boxcar is a difficult one to find with his UPS package instead of the red/green Christmas gift package.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Paul - I knew that, just didn’t dredge it up before I asked. 🤦🏼‍♂️ I lost the SF Hudson set in Sandy, also the Cotton Belt and N&W coal hoppers from the other warhorse  sets!

Ouch!!!

Another consist but with MPC tankers.   First one is the one I received for Christmas as a boy.   The others I picked up from the usual places…eBay, shows, …. I have 4 or 5 of the tanker trucks.   Someday I’ll model an oil/chemical distribution facility.  

Here from 1973 is my very first Lionel train.  I received this for Christmas of 1975, it was new/old stock from the old Brendle's department store in Elkin, North Carolina.  I believe it still has a price tag on the side of the box cover but I didn't think to get a picture of it.  When not in use I always stored it in the original box under the my bed.  Some where I still have the envelope with all of the paper work that goes with it.  Still runs quite well but it's been awhile since I've last had it on the track.  The SOS unfortunately no longer works.

Here is one of my more recent acquisitions.  I've been collecting 9700 series boxcars for years and I like to have the boxes for them.  Since this set contains three 9700 cars I just went ahead and bought the whole set.  I was very fortunate that it was in such great shape.

Ventured into a couple standard o mpc cars and extended vision Santa Fe caboose for my train master. Much, much better fit. These are some nice quality units. 

I grew up with Postwar and loved it but have appreciated MPC and enjoyed the pieces I have. Here's a 18009 NYC Mohawk that I enjoy running.

After seeing many of the MPC cars and engines, they ought to re-name them the Colorful Lionel cars and engines.  I have several to add color to my postwar trains.

Charlie

@Donnie Kennedy those Standard O cars are forgotten gems in my opinion.

Here is the blue comet and southern crescent going around together. Both recently equipped with the LED light strip tutorial found on this site for all the passenger cars.

@bobfett posted:

I grew up with Postwar and loved it but have appreciated MPC and enjoyed the pieces I have. Here's a 18009 NYC Mohawk that I enjoy running.

Shes beautiful! Time to check ebay *grumble*

@bobfett posted:

I grew up with Postwar and loved it but have appreciated MPC and enjoyed the pieces I have. Here's a 18009 NYC Mohawk that I enjoy running.

Actually, this engine was produced in 1990-1991, 4 years after Richard Kughn bought Lionel in 1986, which began the LTI (Lionel Trains Inc.) period. The MPC era ended in 1985. But the Mohawk is definitely from an earlier time, and a great looking engine.

@pault posted:

Shes beautiful! Time to check ebay *grumble*

If you don't like ebay prices I may be able to help you out! Let me know. Email is in my profile.

@breezinup posted:

Actually, this engine was produced in 1990-1991, 4 years after Richard Kughn bought Lionel in 1986, which began the LTI (Lionel Trains Inc.) period. The MPC era ended in 1985. But the Mohawk is definitely from an earlier time, and a great looking engine.

Thanks for the timeline reminder, breezinup. I guess my "postwar mind" just lumps everything after 1969 together.

Regards,

Bob

@Don McErlean posted:

Well I have lot of MPC stuff as I only re-entered into the Lionel era after my sons were born in the early 70's.  So most of my new train buying was MPC.  In collecting I tend to go for the pre-war struff but I mostly run MPC...reliable, easy to fix, maintain.  Here is one I got just this Saturday at a train show in Plano, Tx.

Lionel MPC #8551 Santa Fe Alco  from 1973-75  This engine was only sold as a stand alone "A" unit.

Here is a little video with a short train, note IC boxcar is MPC as well.

Best Wishes

Don

I just wanted to compliment you on your taste. I just recently found my old gal after 50 years stored in my late father's garage. It took some work to remove all the rust but got her up and running again.

@HSD68 posted:

Here are a couple that were repainted a long time ago and one that got shortened with a hacksaw!.

Was the original post war Lionel quad hopper based on the Pennsy's 3-bay H30?

Well here’s mine a GP7 Penn Central with a Standard O Lionel/ MPC cars.