Question on Lionel MPC 634 Santa Fe NW-2

I own two of them. Both have manual reverse.

C.W., thank you very much. I never expected to see a manual reverse unit. Lionel MPC was really saving money, using left over shells and a manual reverse unit. Interesting that none of the reference books I have mentioned it. For the 8010 unit, which I guess they made after they used up the 634 shells, the reference books say Lionel installed the two position e unit. The 634 is a nice looking loco. A first for my collection.

The 8010 had a manual reverse too.

Some odd things were going on in the early 1970's.

They used the 634 switcher shells, but not the 2024 C&O or 2041 Rock Island Alco shells.

These shells were blown out, along with 6473 Rodeo (bobbing horse), and yellow UP caboose shells.

Your 634 should have scout style roller pickups on the motor.

I think the headlight bulb should be a #19 2-pin lamp, but I'd have to look inside mine to verify.

Recently, some folks have offered the opinion that these are not factory pieces. I beleive that they are. They have been listed in the price guides for years at prices that didn't seem to be a premium to me. There wouldn't have been any financial reason to fake them.

Check out this etrain article about the 8010 and 634:

http://www.tcaetrain.org/artic..._switcher/index.html

Definately some strange things going on in the early days of MPC. Two other pieces that come to mind are the 6560 crane car of 1971 and also the 9250 Waterpoxy tanker.

The original 634 of the mid-sixties had a 2 position reverse unit, the left over 634 shells used in 1970, before the changed the cab number to 8010 was factory equipped with a manual reverse unit, so the 634 came both ways The late version will have alumnium wheels, the 1963 version had powered iorn wheels.

quote:

The late version will have alumnium wheels, the 1963 version had powered iorn wheels.

I believe the MPC version has wheels made from Zamac.

The motors and dummy trucks are different too.

The postwar 634 has a 1055 style dummy truck with pickups and sintered iron wheels.

The MPC 634 also has a 1055 style dummy truck, no pickups, and Zamac wheels.

The postwar 634 motor truck is open on the bottom, and has only one driven axle.

THe MPC 634 has the MPC designed motor truck with roller pickups (scout style) built-in.

Did the MPC made 634 ever come in a postwar box ? Photo I found on liveauctioneers.

I appreciate all the comments. This reads like one of Ed Boyles articles in OGR. He should do a series on the 1970/71 transition items from MPC.

I am starting to put together a short train of these items. I have the 634 (Scout type rollers and 2 pin bulb), 3 waterpoxy tankers (two with the diecast trucks and tall brakewheel and one with plastic trucks), the small Wheaties boxcar, and the Santa Fe boxcar and IC caboose, both with AAR trucks. I also have two mini-max cars, but I believe they are 1971, not 1970. This was an interesting time for Lionel/MPC. The next item I am looking for is the 6560 crane car (Hagerstown?).

"Did the MPC made 634 ever come in a postwar box ? Photo I found on liveauctioneers."

I doubt it, or I should say with that postwar box.

In the final years of PW production most boxes were of the checkerboard design, with either Hagerstown, or Hillside listed, or they were plain white, with the contents information stamped on the ends.

The engine in the picture looks like the 1965 run of the 634, with the antenna and marker lights added. The box would be correct for that vintage.

That said, the early years of MPC production did include some interesting hybrids.
The 1971 whistle shack being another one of them.

Ken

One of my MPC 634 locomotives came in a styrofoam tray.

They were offered for seperate sale, so boxed ones should be out there.

I have been looking for early MPC cars - those that have timken trucks with fast angle wheels.

I think I may have a very early MPC Gulf tank that has timken trucks with postwar wheels.