My interests are heavily biased toward passenger operations so anytime I can check out new equipment that can expand my already bloated roster, I’m ready to jump in with both feet!
I saw these heavyweight passenger cars when MTH announced them over a year ago. Recently they became available so I picked up a two car set intended to be an add-on to the five car package. I didn’t want to commit to all five cars (four of which are the 12-1) and I can always use more head-end equipment so the baggage/12-1 combo made sense.
I hope MTH offers other combinations and expands the line to include maybe a diner and RPO, some coaches and maybe a 6-3 or other common Pullman floor plan.
I never thought I’d be singing the praises of an MTH product but since acquiring the 1938 Century and 1941 Empire State Express cars I have grown to appreciate the fine engineering that went into Mike’s passenger cars. In many ways they are superior to similar offerings from Walthers, notably the “stay-alive” lighting already installed.
As near as I can tell there are only three cars available, a 72’ baggage, the 12-1 Pullman and a 10 section-buffet observation. The Pennsy baggage car has the round window doors found in later rebuilds. Rectangular windows are on the U.P. and Milwaukee versions.
The John Greenleaf Whittier was retired from service in 1963 and acquired by the Ohio Railroad Museum in Worthington, Ohio.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3323117
Crisp lettering in a good representation of PRR Buff is applied.