It's time to retire the old thread on this topic. We have now managed to get the attention of Trueline Trains (Hobbycraft Canada) who are doing an MP-XX type modern commuter engine in HO, see the reply to my plea below: [Hi Richard, Thanks for the encouragement and survey results. I just responded to a gentleman about this exact topic before your e-mail arrived. A little pressure in the right direction always helps….. please keep it up;-). We are seriously considering do an MP36/40 in ‘n’ scale, and do look toward encouragement for a potential product. Lets hope. Cheers, Mark mark@hobbycraft.com ] Now, IT'S UP TO YOU! If you have ANY inclination to run a 21st century era modern commuter train, you need this engine. Please, just send Mark an email that you would like an MP36 or MP40 in N scale, keep them thinking and maybe moving on to actual planning! These are beautiful looking machines that are more likely to be seen and noticed by the general public than any freight engine. That helps real and model RRing to remain in the public eye, which I think is important to the future of both. Also, a commuter "trainset" with a quality MP36/40 painted in your area's scheme, Bombardier or other bilevel coaches, and Kato Unitrak would probably be a better Christmas starter set than the usual generic freight set, as well as appealing to serious model RRers. So, write that note, hit that send button! We might just make a product come alive if we try!
Do you think that they would do railroad specific details? (Number-boards / Plows) West Coast Express (Vancouver area) http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=46604 Rail Runner http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Rail_runner_nmrx-104.jpg Northstar http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Northstar_Commuter_MNRX_501.jpg Front Runner http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Front_Runner_%281141456610%29.jpg Caltrain http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Baby_Bullet_MPI_MP36PH-3C_923.jpg MARC http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M901yNvKti8/SgIUy1xN81I/AAAAAAAAAZI/vfdr3y5G6PQ/s1600/marc.jpg Metrolink http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Metrolink888.jpg/800px-Metrolink888.jpg Wikipedia link -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPI_MPXpress Company -> http://www.motivepower-wabtec.com/locomotives/commuter/mpxpress.php
Excellent to see some response coming in! There is a discussion of the HO project on Trainorders.com and it would seem there are not enough pre-orders of the MP36, putting that version in jeopardy (there seem to be enough of the MP40s). There is a link to pre-production photos of the HO engine. So I think we would be lucky to see one version of each type at best. Much better than nothing! We will see nothing if interested modellers do not make their desires known to TLT. I have to wonder if the distribution of TLT products is limited because of their association with Hobbycraft, a Canadian hobby distribution chain. It may be difficult for US modellers to find out about the product and where to make preorders...but, we in N scale are now forewarned and so we are forearmed. Keep sending your requests in, please!
Could this be because True Line Trains is a Canadian Company and GO Transit (Toronto Area) has 47 MP40s (wikipedia) where as West Coast Express (Vancouver area) only has 1 MP36 which is only used as a backup?
I too am hoping the MP engine will come to N scale. The HO model is certainly a beautiful creation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTjqvR747Ic
you should contact PWRS.CA to have them join the crusade ... they are usually great about supporting projects that have use in canadian model railroads
DrifterNL You forgot the first order METRA http://locophotos.com/Search.php?SearchRoadID=685&SearchModel=MPI+MP36PH-3S&Search=Search
True, Metra is the only owner of the MP36PH-3S. Are there any external differences between the MP36PH-3S and the MP36PH-3C?
The primary differences are internal, but there are some others from what I can find on web without contacting Motive Power. One of the unique features of the MP36s in Metra's fleet compared to other operators is that they are equipped with a Gyralite (which is standard equipment on all of Metra's passenger locomotives), which are mounted in the spot where the train number board would be located on the front of the locomotive. The HEP equipped units(MP36c) have a separate engine to provide electricity for the cars, so it would need extra intakes for air and cooling, an exhaust port would also be needed.
Going through my piles of magazines I found three major pieces on the MPXpress. November 2006 Trains Magazine - Pages 62-65 Four page article with four pictures and chart of passenger locomotives built between 1996 and 2005. Two page "Data Sheet" - Shows Metra loco with major components callouts. Lists current buyers in chart. March 2008 Railroad Model Craftsman - Pages 66-75 Ten page article with many pictures. Includes centerfold HO scale drawings of MP36C and MP36S. Some ideas for kitbashing are discussed. March 2008 Railfan & Railroad - Pages 28-37 Ten page article with many pictures. Includes drawings of MP36C and MP36S internal layout. Pictures include MPI facility and locomotives under construction. Remember contact True Line Trains to get a N scale version. Here is there contact information: True Line Trains 445 Edgeley Blvd Unit #1 L4K 4G1 Canada info@hobbycraft.com 905-738-6556 http://www.truelinetrains.ca
Here is the response I just got: True Lines trains is listening, so please contact them to get this locomotive built in N scale. Maybe we can do better than the HOers.
Today is a day for the HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! N-Scale "Starter Series" MP36PH and Bi-Level Commuter Cars and Sets - KATO USA : Precision Railroad Models
happy dancing here too!! so many threads on this subject haha. i wonder what those at trueline are thinking now..."gosh darn it, we should have released it first!"
Don't know about that one, they do Canadian equipment, MP40PH-3C / GO Transit comes to mind, don't know about any external differences with the MP36PH-3x though but I bet there are a few. If the info is still correct (post 11) then METRA is the only operator of the MP36PH-3S. KATO actually did good on this one because only METRA operates the MP36PH-3S (one body style / details / plow / paint scheme). And they could bring out 27 different road numbers -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPI_MPXpress To do correct MP36-3C's for the other operators would require a few different front ends due to the differences in numberboard(s) placement and 2 different plows (post #2) and maybe some other details (post #12).
