Micro-Trains - NSC MTL Z07-12 - Boxcar, 40 Foot, Steel Double Door - New England Central - 80807

Prototype History: Steel boxcars became a common site in the post-WWII period (also known as the transition era). Steel construction resulted in a lighter, lower-maintenance car that was less expensive to acquire and operate. The economies of scale that happened during the war along with a cessation of orders from the military resulted in a plentiful, inexpensive source of metal and aluminum for the railcar manufacturers which in turn led a complete replacement of the aging wood-sheathed fleets with new steel cars.

One common variation of the ubiquitous 40 foot steel boxcar was the double-sliding door variation. This configuration allowed for easier loading and unloading of larger objects. A common use-case was automobile transportation. In the modern era, we are used to seeing huge autoracks with up to three levels of cars stacked one on top of the other, but back during the transition era, these beasts did not exist, and car were loaded onto boxcars with this special door configuration. Although this type of car was used for other bulky objects, they were frequently labeled 'Automobile' on the sides to clearly indicate to potential customers that the railroad had the capacity to transport this large bulky objects with their fleet.

Road Name History: New England Central was born in 1995 when Canadian National sold the Central Vermont to RailTex. RailTex renamed the line New England Central. In 2000, RailTex was purchased by RailAmerica which has since been combined with the Genesee & Wyoming shortline group.

NECR runs 394 miles of track from East Alburgh, Vermont on the Canadian border just south of Montreal south down the length of Vermont, through Massachusetts, to the port of New London, Connecticut. Along the way, they interchange with CN, Pan Am, Norfolk Southern, Vermont Railway, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Green Mountain, Central Maine & Quebec (recently acquired by CP,) Providence & Worcester and several shortlines.

Traffic includes animal feed, chemicals, compressed gas, construction debris, foodstuffs, fuel oil, lumber, machinery, metals, newsprint and other paper, plywood, poles, recyclables, resins, salt, and vehicles. In addition to mixed manifest traffic, NECR provides intermodal service from the Canadian border to the connection with Providence & Worcester at Willimantic, Connecticut. Between 35 and 45 EMD locomotives work the line (Genesee & Wyoming moves locomotives between their various properties as traffic patterns evolve.)

Brand/Importer 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.