{"title":"MTH ALCO PA \u0026 Passenger Set","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"mth-20-21867-1","title":"MTH 20-21867-1 - Alco PA A Unit Diesel Locomotive \"Erie Lackawanna\" #859 w\/ PS3","description":"\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eAnnounced Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2023\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eReleased Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eAug 2024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eIndividually Boxed:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eNo - 2 to a case\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Name: \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eErie Lackawanna\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Number: \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003e859\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Line: Premier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: O Scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Chassis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Handrails and Horn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoveable Roof Fans\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Body Side Grilles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Handpainted Engineer Cab Figures In Each A Unit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAuthentic Paint Scheme\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels, Axles and Gears\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Remote-Controlled Proto-Couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrototypical Rule 17 Lighting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirectionally Controlled Constant Voltage LED Headlight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLighted LED Cab Interior Light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIlluminated LED Number Boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLighted LED Marker Lights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating LED MARS Light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Precision Flywheel-Equipped Motors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnboard DCC\/DCS Decoder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLocomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Proportions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Passenger Station Proto-Effects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures: 16 3\/4” x 2 5\/8” x 3 3\/4”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-31 Curves\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eDiesel DCC Features\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF0 Head\/Tail light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF1 Bell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF2 Horn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF3 Start-up\/Shut-down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF4 PFA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF5 Lights (except head\/tail)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF6 Master Volume\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF7 Front Coupler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF8 Rear Coupler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF9 Forward Signal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF10 Reverse Signal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF11 Grade Crossing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF12 Smoke On\/Off\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF13 Smoke Volume\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF14 Idle Sequence 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF15 Idle Sequence 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF16 Idle Sequence 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF17 Extended Start-up\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF18 Extended Shut-down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF19 Rev Up\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF20 Rev Down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF21 One Shot Doppler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF22 Coupler Slack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF23 Coupler Close\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF24 Single Horn Blast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF25 Engine Sounds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF26 Brake Sounds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF27 Cab Chatter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF28 Feature Reset\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe PA was Alco's glamour girl. While Electro-Motive's E-units easily beat Alco's passenger engine in terms of popularity, the PA is widely regarded as the most beautiful first-generation diesel - period. Perhaps no other locomotive looked so right at the head of the streamlined trains of the late forties and fifties that were the last hurrah of American long-distance passenger service. The 294 PA's and cabless PB's built between 1946 and 1953 powered some of America's most famous name trains, from the Pennsylvania's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBroadway Limited\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the New Haven's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMerchants' Limited\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe muscular PA profile and its elegant nose, with the characteristic grille around the headlight, were designed by Ray Patten, General Electric's head of industrial design. At the time, GE and Alco were partners in the locomotive business, with GE making the electrical equipment for all Alco diesels. Patten's design was described as \"a locomotive so distinctive and so powerful looking that it actually helps railroads sell their services to passengers and shippers.\"\u003cbr\u003eUnder the hood of the PA beat a 16-cylinder model 244 prime mover that developed 2000 hp. Depending on their gearing, PA's could hustle a passenger consist along at up to 100 mph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong after all other PA's had gone to scrap, four restored ex-Santa Fe units remained in service on the Delaware \u0026amp; Hudson into the late 1970's. Sold to the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (FNM) in 1978, most of the units eventually deteriorated to junk status, although one remained operational. But in April of 2000, Doyle McCormack - who also happens to be the engineer of 4449, the restored Southern Pacific Daylight - and the Smithsonian Institution repatriated two of the junked units for rebuilding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecreate the excitement of first-class passenger travel with Premier Alco PA locomotives and matching Premier passenger sets. Our ProtoSound 3.0 sound and control system brings you the authentic sounds of an Alco prime mover and station announcements for name trains of the 1940s and '50s - along with the ability to start your train so gently you won't spill the water in the diner and then accelerate up to scale speeds of over 100 mph, just like the prototype.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45469588947190,"sku":"20-21867-1","price":489.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/0560\/files\/IMG_7704_0c741a19-fd3c-447a-8eb1-8252ee2888b1.jpg?v=1723825741"},{"product_id":"mth-20-21869-4","title":"MTH 20-21869-4 - Alco PA A Unit Diesel Locomotive \"Southern Pacific\" #6007 w\/ PS3 (Non-Powered) Daylight","description":"\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eAnnounced Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2023\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eReleased Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eAug 2024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eIndividually Boxed:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eNo - 2 to a case\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Name: \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSouthern Pacific (Daylight)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Number: 6007\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Line: Premier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: O Scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Chassis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Handrails and Horn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoveable Roof Fans\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Body Side Grilles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Handpainted Engineer Cab Figures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAuthentic Paint Scheme\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Operating Metal Couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirectionally Controlled Constant Voltage LED Headlight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLighted LED Cab Interior Light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIlluminated LED Number Boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLighted LED Marker Lights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Proportions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures:16 3\/4” x 2 5\/8” x 3 3\/4”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-31 Curves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe PA was Alco's glamour girl. While Electro-Motive's E-units easily beat Alco's passenger engine in terms of popularity, the PA is widely regarded as the most beautiful first-generation diesel - period. Perhaps no other locomotive looked so right at the head of the streamlined trains of the late forties and fifties that were the last hurrah of American long-distance passenger service. The 294 PA's and cabless PB's built between 1946 and 1953 powered some of America's most famous name trains, from the Pennsylvania's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBroadway Limited\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the New Haven's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMerchants' Limited\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe muscular PA profile and its elegant nose, with the characteristic grille around the headlight, were designed by Ray Patten, General Electric's head of industrial design. At the time, GE and Alco were partners in the locomotive business, with GE making the electrical equipment for all Alco diesels. Patten's design was described as \"a locomotive so distinctive and so powerful looking that it actually helps railroads sell their services to passengers and shippers.\"\u003cbr\u003eUnder the hood of the PA beat a 16-cylinder model 244 prime mover that developed 2000 hp. Depending on their gearing, PA's could hustle a passenger consist along at up to 100 mph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong after all other PA's had gone to scrap, four restored ex-Santa Fe units remained in service on the Delaware \u0026amp; Hudson into the late 1970's. Sold to the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (FNM) in 1978, most of the units eventually deteriorated to junk status, although one remained operational. But in April of 2000, Doyle McCormack - who also happens to be the engineer of 4449, the restored Southern Pacific Daylight - and the Smithsonian Institution repatriated two of the junked units for rebuilding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecreate the excitement of first-class passenger travel with Premier Alco PA locomotives and matching Premier passenger sets. Our ProtoSound 3.0 sound and control system brings you the authentic sounds of an Alco prime mover and station announcements for name trains of the 1940s and '50s - along with the ability to start your train so gently you won't spill the water in the diner and then accelerate up to scale speeds of over 100 mph, just like the prototype.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45469662740726,"sku":"20-21869-4","price":229.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/0560\/files\/IMG_7707_1eaf6fd8-a35c-47ca-a8ba-6ea23e8db307.jpg?v=1723826125"},{"product_id":"mth-20-21870-3","title":"MTH 20-21870-3 - Alco PA B Unit Diesel Locomotive \"Delaware \u0026 Hudson\" w\/ PS3 (Non-Powered) Plated","description":"\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eAnnounced Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2023\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eReleased Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eNov 2024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eIndividually Boxed:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eNo - 2 to a case\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Name: \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDelaware \u0026amp; Hudson - Plated\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Number: \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003eN\/A\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Line: Premier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: O Scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast Truck Sides and Fuel Tank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Chassis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Handrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoveable Roof Fans\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Body Side Grilles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAuthentic Paint Scheme\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Metal Couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Proportions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures:16 3\/4” x 2 5\/8” x 3 3\/4”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-31 Curves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe PA was Alco's glamour girl. While Electro-Motive's E-units easily beat Alco's passenger engine in terms of popularity, the PA is widely regarded as the most beautiful first-generation diesel - period. Perhaps no other locomotive looked so right at the head of the streamlined trains of the late forties and fifties that were the last hurrah of American long-distance passenger service. The 294 PA's and cabless PB's built between 1946 and 1953 powered some of America's most famous name trains, from the Pennsylvania's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBroadway Limited\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the New Haven's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMerchants' Limited\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe muscular PA profile and its elegant nose, with the characteristic grille around the headlight, were designed by Ray Patten, General Electric's head of industrial design. At the time, GE and Alco were partners in the locomotive business, with GE making the electrical equipment for all Alco diesels. Patten's design was described as \"a locomotive so distinctive and so powerful looking that it actually helps railroads sell their services to passengers and shippers.\"\u003cbr\u003eUnder the hood of the PA beat a 16-cylinder model 244 prime mover that developed 2000 hp. Depending on their gearing, PA's could hustle a passenger consist along at up to 100 mph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong after all other PA's had gone to scrap, four restored ex-Santa Fe units remained in service on the Delaware \u0026amp; Hudson into the late 1970's. Sold to the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (FNM) in 1978, most of the units eventually deteriorated to junk status, although one remained operational. But in April of 2000, Doyle McCormack - who also happens to be the engineer of 4449, the restored Southern Pacific Daylight - and the Smithsonian Institution repatriated two of the junked units for rebuilding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecreate the excitement of first-class passenger travel with Premier Alco PA locomotives and matching Premier passenger sets. Our ProtoSound 3.0 sound and control system brings you the authentic sounds of an Alco prime mover and station announcements for name trains of the 1940s and '50s - along with the ability to start your train so gently you won't spill the water in the diner and then accelerate up to scale speeds of over 100 mph, just like the prototype.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45469682893046,"sku":"20-21870-3","price":242.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/0560\/files\/IMG_8814_9900273b-3766-42bf-abb9-b7c98bc990db.jpg?v=1732896675"},{"product_id":"mth-20-64242-70-streamlined-passenger-car-set-santa-fe-4-car-ribbed-side-plated","title":"MTH 20-64242 - 70' Streamlined Passenger Car Set \"Santa Fe\" (4-Car) Ribbed Side \/ Plated","description":"\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eAnnounced Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2023\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eReleased Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eIndividually Boxed:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Name: Santa Fe - Plated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Number: \u003cspan\u003e3656, 3075, 512, 3199\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Line: Premier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: O Scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Durable ABS Bodies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStamped Metal Floors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Undercarriage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColorful, Attractive Paint Schemes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-Angle Wheel Sets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeedle-Point Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Operating Die-Cast Metal Couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstant Voltage Overhead LED Interior Lighting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnd-of-Car Diaphragms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparate Metal Handrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Interiors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSliding Baggage Car Doors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Brake Wheel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEach Passenger Car Contains 10 Hand Painted Figures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4-Car Sets Feature: (1) Baggage, (1) Coach, (1) Vista Dome, (1) Observation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Proportions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures: 95” x 2 7\/16” x 3 1\/2”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-42 Curves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lightweight, streamlined passenger car was a product of the Great Depression. While the heavyweight steel cars built in the teens and 1920s were dependable and often luxurious, their dark colors and solid, battleship-like exteriors did little to lift the spirits at a time when the entire nation needed a pick-me-up. As noted railroad historian John H. White, Jr. put it in The American Railroad Passenger Car, “Some hope during these gloomy years was offered by a new design concept called streamlining. It presented a sleek, modern image of speed and innovation. What had been an obscure technical term in aerodynamics was made into a household word through an astute publicity campaign mounted by several\u003cbr\u003erailroad traffic departments. It succeeded in creating a general interest in railroading practically unknown since the opening of the first transcontinental line… According to Railway Age, ‘For the first time in many years, the words ‘sold out’ re-entered the ticket clerk’s vocabulary.’”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut as White notes, the real change in passenger car construction was in weight, not the streamlined appearance that was largely for show: “Weight, not air friction, was the chief obstacle to economic operation.” Unlike the heavyweights, the lightweight cars that debuted in the mid-1930s featured sides and roofs that contributed to their structural strength, eliminating the need for the heavyweights’ massive underframes. Trucks went from six wheels to four, non-revenue space was decreased by using a vestibule on only one end of the car, and lighter, stronger, more rust resistant steel alloys came into widespread use. A typical new lightweight could be 15-20 tons lighter than the heavyweight car it replaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with the diesel revolution that was simultaneously taking place, one of the key players in the changeover to lightweights was not an established industry name, but an upstart new player from the automotive industry: the Budd Company of Philadelphia, a supplier of auto body stampings. In 1928, Edward G. Budd had heard about stainless steel, a lightweight, rustproof metal introduced in 1912 by Krupp of Germany. Budd was the first to grasp the potential of stainless beyond cutlery and novelty items. The key problem was the inability of stainless steel to be fabricated with normal welding techniques. Budd’s chief engineer, Colonel Earl J.W. Ragsdale, spent five years developing the key process needed to make stainless into a viable structural material: the patented Shotweld electric welding process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the Burlington’s Pioneer Zephyr of 1934, gleaming Budd-built trains, constructed almost entirely of stainless, helped define the look of the streamlined era to the American public — even on railroads like the Pennsylvania and Norfolk and Western that painted over the stainless with company colors. While other car builders such as Pullman countered with stainless-sheathed steel cars like the Southern Pacific’s Daylights, they were forced to use rivets rather than welding for construction. In later years, the result was that Budd cars lasted almost indefinitely, while the stainless-sheathed imitators were plagued with out-of-sight rusting under the sheathing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe majority of lightweights were 80’–85’ long, which scales out to about 21” in O gauge. Many O gauge modelers, however, find cars of this length impractical, as they require large curves and create long trains that can overwhelm a typical-sized layout. For those reasons, our Premier lightweights are about 70 scale feet in length — reproducing the look and feel of prototype streamliners in a model that will round O-42 curves with ease and look at home on most scale-detailed O gauge layouts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo other manufacturer matches the quality and value found inside an M.T.H. Premier Line passenger car. Using an intricately detailed, yet durable ABS body atop smooth rolling die-cast metal trucks results in a lightweight car that won't bog down a locomotive struggling to pull heavy aluminum passenger cars. What's more, each Premier Line passenger car features detailed car interiors and overhead lighting for a realistic and authentic appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45469748429046,"sku":"20-64242","price":499.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/0560\/files\/IMG_0448.jpg?v=1731091927"},{"product_id":"mth-20-64243-70-streamlined-passenger-car-set-santa-fe-2-car-ribbed-side-plated","title":"MTH 20-64243 - 70' Streamlined Passenger Car Set \"Santa Fe\" (2-Car) Ribbed Side \/ Plated","description":"\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eAnnounced Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2023\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eReleased Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eIndividually Boxed:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Name: Santa Fe - Plated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Number:\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSleeper - Regal River\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiner - 600\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Line: Premier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: O Scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Durable ABS Bodies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStamped Metal Floors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Undercarriage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColorful, Attractive Paint Schemes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-Angle Wheel Sets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeedle-Point Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Operating Die-Cast Metal Couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstant Voltage Overhead LED Interior Lighting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnd-of-Car Diaphragms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparate Metal Handrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Interiors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Brake Wheel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2-Car Sets Feature (1) Sleeper, (1) Diner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Proportions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures: 38” x 2 7\/16” x 3 1\/2”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-42 Curves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lightweight, streamlined passenger car was a product of the Great Depression. While the heavyweight steel cars built in the teens and 1920s were dependable and often luxurious, their dark colors and solid, battleship-like exteriors did little to lift the spirits at a time when the entire nation needed a pick-me-up. As noted railroad historian John H. White, Jr. put it in The American Railroad Passenger Car, “Some hope during these gloomy years was offered by a new design concept called streamlining. It presented a sleek, modern image of speed and innovation. What had been an obscure technical term in aerodynamics was made into a household word through an astute publicity campaign mounted by several\u003cbr\u003erailroad traffic departments. It succeeded in creating a general interest in railroading practically unknown since the opening of the first transcontinental line… According to Railway Age, ‘For the first time in many years, the words ‘sold out’ re-entered the ticket clerk’s vocabulary.’”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut as White notes, the real change in passenger car construction was in weight, not the streamlined appearance that was largely for show: “Weight, not air friction, was the chief obstacle to economic operation.” Unlike the heavyweights, the lightweight cars that debuted in the mid-1930s featured sides and roofs that contributed to their structural strength, eliminating the need for the heavyweights’ massive underframes. Trucks went from six wheels to four, non-revenue space was decreased by using a vestibule on only one end of the car, and lighter, stronger, more rust resistant steel alloys came into widespread use. A typical new lightweight could be 15-20 tons lighter than the heavyweight car it replaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with the diesel revolution that was simultaneously taking place, one of the key players in the changeover to lightweights was not an established industry name, but an upstart new player from the automotive industry: the Budd Company of Philadelphia, a supplier of auto body stampings. In 1928, Edward G. Budd had heard about stainless steel, a lightweight, rustproof metal introduced in 1912 by Krupp of Germany. Budd was the first to grasp the potential of stainless beyond cutlery and novelty items. The key problem was the inability of stainless steel to be fabricated with normal welding techniques. Budd’s chief engineer, Colonel Earl J.W. Ragsdale, spent five years developing the key process needed to make stainless into a viable structural material: the patented Shotweld electric welding process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the Burlington’s Pioneer Zephyr of 1934, gleaming Budd-built trains, constructed almost entirely of stainless, helped define the look of the streamlined era to the American public — even on railroads like the Pennsylvania and Norfolk and Western that painted over the stainless with company colors. While other car builders such as Pullman countered with stainless-sheathed steel cars like the Southern Pacific’s Daylights, they were forced to use rivets rather than welding for construction. In later years, the result was that Budd cars lasted almost indefinitely, while the stainless-sheathed imitators were plagued with out-of-sight rusting under the sheathing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe majority of lightweights were 80’–85’ long, which scales out to about 21” in O gauge. Many O gauge modelers, however, find cars of this length impractical, as they require large curves and create long trains that can overwhelm a typical-sized layout. For those reasons, our Premier lightweights are about 70 scale feet in length — reproducing the look and feel of prototype streamliners in a model that will round O-42 curves with ease and look at home on most scale-detailed O gauge layouts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo other manufacturer matches the quality and value found inside an M.T.H. Premier Line passenger car. Using an intricately detailed, yet durable ABS body atop smooth rolling die-cast metal trucks results in a lightweight car that won't bog down a locomotive struggling to pull heavy aluminum passenger cars. What's more, each Premier Line passenger car features detailed car interiors and overhead lighting for a realistic and authentic appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45469752131830,"sku":"20-64243","price":249.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/0560\/files\/20-64243.jpg?v=1697041976"},{"product_id":"mth-20-64245-70-streamlined-passenger-car-santa-fe-2-car-ribbed-side-plated","title":"MTH 20-64245 - 70' Streamlined Passenger Car \"Santa Fe\" (2-Car) Ribbed Side \/ Plated","description":"\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eAnnounced Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2023\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eReleased Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eIndividually Boxed:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Name: Santa Fe - Plated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Number:\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBaggage - 3438\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoach - 3156\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Line: Premier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: O Scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Durable ABS Bodies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStamped Metal Floors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Undercarriage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColorful, Attractive Paint Schemes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-Angle Wheel Sets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeedle-Point Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Operating Die-Cast Metal Couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstant Voltage Overhead LED Interior Lighting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnd-of-Car Diaphragms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparate Metal Handrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Interiors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Brake Wheel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2-Car Sets Feature (1) Baggage, (1) Coach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Proportions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures: 38” x 2 7\/16” x 3 1\/2”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-42 Curves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lightweight, streamlined passenger car was a product of the Great Depression. While the heavyweight steel cars built in the teens and 1920s were dependable and often luxurious, their dark colors and solid, battleship-like exteriors did little to lift the spirits at a time when the entire nation needed a pick-me-up. As noted railroad historian John H. White, Jr. put it in The American Railroad Passenger Car, “Some hope during these gloomy years was offered by a new design concept called streamlining. It presented a sleek, modern image of speed and innovation. What had been an obscure technical term in aerodynamics was made into a household word through an astute publicity campaign mounted by several\u003cbr\u003erailroad traffic departments. It succeeded in creating a general interest in railroading practically unknown since the opening of the first transcontinental line… According to Railway Age, ‘For the first time in many years, the words ‘sold out’ re-entered the ticket clerk’s vocabulary.’”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut as White notes, the real change in passenger car construction was in weight, not the streamlined appearance that was largely for show: “Weight, not air friction, was the chief obstacle to economic operation.” Unlike the heavyweights, the lightweight cars that debuted in the mid-1930s featured sides and roofs that contributed to their structural strength, eliminating the need for the heavyweights’ massive underframes. Trucks went from six wheels to four, non-revenue space was decreased by using a vestibule on only one end of the car, and lighter, stronger, more rust resistant steel alloys came into widespread use. A typical new lightweight could be 15-20 tons lighter than the heavyweight car it replaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with the diesel revolution that was simultaneously taking place, one of the key players in the changeover to lightweights was not an established industry name, but an upstart new player from the automotive industry: the Budd Company of Philadelphia, a supplier of auto body stampings. In 1928, Edward G. Budd had heard about stainless steel, a lightweight, rustproof metal introduced in 1912 by Krupp of Germany. Budd was the first to grasp the potential of stainless beyond cutlery and novelty items. The key problem was the inability of stainless steel to be fabricated with normal welding techniques. Budd’s chief engineer, Colonel Earl J.W. Ragsdale, spent five years developing the key process needed to make stainless into a viable structural material: the patented Shotweld electric welding process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the Burlington’s Pioneer Zephyr of 1934, gleaming Budd-built trains, constructed almost entirely of stainless, helped define the look of the streamlined era to the American public — even on railroads like the Pennsylvania and Norfolk and Western that painted over the stainless with company colors. While other car builders such as Pullman countered with stainless-sheathed steel cars like the Southern Pacific’s Daylights, they were forced to use rivets rather than welding for construction. In later years, the result was that Budd cars lasted almost indefinitely, while the stainless-sheathed imitators were plagued with out-of-sight rusting under the sheathing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe majority of lightweights were 80’–85’ long, which scales out to about 21” in O gauge. Many O gauge modelers, however, find cars of this length impractical, as they require large curves and create long trains that can overwhelm a typical-sized layout. For those reasons, our Premier lightweights are about 70 scale feet in length — reproducing the look and feel of prototype streamliners in a model that will round O-42 curves with ease and look at home on most scale-detailed O gauge layouts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo other manufacturer matches the quality and value found inside an M.T.H. Premier Line passenger car. Using an intricately detailed, yet durable ABS body atop smooth rolling die-cast metal trucks results in a lightweight car that won't bog down a locomotive struggling to pull heavy aluminum passenger cars. What's more, each Premier Line passenger car features detailed car interiors and overhead lighting for a realistic and authentic appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45469796204790,"sku":"20-64245","price":224.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/0560\/files\/IMG_1091_47d12af0-6560-4897-9eae-9d6dd10cefbd.jpg?v=1736459791"},{"product_id":"mth-20-64246-70-streamlined-rpo-passenger-car-santa-fe-87-ribbed-side-plated","title":"MTH 20-64246 - 70' Streamlined RPO Passenger Car \"Santa Fe\" #87 (Ribbed Side) Plated","description":"\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eAnnounced Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2023\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eReleased Date:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eOct 2024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 27.2172%;\"\u003eIndividually Boxed:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 67.7828%;\"\u003eNo - 3 to a case\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Name: Santa Fe - Plated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad Number: \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003e87\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct Line: Premier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: O Scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Durable ABS Bodies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStamped Metal Floors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Undercarriage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColorful, Attractive Paint Schemes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-Angle Wheel Sets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeedle-Point Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(2) Operating Die-Cast Metal Couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstant Voltage Overhead LED Interior Lighting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnd-of-Car Diaphragms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparate Metal Handrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Car Interiors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed Brake Wheel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Proportions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures: 19” x 2 7\/16” x 3 1\/2”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-42 Curves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lightweight, streamlined passenger car was a product of the Great Depression. While the heavyweight steel cars built in the teens and 1920s were dependable and often luxurious, their dark colors and solid, battleship-like exteriors did little to lift the spirits at a time when the entire nation needed a pick-me-up. As noted railroad historian John H. White, Jr. put it in The American Railroad Passenger Car, “Some hope during these gloomy years was offered by a new design concept called streamlining. It presented a sleek, modern image of speed and innovation. What had been an obscure technical term in aerodynamics was made into a household word through an astute publicity campaign mounted by several\u003cbr\u003erailroad traffic departments. It succeeded in creating a general interest in railroading practically unknown since the opening of the first transcontinental line… According to Railway Age, ‘For the first time in many years, the words ‘sold out’ re-entered the ticket clerk’s vocabulary.’”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut as White notes, the real change in passenger car construction was in weight, not the streamlined appearance that was largely for show: “Weight, not air friction, was the chief obstacle to economic operation.” Unlike the heavyweights, the lightweight cars that debuted in the mid-1930s featured sides and roofs that contributed to their structural strength, eliminating the need for the heavyweights’ massive underframes. Trucks went from six wheels to four, non-revenue space was decreased by using a vestibule on only one end of the car, and lighter, stronger, more rust resistant steel alloys came into widespread use. A typical new lightweight could be 15-20 tons lighter than the heavyweight car it replaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with the diesel revolution that was simultaneously taking place, one of the key players in the changeover to lightweights was not an established industry name, but an upstart new player from the automotive industry: the Budd Company of Philadelphia, a supplier of auto body stampings. In 1928, Edward G. Budd had heard about stainless steel, a lightweight, rustproof metal introduced in 1912 by Krupp of Germany. Budd was the first to grasp the potential of stainless beyond cutlery and novelty items. The key problem was the inability of stainless steel to be fabricated with normal welding techniques. Budd’s chief engineer, Colonel Earl J.W. Ragsdale, spent five years developing the key process needed to make stainless into a viable structural material: the patented Shotweld electric welding process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the Burlington’s Pioneer Zephyr of 1934, gleaming Budd-built trains, constructed almost entirely of stainless, helped define the look of the streamlined era to the American public — even on railroads like the Pennsylvania and Norfolk and Western that painted over the stainless with company colors. While other car builders such as Pullman countered with stainless-sheathed steel cars like the Southern Pacific’s Daylights, they were forced to use rivets rather than welding for construction. In later years, the result was that Budd cars lasted almost indefinitely, while the stainless-sheathed imitators were plagued with out-of-sight rusting under the sheathing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe majority of lightweights were 80’–85’ long, which scales out to about 21” in O gauge. Many O gauge modelers, however, find cars of this length impractical, as they require large curves and create long trains that can overwhelm a typical-sized layout. For those reasons, our Premier lightweights are about 70 scale feet in length — reproducing the look and feel of prototype streamliners in a model that will round O-42 curves with ease and look at home on most scale-detailed O gauge layouts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo other manufacturer matches the quality and value found inside an M.T.H. Premier Line passenger car. Using an intricately detailed, yet durable ABS body atop smooth rolling die-cast metal trucks results in a lightweight car that won't bog down a locomotive struggling to pull heavy aluminum passenger cars. What's more, each Premier Line passenger car features detailed car interiors and overhead lighting for a realistic and authentic appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45469808853238,"sku":"20-64246","price":129.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/0560\/files\/IMG_0431.jpg?v=1731092084"}],"url":"https:\/\/mrmuffinstrains.com\/collections\/mth-alco-pa-passenger-set\/custom-min_curve-o-42.oembed","provider":"MrMuffin'sTrains","version":"1.0","type":"link"}