More MBTA on the Way

Doubtful. A foobie is not likely to be followed by a proto model.

But then, people fight over the Walthers Comet cars with their 25-year-old tooling and myriad inaccuracies, so I would venture the market is so starved for commuter models that people will buy inaccurate if close just to have it. Athearn sold hundreds of RailRunner F59PHI, and it didn't seem to bother people. The GO Transit GP40-2L is still easy to find, but over-producing one road name doesn't mean another is a mistake.

Atlas has added a MBTA Genset to their newest production release as well as artwork for the MBTA Multilevel commuter cars on their Facebook page.

They are taking the easy way out and are reusing the tooling of the NJ Transit Multilevel cars. I have to figure MARC is next if they can get the licensing.

I still have my fingers crossed for single level commuter cars. I'm still scratching my head as to why Atlas hasn't produced Horizon cars in HO yet. Since they already have them in O scale, seems a no brainer to do them in HO.

I did take notice that the pricing for the MBTA GP40-2(W) is slightly higher. I have to assume it's for licensing cost.

It's nice to see MBTA finally getting some attention after all these years. Besides the old AHM MBTA "T" Boeing LRV and the old Life Like RDC-3, that was it.

I now wish I grabbed a few of the Rapido MBTA 8600 cars.

Since I do model the northeast, I would like to get a 4 car set of the MBTA cars when they come out.

But there is so many models hitting the streets in the near future and discretionary funds are not what they used to be, it'll be a toss up between the MBTA ML cars and a Rapido MBTA RDC-1.

My decision will be easier if True Line Trains does another run of their MBTA MP36 model or if Rapido announces a MBTA F40PH.

I had the Walthers MBTA Horizon cars years ago, but sold them off. Seeing what they now go for on eBay, maybe I should have held on to them.

I heard a rumor that True Line Trains was looking into doing another run of the MP36/MP40 if they can get permission or another license from MPI. If not TLT, I wonder if Atlas would take up a production run of the MP36/MP40 and add it to their expanding commuter series.

I like the MP54PH-AC. Probably won't ever see that made in HO unless more transit agencies buy them. As cheap as some agencies are, they'll buy up used Amtrak P42s as replacements just so they don't have to buy new locomotives.

But your right the MP36 could be a good stand in.

The TLT GO Transit MP40 flew off the shelves. I would have liked a GO Transit MP40 model but they it was sold out with with my LHS before it hit the store.

Athearn has the F59PHI coming out later this year in the new GO Transit paint scheme with matching Bombardier passenger cars.

Maybe when the next run of Bombardier cars hit the streets, it could get the ball moving for another run of the MP36/MP40.

Not only is the new GO Transit paint scheme in the next Athearn run but Metrolink, CalTrain, Northstar & Sounder are included in the next release. I believe all of those agencies use the MP36.

The Athearn Bombardier cars tend to sell well, so it's a possibility.

In the meantime, I'll keep checking eBay for a MBTA MP36 and hope one isn't priced to break the bank.

TLT is still up and running. Within the last year they pushed out the Point St. Charles caboose & the FM C-Liners.

I spoke with Darren at the Amherst Train show back in January and they have the SW1200RS coming. They ran into the same production problems in China as the rest of the manufacturers as well as health issues.

They will admit their lack of communication has the rumor mill swirling but I've noticed they are taken the extra effort to keep people up to date on their projects on Facebook.