MP-54 MU cars in HO

[fire5506]

Concor has announced the LIRR mu MP-54 cars in HO scale, there will be powered cars and unpowered cars. Listed in Tuscan paint scheme and also grey paint scheme. 
No pictures yet

http://www.con-cor.com/HO-Powered-mP54.html

Richard looking at MP 242 while working for the FEC Rwy.

[NYandW]

Thanks and please update when they arrive!

http://www.trainsarefun.com/modeling/modelingmain.htm

[Block Limit]

That's going to be a lot of MP54's and P54s 
I hope the Long Island cars will have "operable" 3rd rail contact shoes 
Atlas would have to make "3rd rail" track sections to attach to standard track!

Even with 1 power truck If 4 units power consistently without bucking,  You can use 4 motors and 4 trailers to make a 8 car train.
If you wanted to you could probably manipulate the current release to act as non powered trailers to lengthen your consist.
The way it's listed on the site I don't know if the cars will be sold as single or double units.
as a 2 pack powered set and a 2 pack non powered set?

[scopelliti]

I've been in contact with Con-Cor about these and one thing they really need is a Long Island roster of the MP54s so they can get the numbers right.  They want to do at least two numbers on each item.  I have the pages from Steve's site.  Is that enough?

Steve also has a page on the modernization program but I'm confused as to the meaning of the data.  What does "4135 = 225" mean?  Was car 4135 renumbered to 225, or was 225 renumbered to 4135?

Con-Cor wants to do cars both in the tuscan and gray scheme.  See Con-Cor's MP54 page and I think the cars were renumbered somewhere along the line.

[Block Limit]

I would like to have Arched roof replacements for the Existing mP54 cars. Chip out the solid vestibule door and make some nice steam hauled arched roof LI P54's
4 roofs in a pack LI P54 upgrade.

[NYandW]

Steve's site

Steve also has a page on the modernization program but I'm confused as to the meaning of the data.  What does "4135 = 225" mean?  Was car 4135 renumbered to 225, or was 225 renumbered to 4135?

4135 renumbered into 225  example:

RPO Baggage Car #7737 close up of Modernization Number 487 Archive: Dave Keller

[scopelliti]

One part of the issuer is timing.  When did the renumbering happen?  With Con-Cor wanting to do both tuscan and gray cars, were the numbers the same until later?

[NYandW]

One part of the issuer is timing.  When did the renumbering happen?  With Con-Cor wanting to do both tuscan and gray cars, were the numbers the same until later?

Hi Pat, First, the numbers were never put on Tuscan Red cars. They were put on the cars which had Tichy colors ONCE they were rebuilt and “modernized.” Modernization began in December, 1954 and continued until all the cars that were slated for rebuilding were completed.

I’m sure that the cars that were Tichy and then afterwards were painted in Goodfellow gray had their numbers transferred.  I can’t see any reason to give them DIFFERENT numbers.

Numbers that were of a different color/background were applied to new equipment i.e. the Pullman Standard cars which arrived in 1955 and the BUDD RDCs which ALSO arrived in 1955.

[Block Limit]

I received my RPO NON-MU set today, It's a sharp model. It also has an insert mentioning to place pre orders in early for the "MU" version of the cars.

[NYandW]

Block Limit & Folks: Photos of these models?  Thank you.

[hjw3001]

Here's a video of four of the Con Cor coaches behind a C Liner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eFRxCzfSm8

[scopelliti]

OK, from Steve's site at the bottom of http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/images/1963rol2.jpg and at the top of http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/images/1963rol3.jpg I see the following info for MP-54 cars defined as "MU rr. roof motorized t.c." (which I assume designates the right cars with clerestory roofs).

MP-54T, MP-54AT and MP-54A numbers between 1406 and 1675.  These look like the numbers that Con-Cor needs.

One more item: the page http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/images/1963roll.jpg mentions that when the cars were modernized they were renumbered to the 4000 range (in other words, car 1135 would be renumbered 4135).   I see some already in that range as of 1962... anyone have more up to date info?  My feeling is the big difference is the cars in the 1000 range were either tuscan or tichy gray cars.  When modernized they were renumbered to the 4000 series and painted in the goodfellow gray scheme.  Am I off base?

[NYandW]

Hi Folks: Block Limit was kind to send me photos for us, thank you! 


LIRR #196


LIRR #196 side view


LIRR #622 Combine


LIRR #747 US Railway Post Office

Best,
Steve

[Block Limit]

Steve,
Thank You for posting the Pictures.

It appears to me though the PRR PreWW2 paint scheme was not used on LIRR?

Any how some detailing and other work later would make these cars very nice. They have a free rolling wheel sets with hardly any friction.

[jetfan]

Hello Guys,
   We were contemplating making a monitor roof to replace the clerestory one currently in use on the Con Cor cars. While we haven't invested any real time into this as of yet, just trying to see if there would be any interest in such an item? The center of the current roof pops off to reveal a light strip, so it may not be that easy of a conversion.
Thanks,
Joe