Micro-Trains Releases January 2019

[chessie system fan]

They were a fad in the mid to late '70s, if I recall correctly.

[nkalanaga]

Then it's not surprising that I can't find them in 1974 pictures.  They were probably just starting to appear.  Oh well....

Thank you!

[southernman]

That Southern baggage car is so wrong and I had such high hopes. Oh well.

[thomasjmdavis]

That Southern baggage car is so wrong and I had such high hopes. Oh well.

Southernman- why not just keep an eye on eBay for the Wheels of Time version (even has the 4 wheel trucks)- which is a much closer prototype than the MT car  which is based on an Erie baggage car?

[southernman]

Southernman- why not just keep an eye on eBay for the Wheels of Time version (even has the 4 wheel trucks)- which is a much closer prototype than the MT car  which is based on an Erie baggage car?

Thanks, I have one of those. I was just hoping to add another. I must say that last months Southern sleeper was pretty close to prototype, just retired by my era.

[southern837]

Having some Southern mtl passenger cars finally being produced is something long overdue.  I have the N&W set of 7 that came out last year and I hope a set of 7 or so is on the way for the Southern cars.  The WofT baggage car is far closer to the SRR cars but the MTL one with a balloon roof makes it close enough for my layout.  I hope the Southern and the N&W passenger cars sold well enough that MTL will make reprints or a multi car pack in the future.  My J looks doesn't look so good pulling only 7 cars. 

[draskouasshat]

im ready for some Pullman sleepers in TTG paint, preferably without car names!!!!!
Hey @Shipsure, im also ready for some Santa Fe fishbelly express baggages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rich_S]

This year, Micro-Trains will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the N scale coupler in various ways throughout the year. 
Stay tuned each month as we recognize and celebrate the legacy of the Magne-Matic Coupler

OK Micro-Trains, you have my attention. Any hints on how you're going to "Recognize and Celebrate" the legacy of the Magne-Matic Coupler? Special Run Cars? Merchandise?
Congratulations on 50 years, that is quite a milestone for any company.

[peteski]

OK Micro-Trains, you have my attention. Any hints on how you're going to "Recognize and Celebrate" the legacy of the Magne-Matic Coupler?

They will produce a non-slinky version. 

[thomasjmdavis]

They will produce a non-slinky version. 

I will settle for the 50th anniversary single window coach.

[peteski]

I will settle for the 50th anniversary single window coach.

Wow!  I forgot about those!  Weren't they supposed to already be out by now?

[Point353]

Wow!  I forgot about those!  Weren't they supposed to already be out by now?

The product guide for 2017 stated that the car would be tooled and produced later in that year.
The product guide for 2018 stated that the car would be tooled and produced later in that year.
An advertising poster shown at a train show this past summer indicated availability in "early 2019."

[Cajonpassfan]

They will produce a non-slinky version. 

All kidding aside, that would be something I'd buy!
Otto K.

[thomasjmdavis]

The product guide for 2017 stated that the car would be tooled and produced later in that year.
The product guide for 2018 stated that the car would be tooled and produced later in that year.
An advertising poster shown at a train show this past summer indicated availability in "early 2019."

I checked the archives of the N-scale Varnish group (https://groups.io/g/N-scaleVarnish - founded by Jerry Laboda and orginally a yahoo group) and conversations with and about MT on the single window coach go back to at least 2011- before the release of the paired window coach.  Expected the release about 2013, although (to MT credit) it was never announced, due (if memory serves) do to difficulties with the tooling causing distortion of the shell in the first attempt.  I given MT credit for not releasing a product that was not up to their standards.  Hopefully, this time around they will have better luck with the tooling we will see it soon.  Given that they are releasing cars in Southern paint, it would be a logical part of that series, as well as NYC and the several railroads I would like to see it painted for (can't understand how they have gone this long without producing cars in L&N blue, or Erie 2-tone...but with a single window coach, there will be a moral obligation to do so).

Back in 2011, N scale Varnish conducted a poll, with the following results-

CHOICES AND RESULTS
- single window, 63 votes, 40.38% 
- double window, 18 votes, 11.54% 
- Harriman, 18 votes, 11.54% 
- Santa Fe, 29 votes, 18.59% 
- PRR P70, 28 votes, 17.95% 

An interesting sidebar is that 156 votes were cast, and according to a comment in that thread by Jerry, at the time (2011) that was more than 50% of the N-scale Varnish membership.  The membership is currently 538, a fair growth for an old fashioned email list.

[basementcalling]

They will produce a non-slinky version. 

God help us if they do. Then there will be endless criping about mixing coupler types in trains.

How about a gold plated coupler on a gold boxcar?