MTL heavyweight baggage car

[Dave V]

I would have expected to see this at MB Klein by now.  I'm getting ready to place an order for some scratchbuilding supplies and I don't see the April MTL releases there yet.

[glakedylan]

likewise,
I placed an order with my LHS for two (2) of the PRR
and have not heard anything as of yet

sincerely--

[Chris333]

I've already seen one on ebay (gone now) it was a real decorated photo and not the stock MTL photo. So they do exist.

[thomasjmdavis]

As I recall, the release date that was up on the MT website (not sure if it survived the recent overhaul) was "around April 13"- was wondering if the seller on eBay might have picked one up at the factory rather than waiting for a semi hauling them across the country.  My guess is they will show up at MBK pretty soon.

[nickelplate759]

I saw two (one Erie, one PRR) at Hobbysmith in Portland this weekend.

[johnb]

I know that other April cars exist, I just got a Southern boxcar....

[chicken45]

Joe posted "Available April 1st, no foolin'" on another forum.

[JoeD]

They were shipped on or around the 1st.

Joe

[Puddington]

Please remember that the Easter long weekend causes more shipping disruption than most others. Because so many people have the Monday off (governments) a lot of other people book Monday ergo it's a four day weekend. Courier and shipping companies will tell you that they lose a great deal of efficiency during these long weekends due to employees booking (or worse, not "booking") time off. In fact; one company we use adjusted their online schedule to add two full days to trans Canada shipments due to the long weekend..... so "Stay calm and work on a project"..... your MTL baggage cars are on the way.............

[thomasjmdavis]

I noted today that the MT website was showing them as "out of stock"- which I am taking to indicate that the first run sales are going well- at least the distributors must be ordering them.  Hoping there are enough to go around, or that there is another batch in the oven.  Or molding machine.

[SkipGear]

I noted today that the MT website was showing them as "out of stock"- which I am taking to indicate that the first run sales are going well- at least the distributors must be ordering them.  Hoping there are enough to go around, or that there is another batch in the oven.  Or molding machine.

I believe they don't become stocking items on the website until one month after their release to allow the hobby shops to place their orders and receive stock. Once the next months releases are announced, whatever is remaining of last months becomes available. MT wants to protect the LHS by not selling out from under them.

[peteski]

I believe they don't become stocking items on the website until one month after their release to allow the hobby shops to place their orders and receive stock. Once the next months releases are announced, whatever is remaining of last months becomes available. MT wants to protect the LHS by not selling out from under them.

I thought the LHS was protected by having MT sell them directly at the MSRP (vs. discounted prices from most of their dealers).  Why would I mail-order from MT for full price plus shipping if the LHS had it for a discounted price (or even for MSRP price) but no shipping cost.

[thomasjmdavis]

Norway,

The photos of the sample cars and the couple that showed up on eBay indicate (hoping I am right here) that it is a Pullman 242 (or 242A or something very similar) which was often used under heavyweights constructed in the late 1920s.
http://www.pullmanshops.com/sunburstrose.htm
 These will be quite useful to modelers of many railroads.  I was lucky enough to purchase a few PRB ones at a reasonable price, but will also probably buy a dozen from MT because they will fit the MT frames I am converting or modernizing in various projects.  Erie, for instance, used them under their modernized coaches and diners, and later ATSF heavyweight coaches and some of the Tribe sleepers had them.  I made some "stand ins" by cutting away the equalizers on old Rivarossi trucks, but the result does not really look substantial enough, and indeed is prone to bending itself out of shape, so I have some immediate needs if I want to use those cars for much other than sitting around the yard.

[chicken45]

I saw these in person yesterday at Ester's Hobby Shop over in Millvale. Sadly, the Erie units were spoken for. They still have the PRR units. I ambushed poor Bob. He said "JEEZE I HAVEN'T EVEN UNPACKED THE BOX YET!"

[Puddington]

I thought the LHS was protected by having MT sell them directly at the MSRP (vs. discounted prices from most of their dealers).  Why would I mail-order from MT for full price plus shipping if the LHS had it for a discounted price (or even for MSRP price) but no shipping cost.

You would think very few people would but my experience has shown that a considerable number of modellers want to order direct, regardless of the price premium.... I don't pretend to understand their reasoning....