Deluxe Innovations - 350504 - Container Car, Articulated Well, Gunderson Maxi-Stack IV - Massachusetts Central - 5267

Model Information: This product from Deluxe Innovations features 3-unit articulated double-stack well cars for container transportation.

Prototype History: Intermodal container service is one of the most popular types of freight service on rails today. The Maxi-Stack IV car is the mainstay of the U.S. domestic double-stack car fleet. Providing an optimum balance between tare weight and capacity, the Gunderson Maxi-Stack IV is a 3-unit articulated double-stack car that can handle containers from 20-foot to 53-foot long in the well and containers 40-foot to 57-foot in the top, or double-stacked, position. As of a result of its versatility and sturdy construction, the Maxi-Stack IV is now the mainstay of the U.S. domestic double-stack fleet. The popularity of this car on North American rails is underscored by its popularity with model railroaders today!

Road Name History: MCER was chartered in 1975 in the build up to the creation of Conrail. In 1979, they began operating under the Massachusetts Central name a route between Palmer and South Barre, Massachusetts on former Boston & Maine and Boston & Albany track. The line is about 29 miles long.

Mass Central’s claim to fame is a Customs bonded inland intermodal terminal in Palmer opened in 1984. When combined with trackage rights on Central Vermont (now New England Central) MCER provides friendly connections to CN, CSX, and Canadian Pacific for long haul intermodal traffic to New England. They also have two large bulk transfer terminals.

During the 1990’s MCER leased a sizable fleet of double stack cars to serve the Palmer terminal. Twinstacks, and All-Purpose Maxi-III’s were painted in full MassCentral dress, with “America’s Intermodal Shortline” on some wells.

MCER’s diesel fleet long consisted of a pair of rebuilt geeps and a rare NW5. They have recently been joined by a pair of GP38-2’s in a Boston & Maine inspired paint scheme.

Brand/Importer Information: DeLuxe Innovations is a "wholesale manufacturer" of model trains. We manufacture scale replica train models and sell them to hobby shops and distributors worldwide. 2013 marked the 20 year anniversary of DeLuxe Innovations brand trains. There are over 25 body styles in our product line and all of the cars in our single and multi-car packs have different road numbers. DeLuxe Innovations, Inc. is owned by Dave Ferrari, founder of Squeak N Products. We are located in Midland Park, New Jersey. When Dave purchased the business it was located in Burbank, California which would have been a bit of a long commute so the move to the East Coast was planned. Our first East Coast location was in Whippany, NJ along the Whippany River.

The business was started in 1993 by George Johnsen and Roberta Liebreich in Burbank, California. They had a philosophy that just wouldn't allow using a coal car as a "stand in" for a woodchip car, or printing any and all boxcar paint schemes on a PS-1. Starting with the release of the first ever etched metal parts for a ready to run car (1994's Twinstack's metal walkways) through the full dimension underframe and etched metal roofwalk (1996's 1944 AAR Boxcar) to the challenging RoadRailer system (2000), our products have been accurate to target the modeler or enthusiast.

You can also follow DeLuxe on Twitter