Probably never but I can dream: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C55348%5CCIMG0014.JPG Who knows? The MBTA just took possession of two and has more on order.
This looks like a 4 wheel truck on each end ! If Troy were to do a shell, you'd have to find a long frame with 4 wheel trucks.....Atlas 8-40BW maybe ??? Do you know the length of the real loc ? Might compare that length to the real 8-40BW fatalxsunrider43
True Lines Trains advertised they were going to make an HO model and fatalxsunrider43 has been organizing a write-in campaign for a release in N-Scale. I'd be game for Metra (my hometown commuter rail) and VRE (my current locale commuter rail line). VRE has received their first three and have at least 7 more on order. True Line Trains Contact Page Andy Tetsu Uma
The MP's have a much longer wheel base than the F40s and the 8-40BWs. They run on Blomberg trucks, which would make using a 8-40BW even more pointless. Eventually one will comeout. Until then, the Athearn FP-59 would be an "okay" stand in.
Athearn should just make it rather then slapping fobie paint schemes on their F59PHI. They already make the bombardier cars so they pretty much have the market cornered for modern commuter trains.
I think before I would use the F59PHI - I would stick with the F40PH that the MBTA already has and put a fantasy scheme on it such as the "Grey and Grandure". I just want something sleek - not boxy.
I am visualizing F45 & Athearn FP59 cross bred, splice them somehow, a bit of work, I am wondering if this would be close ? Have to figure out how to put some Bloomberg trucks on a longer frame. Hmmmmm, you got me brainstorming.... fatalxsunrider43
Neither one of those units are even remotely close to a MP36PH-3C, but if you want to give the kitbash a try I have a resin F59PHI shell I'd sell cheap. Bought it before Athearn came out with theirs and never did anything with it.
check the last post Click for an MP36/40 modern commuter loco! - TrainBoard.com it was a favorable response. they are listening. i too want a mp36 in caltrain!
I think someone will come out with this eventually. Quite a lot of commuter systems use the Rail Power loco.
Actually the T is only getting two MP36s - the 010 and the 011, which they bought from UTA (Utah Transit Authority). The new locomotives will be HSP46s.
If you are going to try to scratchbuild or kitbash a MPXpress locomotive. you need to check out the following magazines. 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 We need to keep up the pressure on True Line Trains to get the MPXpress locomotives built in N scale. Even though they may be skittish to produce the MPX in any scale we need to prove to them there is a demand, especially in N scale. So contact them often. This is the standard locomotive in the commuting industry we need this to be made in our scale.
MPxx Bolster centers are 42 feet, 10 inches... GE Dash840Bs were 40 feet 1½ inches which was shortened to 39 foot 7½ inches for the Dash840BW.
