MTL's February Releases!

[HoboTim]

February looks like a slow month for MTL in "Z" According to Anthony's (Zscale Monster Trains) website only 4 releases. Smokey Bear GP35, two 40' boxcars and one Gunderson Husky.

I'm willing to bet the two 40' boxcars will be their biggest sellers this month. I am not sure how many people are collecting the Smokey Bear GP35, but I have passed on that one. I like Smokey the Bear, even grew up with his coloring books and even a member of his club many upon many years ago, but not in "Z".

I do however model my "Z" after modern intermodal and petrochemical/refinery operations. The release of the Florida East Coast Husky is puzzling to me. I have never heard of it nor seen any of their rollingstock. The first time I was ever aware of FEC was the diesel loco re-paint that Michael Hilliard did for a Floridian resident. And at that time I thought the FEC was just a small branch line of some sort. Apparently I am wrong to assume this.

Is it that the FEC outranks BNSF, or CSX, or NS, or even UP in intermodal usage. Does the FEC own more Husky's than the above railroads? I am puzzled with this release.

Fact, I do know that FR (Harald Freudenreich) in Germany had so many requests for his CSX 5 unit Gunderson Maxi III's that he is having to do a second run. I am not sure about the word on the BNSF 5 unit Maxi III yet. I do know that I am a proud owner of one (Birthday Present). It's very nicely crafted! Anyways, the CSX was in high demand! I am surprised that this info didn't leak out to MTL!

Why FEC? Even though I model intermodal, I have no desire to purchase an FEC Husky. If it were a CSX, or NS, or UP I would get at least 3-5, BNSF, my life savings (which ain't much).

Point is, I guess I am a little disappointed in the newest Husky release. It has been quite a few months ago since their last Husky release. Canadian Pacific was released in November of 2004 and Southern Pacific in May of 2005 and the two are still in stock at MTL. I understand the "WHY" they haven't released another roadname, but FEC?

Joe "D", at MTL, has been instrumental in steering MTL in the right direction in the past. He will pass along to MTL upper management requests we "Z" scalers have. I have made my requests of Joe too. His historic reply is , "Good things come to those who wait!" I think Joe is a great guy. An asset to the "Z" community. Keep up the Fire Joe!

FEC? How many Gunderson Husky's in FEC will you buy?

graemlins/223.gif Tim

[ February 01, 2006, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: HoboTim ]

[Doug A.]

Tim,

FEC equipment is fairly common on BNSF trains in Texas. I'm not sure specifically about the Husky stack but tons of the 53-foot version for sure and I think I have seen some 48's here and there.

[shamoo737]

Tim, I bought two, but I live in Florida, and it has a red container for your decals. FEC does a lot interchange with Norfolk and CSX. In fact some FEC stack trains use Norfolk GP 60 for run though power.

[ February 01, 2006, 10:15 AM: Message edited by: shamoo737 ]

[Kurt Moose]

I see alot of FEC up here in Seattle at the Intermodel area's. Anyone now what GN boxcar scheme is Feb. release?

[HoboTim]

Doug

How prominent are they in Texas? What part of Texas? Being I model BNSF perhaps I should re-think my thoughts! Convince me!

graemlins/223.gif Tim

[Kurt Moose]

Ohh, awesome classic GN! :D I'll be buyin' one of those fur shure!! :cool:

[Doug A.]

Tim,

These are mostly California (LA or Richmond) to either Alliance or Memphis intermodals, as a general rule. I live 10 minutes from Alliance (north Fort Worth) and mostly railfan the old Fort Worth & Denver line northwest of there toward Wichita Falls and Amarillo.

The following numbers aren't real scientific, but they should be pretty accurate so bare with me. Trains run about 25-30 cars (not platforms...guessing around 80-90 platforms or so) and I'd say between 1 and 5 of those 25-30 cars are FEC. Hardly ever seen one without at least one FEC car, but I'd say most have 2 or 3. Mostly 53's and occasionally some 89-foot FEC flats but I do think they have some 48's as well.

I suspect this phenomenon has a lot to do with the Alliance to Memphis (and beyond, i.e. Florida) trains so if you model anything close to this route you could probably have one or two whereas if you are doing the Chicago to Cali or Seattle stuff maybe not.

[Kez]

I've already placed an order with Anthony for 4 of them. I see these all the time on my lunchtime railfanning excursions. I normally see them in both boxcar red and in the yellow that MTL has duplicated.

I think you'll want some. As mentioned above, they'll definitely fit in with your area of modelling.

Regards,
Bryan

[pray59]

Haha! You have to go to MTL's website and look at the photos of the N Scale Disconnect log car. The trucks have couplers on both sides, so the car has 4 couplers! tongue.gif :D I can't post a picture because it's flash instead of a photo.


-Robert

[Phil]

How do you spell Canadian? Is it Canadien or Canadian? Just asking because on MTL's website, the wording in the description is spelled with an "a" and the wording on the car is spelled with an "e."
:confused:
Which is the typo? graemlins/headscratch.gif

[Phil]

Does it have something to do with the "French" wording, maybe? I just now finished reading the rest of the description a little more closely. :D

-Phil

[Gordon Werner]

if you are speaking (writing) in English ... Canadian

In French, Canadien

Usually thing in Canada are written in both languages (one on one side the other on the other

[Gordon Werner]

here are other potential subjects (other than FEC) and not complete by any means either

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsRRList.aspx?id=9

[ztrack]

I have to admit, I was surprised by the FEC release. More so since the Ztrack subscriber car for 2006 is going to be FEC!!! I plan on keeping the details quite, but it will be another FR release. Again, it will be a new car design.

According to MTL, the FEC owned 1,500 Gundersons. Wow.

Rob Kluz

[Alan]

Originally posted by Phil:
How do you spell Canadian? Is it Canadien or Canadian? Just asking because on MTL's website, the wording in the description is spelled with an "a" and the wording on the car is spelled with an "e."
:confused:
Which is the typo? graemlins/headscratch.gif IIRC, all cars are lettered Canadian on one side and Canadien on the other. (English/French).

[HemiAdda2d]

Originally posted by Kurt Moose:
Anyone now what GN boxcar scheme is Feb. release? This one!

http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/MTLPhotos/Z-Scale/500/500-00-360_500px.jpg