Amtrak uses two types of Material Handling Cars. They are known by modelers as MHC-1 and MHC-2. The original 1400-series MHC-1 cars were built by Thrall in 1986 utilizing rebuilt trucks from former REA express cars with a short wheelbase.
In 1989 Amtrak began receiving a second version of the MHC, the MHC-2, which carry road numbers in the 1500-series. These cars differed in some notable ways. The trucks were a new design that had a longer wheelbase and a body snubber anchor mounted on the sides of the car above each truck. These two details are the most obvious differences between the two car series, however the body and roof are entirely different from the earlier cars.
Models are factory equipped with Kato's Magnetic Knuckle Coupler and trucks that have pickup contacts for installation of and aftermarket End-of-Train, sold separately.
In 1989 Amtrak began receiving a second version of the MHC, the MHC-2, which carry road numbers in the 1500-series. These cars differed in some notable ways. The trucks were a new design that had a longer wheelbase and a body snubber anchor mounted on the sides of the car above each truck. These two details are the most obvious differences between the two car series, however the body and roof are entirely different from the earlier cars.
Models are factory equipped with Kato's Magnetic Knuckle Coupler and trucks that have pickup contacts for installation of and aftermarket End-of-Train, sold separately.