Discover the World of Lionel MPC Era Video Blog

In this video blog I talk about the Lionel MPC era. I also talk about my traditional O Gauge layout that is dedicated to all of the MPC era trains I had as a kid.
DISCLAIMER: This KZbin video is not intended for anyone under 14 years of age. This video may include the use of small parts, dangerous tools, electrical items, glues, paints, explosive fuels, hot boiling water, figures displayed in a way not intended for all viewing audiences or displays something which requires a accompanying adult or is not based on kids theme content.
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[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Hi Shawn! People who look down their noses at General Mills / MPC era trains should stop and think. If it wasn't for General Mills taking the chance on Lionel there'd be no Lionel today, the line would have died out long ago and who knows if anyone would have picked up the O gauge system? I've scored some good MPC stuff myself. I got VERY lucky and found a complete "Spirit of '76" series set at a Greenberg show several years ago, and at a VERY good price. All good quality and very colorful! Besides, I remember the Bicentennial of 1976, so it's a great "souvenir!"

[@Dakman]

Nice to see others enjoy MPC as well

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@Dakman Maybe we should keep quiet about it so the prices don't skyrocket?

[@harryhenninglll117]

Great video on the MPC. Yes many don't know how many of those parts are the same that saved many of the post war trains. As you know I have a very large collection of MPC in my collection from the good to the worst of there years. They made some of the best series of cars. Like all the manufacturers product cars. Witch have great colors. Even the fast food cars and beer cars. Some of these series of cars they have still made cars today to go with the old sets.

[@Dakman]

Thanks much

[@N_scale]

Very helpful video. I have been buying Williams mostly starting up in O gauge and I want a Penn central gg1 and I think I will try a mpc one

[@Coreyt1976]

Great video. I love my MPC Blue Comet set. I’m definitely going to buy more MPC. Now I see that I should get tubular track for it. Thanks for the info.

[@Dakman]

Yes the biggest mistake people make when buying MPC is to try and run it on FastTrack, Gargraves, or Atlas O. For the magnetraction to work properly it needs tubular track.

[@jkorling]

@@Dakman No engines came with Magnetraction during the MPC era until around 1978 when they introduced the Blue Comet and Southern Crescent sets, followed by the re-introduction of the FM Train Master and the 1st FARR train set, and the GG1. From that period to the end of the MPC era, it was limited to high-end locomotives the rest either had traction tires or no traction tires at all, so for the majority of MPC products, it wouldn't matter to much which track system was used.

[@tonyarsenault4256]

Shawn we must be about the same age because I have no nostalgia for Postwar but MPC was my generation when I was a kid growing up through the 70s / 80s Lots of fun to collect and run !

[@Dakman]

It sounds like it lol

[@tinytowntrainstv]

Excellent and important info and history, Shawn! I have had both post war and mpc, and while the older post war is definitely better built, the late 60s and early 70s post war trains were cheaper in quality, on average, than the later mpc trains. Thanks. T4

[@Dakman]

You are welcome

[@tinytowntrainstv]

@@Dakman Thank you for all your do, Shawn! I appreciate you! T4

[@DS75921]

Pre and postwar locomotives pulling MPC rolling stock for me

[@johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards]

I can relate to your "growing up in the MPC era" comments. Couldn't tell you how many Revell models I put together, while running my MPC Rock Island steam engine on O27 track. For Christmas one year, I got a Chessie GP-9 and Santa Fe GP-20 instead of a dirt bike. My dad's post-War Illinois Central F3 diesel fit well enough for me. I embrace Lionel MPC as part of my childhood.

[@Dakman]

Thanks for your story. MPC was a great era for me as well

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

I've completed top figure eight yesterday with 027 Track.Had the Fastrack figure Eight for some time.Love your bottom level.

[@Dakman]

Thanks much for watching

[@paulmatulavich7321]

Born in 1953, I am a postwar Lionel purist, but I have much respect for the many fine trains Lionel made in the MPC era. To each their own.

[@Dakman]

Yeah I agree each to their own.

[@kingjulian9496]

Nothing wrong with the mpc era. Some were good some werent. If it wasnt for moc lionel wouldn't be here today. However,....they do make great kitbashing products. Just saying.

[@Dakman]

Thanks for watching and your comments

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Thanks for sharing

[@Dakman]

You are welcome

[@kevinstern6797]

MPC was my era too. Kid in the ‘70s. Lionel Silver Star set was my 1st Lionel train set. Christmas 1972. $25 from Target. Sound Of Steam Pennsylvania steam locomotive. Figure 8 layout. Got the Lionel Golden State Arrow set for Christmas 1975. My fav. Best Christmas present. Santa Fe GP-20 diesel. Lighted caboose. Huge layout. 2 remote switches. Uncoupling track. $75. Got the matching GP-20 dummy unit with the horn. Added a block signal, crossing gate. Christmas 1978 got Amtrak Lakeshore Limited set. Have Pabst, Miller, & Schlitz beer reefer cars.

[@Dakman]

Wow, sounds like you have a nice selection of MPC

[@huntercoleman460]

Beautiful MPC collection Shawn. I love the MPC era too. That and the Kughn era are my favorite eras of Lionel.

[@Dakman]

I grew up during the MPC era years

[@exot_gamook]

Lionel MPC is a very misunderstood era. In the very beginning of the MPC era, it was not comparable to the Lionel Postwar era. However, once they got rolling around 1976, they were fantastic, especially the steam engines such as the Great Northern, Chessie System, Southern & Southern Crescent, Nickel Plate Road, NY Central & the Boston & Albany. The Dual motor F3's ( Burlington, Southern, New Haven,) & FM Units(Virginian, Southern) are great pullers & Lookers. If you know what to buy, MPC is a winner!

[@Dakman]

Yes I totally agree

[@jkorling]

Great video and layout. I myself grew up during the MPC era so that's what I was exposed to in my formative years, although my grandmother did keep a postwar Texas Special set at her house that I'd break out and run once in a while. One correction about your Preamble Express F3: The Preamble Express was released by Lionel MPC in 1975 but it would be 7 years later (1982) before F3s started getting offered with Magnatraction. So up until then, F3s came with traction tires, as did pretty much all of MPC era locomotives. So if yours has Magnetraction, chances are it's probably using a late-50s - 1960s era F3 frame and power truck, or at least a postwar power truck swapped on an MPC frame. Magnatraction itself was completely absent in MPC's product line until around 1978 with the introduction of the Southern Crescent & Blue Comet sets, and the FM Train Master the following year and the GG1, so it was mostly confined to the higher-end train sets while mid- and low-range sets and locomotives just had traction tires. So you could say that Magnatraction was not prevalent during the MPC/modern era, so the type of track being used was not really relevant unless you had any of those higher-end sets that started coming out in the late 70s. Atlas O also offered solid steel track so Magnatraction will work with that track. Ditto Lionel's Super O from the postwar period.

[@Dakman]

Thanks much for the comments and watching the video

[@tyhigh1223]

I hear the "sound o beans" lol Nice video

[@georgebenson6036]

I have quite a few MPC single motor diesels. I operate mine in pairs with the E units locked down in one direction. It seems to work pretty well. Good video.

[@Dakman]

Thanks much. Yeah you can just lock out the E units and use a couple of MPC locomotives.

[@josephsantos6063]

Love it

[@Dakman]

Thanks much

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

6️⃣0️⃣3️⃣🚂😎. 🚂❤️awsum video ❤️🚂👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Dakman]

Thanks much

[@justinvernal]

The good the bad the ugly👌🇺🇸

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

I just fell in love with your MPC Penn Central GG1 and caboose. I like how you did all the Penn Central green cars on your consist. 😊

[@Dakman]

Glad you like them! I always said it's something that should have been offered as a set during the MPC Era

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Yes, I completely agree with you. I have two very sentimental MPC train sets that I’m planning on doing two separate videos on. Would you mind if I dedicate that them to you and your channel. Because I feel the same way about MPC as you do. Don’t get me wrong I love postwar. But I also have a special place in my heart for MPC because of my father and my grandmother from my mother’s side. 😊

[@Dakman]

@@TwistedMacGyversTrains Yes that sounds great. I never knew much about post war and I grew up with MPC. So I will always pick MPC era trains over the post war.

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Shawn, I love your MPC era platform. You should do a live event and just run your old platform. Great video! 😊

[@Dakman]

That's a great idea!

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

So you will do it for me? 😊😊 I don’t mind if you tell everyone I asked for it in fact I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks Shawn!!!

[@Dakman]

@@TwistedMacGyversTrains I sorta backed away from live events at this time but I could do a special video where I welcome people to my MPC traditional layout instead of Conahey Rail.

[@huntercoleman460]

I can only imagine what your mom said about the tobacco car Shawn.

[@Dakman]

She was not happy. But it didn't influence me to take up smoking like she thought it would.

[@greyso-gaugerailroad6019]

Another video from the Conrail God himself lol

[@Dakman]

Thanks much

[@jasonbrown4239]

I have tons of mpc was my first set still runs strong and I don't mind the sizes I love them and so does my nephew

[@Dakman]

MPC trains are alot of fun

[@jasonbrown4239]

@@Dakman yes and we don't have a lot of money my nephew heart problems my and I have my own health problems we did just loose some train's from a basement flood but I fix broken trains like I got a free train fro the one lady it sat outside in a plastic box for yrs git all rusted most the paint. Came off I cleaned the up got the engine working and repainted it fir us Guess what look s good to us might not be worth anything but runs and looks good and we have fun we get alot if broken stuff things missing parts but hey we work with it even made some zombie cars from some realy junk train cars only thing that sucks is this yr wasent Abel to get anything because of me being in and out the hospital but we have fun

[@robderham1958]

Enjoyed your video. Like you, my experience with Lionel began with MPC, 1972 DT&I Yard Master Set, $27.00 from Toys R Us, best Christmas ever. A family friend had postwar Christmas display every year, featuring a post war turbine set. As a kid, I noticed the cheaper quality of my set compared to his. I still liked mine, however. I also liked the colors of the MPC product offerings. I recall trying to get my dad to invest in a new, MPC Blue Comet set, which was available for $125 from Murry D. Klein, I think. He said no! That was in 1975. I recently purchased this set new, the engine on Ebay, the cars from Trainz, and the total was a lot more than $125! Lastly, you mentioned Christmas memories with MPC. Well, you bring up some of my best memories ever. Thanks.

[@Dakman]

Nice story and you are welcome

[@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125]

Yea MPC has a following. Almost cult like seen some collectors at shows, I jumped in on a deal, got smacked I didn't think anyone wanted it at the time.

[@Dakman]

Thanks for your feedback

[@spacetruckerrob]

Great to see you Shawn! I also started with MPC with a Southern Express set from 1974 ! Still running! Gratings from South Texas!

[@Dakman]

Hello and thanks for watching

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

🚂❤️. Great layout. Luv the little 27’gauge train 🚂❤️👍👍👍👍👍

[@Dakman]

Thanx much. The 027 set is my original one from when I was a kid in 1976

[@rayatgoldenleafrailroad7028]

Love the upper figure 8 track 🚂love Mpc thanks for the video 🚂🚂🚂🚂👍

[@Dakman]

Thanks and you are welcome

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Nice!

[@Dakman]

Thanks much

[@alfonsolanzagorta5138]

GREAT VIDEO and tribute for an era and ownership thar kept Lionel alive. They also were pioneers of all the Legacy sounds whose grandpa is still the funny "Mighty Sounds of Steam". I know Mr Kughn and Neil Young among others are the makers of that comeback to greatness by Lionel, but the work, money and ideas of those guys back in the 70's and 80's deserves some credit too. Your video is an act of justice to them and gives all of us an alternative to have an o gauge model railroad at afordable cost.

[@Dakman]

Sometimes it's hard to include everything in a video but yes I wanted to honor the MPC era which I seen a few look down upon but I thought it was a great era. Some KZbin channels are buying MPC today and some of it is starting to be collectible. The Blue Comet, Chessie and Norfolk Southern J1 MPC steam locomotives are perfect examples. People are now looking for them.

[@alfonsolanzagorta5138]

@@Dakman Indeed. MPC era is going to be desirable for collectors very soon. This time is probably the last to get those pieces and others in affordable prices. I thank you for all the great advice for us in your videos.

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Another great upload you done there.

[@Dakman]

Thanks for the visit

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@Dakman Thank you very much for replying to my comment. I have a new video out now. Hope you like and share.

[@radarditti560]

Shawn you always put out good videos. Are you going to York, and will you be allowed to video the meet? I can't make it we are babysitting our 2 grandsons and with the covid precautions we have to take to keep them safe it would not be a good idea if we went .

[@Dakman]

I'm not going to the TCA in York. There are some areas that you can't shoot video or photos. I would have liked to shoot video of operating layouts but I guess the rules don't allow it

[@KandRCustomModels]

Very interesting and informative thanks

[@Dakman]

You are welcome

[@rycn1450]

Thank you for you're hard work.

[@Dakman]

You are welcome