Micro-Trains - NSE MTL 19-20 - Boxcar, 50 Foot, Steel - Milwaukee, Racine & Troy - 201985

Specific Item Information: Micro-Trains N scale 50-foot plug-door boxcar with short ladders and no running boards. Available exclusively from Kalmbach Hobby Store, www.KalmbachHobbyStore.com. Model Railroader 85th anniversary.

Model Information: Introduced in September of 1983 with ATSF 151900 and 151951, Micro-Trains has produced 83 different versions of this car (as of March, 2016). Body style 027 represents a 50 foot prototype "Plug" single-door Box Car. Unlike the "Sliding" door, the plug door system closes with a final inward movement (similar to most van sliding doors) that seals the door flush with the interior of the boxcar. This provides a much better seal than the sliding door boxcar. A rotating lever on the door activates a gear system to "plug" and "unplug" the door.

Unfortunately for collectors, this means that in order to accurately portray the prototype, this body style does not feature doors that actually open. All other hallmark features of Micro-Trains quality are present. This includes high quality tooling, crisp printing and the ubiquitous knuckle coupler.

Prototype History: While the 40-foot boxcar was a standard design, and it did come in different setups depending on the type of freight being transported, it was not large enough for efficient mass commodity transportation. The 50-foot boxcar made its first appearance in the 1930s and steadily grew in popularity over the years, which further improved redundancies by allowing for even more space within a given car. Today, the 50-footer remains the common boxcar size. After the second world war ended, and steel became once again readily available, steel became the go-to choice for construction of boxcars. Pullman Standard and ACF were some of the most prolific builders of these cars.

These cars came in many variations. For instance, double-doors became practical for large/wide loads, end-doors useful for very large lading such as automobiles, and interior tie-down equipment was helpful in keeping sensitive products from being damaged in-transit. In 1954 the Santa Fe developed its "Shock Control" (and later "Super Shock Control") technology for new boxcars with upgraded suspension systems to further improve the ride-quality and reduce the chance of damaging freight.

In the 1960s, the flush, "plug" style sliding door was introduced as an option that provides a larger door to ease loading and unloading of certain commodities. The tight-fitting doors are better insulated and allow a car's interior to be maintained at a more even temperature.

Road Name History: The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy Railraod (MRT) is a fictional railroad.
The MRT layout was built and is owned by Model Railroader staff. It is an HO scale, 28 x 54 feet, freelanced bridge line layout, modeling Southeastern Wisconsin in the 1980s and 1990s.
Style: walk-in
Mainline run: approx. 200 feet
Minimum radius: 36" (main)
Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 spurs
Maximum grade: 3 percent eastbound, 1.5 percent westbound (5.5 percent downgrade on staging ramp)
Benchwork: 1 x 4 open grid
Height: 493⁄4" to 671⁄2"
Roadbed: cork on 3⁄4" plywood
Track: code 83 flextrack
Scenery: plaster over cardboard webbing and Sculptamold over foam
Backdrop: painted hardboard, photo at Milwaukee Harbor and Port Marquette Yard
Control: CVP and NCE DCC (MRC on WSOR)

Read here the 1989 article of Model Railroader about the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout.

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.

Please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide