Lionel MPC Takes A Chance - And Creates A Classic!

Episode 132: The year was 1974. Since taking over the production of Lionel Trains under license in 1970 under the Fundimensions banner, the Model products Corp (or MPC) division of General Mills had worked to gradually improve and expand the Lionel line.

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In the locomotive department, particularly among diesels, MPC had been very conservative with its diesel offerings.

That would change in 1974, as MPC would release Lionel’s first all-new diesel locomotive since 1956 - the General Electric U36B https://ebay.us/aADHHr.

The U36 was a logical choice at the time. It was the latest and highest-horsepower offering of General Electrics “Universal” series locomotives first introduced a decade before. These GE diesels, known as “U Boats” among railfans, all shared a similar appearance with only the number and placement of doors and other small details differentiating a U36 from a U33, or a U30 or a U23. Thus, with one set of tooling, MPC could reasonably recreate models from a large variety of railroads.

Also, and likely more importantly, a REAL U36B was capturing headlines in 1974. The Seaboard Coast Line, by far the largest buyer of the U36B, realized that a locomotive in an upcoming order from GE would bear the number “1776”. Seaboard, recognizing a public relations opportunity and recognizing the significance of the upcoming Bicentennial Year of the United States in 1976, ordered that the #1776 would be painted in a special commemorative patriotic paint scheme and the locomotive would tour the Seaboard Coast Line system and, later, much of the United States. Soon, nearly every US railroad had one or more locomotives painted in special bicentennial colors

Fundimensions took the plunge and decided not only to reproduce this Bicentennial U36B but also to make it the centerpiece of a commemorative set - the Spirit of 76.

In addition, the 1974 line would also feature a U36B painted in the then-new Chessie System scheme.

To save costs, the new diesel would share as many common components as possible and, in fact, the U36B model is essentially the same frame and motor assembly as a GP7 - a single pullmor motor with a traction tire. Early models featured lighted headlights and number boards at both ends, but the rear light was soon dropped.

The shell is a faithful, yet not-to-scale representation of the U36B. The body is shortened by a scale 8 feet to help accommodate O27 curves, but the cab is enlarged, to accommodate the pullmor motor. Therefore, Lionel’s U36 has a bit of a boxy look to it as compared to the prototype. Still, all of the major spotting features are present, giving it a right-sized look about it. In 1978 the shell was redesigned slightly, with the headlight on the low nosed replaced by a smooth nose.

The U36B was a hit for Lionel MPC, and the locomotive went on to head other commemorative sets, such as the #8773 Mickey Mouse Express, and #7500 for Lionel’s 75th Anniversary set in 1975. Other U36Bs of the MPC era included models painted for Union Pacific, Frisco, Burlington Northern, Illinois Central, Santa Fe, Great Northern, Northen Pacific, Southern, Reading, and Monon. Most of these road names have an available matching dummy locomotive - and some of these include horns.

As with several other Lionel products of the 20th Century, MPC’s miniature U36B was more popular than the real locomotive. In fact, the last U36B was built in 1974 just as Lionel was beginning production of theirs.

The 3600 horsepower U36B was typically used for fast freight - or in the case of Auto Train - passenger operations.

A 6-axle U36C https://ebay.us/RpNoln was also produced with 124 purchased by US railroads, including Santa Fe, Clinchfield, Erie Lackawanna, and Milwaukee Road. Lionel also produced a 6-axle U36C with versions decorated for Chessie System, Southern Pacific, and Delaware and Hudson.

So, if the railroads of the 1970s and 80s are your thing, consider adding a U36B - or U36C - to your roster.

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