March Madness is a wild time of the year. Students, fans, alumni, and hometown supporters alike gather for a month-long marathon of college basketball where Spartans battle Tigers, Lions tussle with Eagles, and Bulldogs chase Cavaliers!
Well, at Trainz.com we’re also a little mad… but in our own special way. This time of the year is a celebration of the MPC era, and in honor of the NCAA National Championship we’ve decided to kick off MPC Madness!
So most of us in the model railroad community aren’t crazy enough to drive in a lay-up against an All-American center from the University of Florida, and that’s fine. We make up for that crazy in different ways – like expanding a layout that’s supposed to be physically impossible to expand. Wait, how’s that possible? Well like scoring a 3-pointer with your eyes closed, it kind of just happens. So now that you’ve done the impossible, broken all natural barriers, and somehow added an extra ten feet of track to your layout, it’s time to bring some goodies into the mix.
And while the MPC Madness promotion is for freight cars, I couldn’t help but include some of the era’s most iconic releases. This week’s pick features underdogs and favorites, some items you know very well, and some that might just make that shock run, and wind up on your layouts! So let’s see which lucky bunch get to ‘cut the nets’ this week as we roll into my MPC Madness picks of the week!
Lionel 6-7811 O Gauge Dr. Pepper Boxcar
Remember how I’d mentioned there’d be an underdog amongst this week’s picks? Well, here it is – the Lionel Dr.Pepper boxcar! “But, this is actually a popular car” you’re probably saying to yourself, and you’re right. What makes this boxcar an underdog is its competition that we’ll get to later. For now we’ll focus on this Cinderella journey entering the tourney. Originally introduced in the late 70s during the MPC era’s prime, this Dr.Pepper boxcar from Lionel was part of the "Soda Pop Road" Boxcar series from the 70s that showcased a variety of your favorite beverages on Lionel boxcars. Breaking from the traditional look of rolling stock, I’ve decided to go with an O-Gauge piece from the MPC era that’s got plenty of flair with a detailed look, and it’s filled with delicious soda! Well the second part isn’t true, but a guy can wish, right? And don’t worry, if Dr.Pepper isn’t your flavor, we’ve got plenty to choose from with drinks like Pepsi, Orange Crush, and much more!
Item Info:
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 6-7811
Years Manufactured: 1977 - 1978
Road Name: Dr. Pepper
Scale/Era: O MPC
Lionel 6-8002 O Gauge Union Pacific Berkshire 2-8-4 Steam Locomotive & Tender
Oh baby, make some room for one of the tournament favorites! This isn’t my pick to win it all (that one is coming), but it’s sure got a shot! This O-Gauge 2-8-4 Steam locomotive sporting the Union Pacific road name from Lionel is one of the MPC era’s giants! Originally released in 1980, this die-cast Berkshire piece was a no-brainer for me thanks to the color scheme alone. Becoming a favorite because of its smooth ride, I personally fell in love with the break from the conventional black color scheme in favor of this sleek 2-tone white/black design and crisp yellow striping throughout the body. I picked this Berkshire piece to go far in the tournament, and I don’t think it’ll disappoint. You’ll find the listing for the locomotive pictured above here, but if you’re looking for more MPC steam locomotives, you’ll love the selection we have on our website!
Product Info:
Manufacturer: Lionel
Road name: Union Pacific (UP)
Scale/Era: O MPC
Model Type: Steam Loco
Model Number: 6-8002
Years Manufactured: 1980 - 1980
Lionel 6-8606 Boston & Albany 4-6-4 Hudson Steam Locomotive & Tender
Make some room for the tournament favorite! It’s tough to bet against this giant and for good reason. Released in 1986 right at the end of the MPC era, Lionel made sure to end the era with a bang! Arguably one of the most popular locomotives ever released during the MPC era, the O-Gauge Boston & Albany 4-6-4 Hudson Steam Locomotive stepped onto the court and wasted little time scoring buckets. With its historical precedence and true-to-original design, this was one of Lionel’s finest models released during the MPC era. The Hudson has stood the test of time as well, with the 4-6-4 still being one of the most sought after models on the market.
The Hudson 4-6-4 has rolled its way through several different eras, but it’s the MPC model that is my personal favorite. Yeah, this is your safe bet for the tournament, and for good reason. We tend to have a really hard time keeping the Hudsons on our shelves. Check out some of our MPC Hudsons here!
I’ve also got a spotlight piece you can find on our community section over at Trainz.com that does a deep dive into the J-Class series of Hudson Locomotives if you’re interested in learning more about this historic locomotive.
Product Info:
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 6-8606
Years Manufactured: 1986 - 1986
Road Name: Boston & Albany
Scale/Era: O MPC
Model Type: Steam Loco
Lionel 6-8773 Mickey Mouse U36B Diesel Locomotive
Here’s the underdog we didn’t see coming. One of my favorite aspects of the MPC era was the addition of different licensed companies on locomotives and freight cars. Everybody from Disney to Coke was excited to get some branding on boxcars and locomotives, and in the process would wind up cranking out some really neat models. I couldn’t resist including the Mickey Mouse Express from Lionel in the MPC Madness tournament. This U36B diesel locomotive features one of pop culture’s most iconic characters, and Disney’s #1 mascot Mickey Mouse on full display on the center of the shell. Oh and take a look at the cab, Lionel even decided to include Mickey’s best pals, Donald and Goofy in on the action as well. With the growing rise in popularity for MPC, and Disney still being the media powerhouse it is, it’s no surprise that this diesel locomotive may just squeak into the final!
Product Info:
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 6-8773
Years Manufactured: 1977 - 1978
Road Name: Disney
Scale/Era: O MPC
Model Type: Diesel Loco
The Disney Run isn’t over just yet…
Lionel 6-9672 Disney Mickey Mouse 50th Anniversary Car
MPC Madness is a promotion centered around freight cars, but I don’t want to throw just any run-of-the-mill freight car into this tournament. So I’m making a special exception here by coupling this boxcar with the Disney locomotive mentioned earlier onto the same team. I mean they’re wearing the same Disney jersey, so it only makes sense right? This Disney boxcar comes from the original Mickey Mouse Set released during the late 1970s. They’ve become increasingly harder to find thanks to the rise in demand for MPC products, and the fact that it’s carrying the Disney name makes it irresistible for all of the Disney-Heads out there. This boxcar celebrates the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, but with the way things are going, it may be celebrating a Finals Championship with its diesel locomotive teammate. Plus, Disney locomotive? Disney boxcar? I had to pair the two!
Product Info:
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 6-9672
Years Manufactured: 1978 - 1978
Road Name: Disney
Scale/Era: O MPC
Model Type: Freight Cars
If you’re looking for more Disney boxcars and locomotives – check out our inventory, there’s so many iconic characters to choose from!
Lionel 6-8801 O Gauge Blue Comet 4-6-4 Steam Locomotive & Tender
Now it’s time to introduce the ‘Bracket-Buster.’ This is the team that can show up on any given day, beat the favorite, end the Cinderella story, and walk away with a title like it was written in the script. It’s the team nobody wants to play, and for good reason. That team is spearheaded by the famous “Blue Comet.”
The Blue Comet Limited 4-6-4 Powered Steam Locomotive saw a production run that lasted from 1978 to 1980, and instantly became a fan favorite. Reading this, you’ve probably realized that I love breaking from conventional black color schemes in favor of more ‘fun’ designs. The Blue Comet is sporting one of those fun designs, and I can’t get enough of it too.
One of the MPC era’s greatest models, the Blue Comet is a favorite for collectors that aren’t just looking for MPC models. Honestly, I don’t blame them. With the 100 year anniversary coming up for the Blue Comet in 2029, I thought I’d get the party started early….a few years early. But I bet you’re happy I did. Head over to Trainz.com if you want to take a look at this powerhouse for yourself.
Product Info:
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 6-8801
Years Manufactured: 1978 - 1980
Road Name: Central of New Jersey (CNJ/JCL)
Scale/Era: O MPC
Model Type: Steam Loco
Take your Pick!
Now that we’re in the full swing of MPC Madness, I hope some of these picks made your bracket selection a little easier. The MPC era is back on the rise, and at Trainz.com we’re always adding plenty of great MPC models onto our shelves. But please, don’t just take it from me, and be sure to have a look for yourself on Trainz.com, I promise you’ll have a great time shopping for tournament favorites.