3 Rail Fun: January 2016

Lionel MPC "GM50" Locomotive from 1974

Recently I was fortunate to receive a like-new Lionel MPC #6-8359 "GM50" locomotive from 1974 as a gift. Not only does this locomotive have historical significance in real-life railroading, but also in the history of Lionel train production, particularly in the 1970's. Plus it also presents us with an opportunity to look "under the hood" and view the typical features of a Lionel MPC diesel of the 1970's.

The Real GM50

There actually was a Chessie System diesel locomotive painted gold and numbered "GM50". In 1973 the Chessie System, a holding company overseeing the assets of the Baltimore and Ohio, Chesapeake and Ohio and Western Maryland railroads was formed. To celebrate the new corporate identity a new paint scheme of yellow, blue and vermilion and incorporating a new "Ches-C" logo was created and was applied to new EMD GP-40-2 locomotives that were then being delivered to the new railroad system. Simultaneously, EMD (the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) was celebrating it's 50th anniversary of diesel locomotive production. Since EMD was then delivering new GP-40-2 locomotives to Chessie System, and since the B&O would be celebrating its 150th anniversary as a rail carrier in 1977, it was decided that a specially-decorated locomotive would be painted to celebrate EMD's Gold Anniversary, and the B&O would be the recipient would be the B&O as part of its new locomotive order. Thus, the GM50 was created.

The short hood features
a simplified version of the
"EMD 50" logo.

MPC Sees An Opportunity

By 1970, the glory years of The Lionel Corporation had come to an end. Bankrupt, Lionel entered into an agreement with Model Products Corp, a division of General Mills, for MPC to produce Lionel trains under license. At first, MPC made due by producing retreads of Lionels' 1960's items in new paint schemes and focusing on the low-end and starter-set markets. By 1974, however, MPC began looking at the collectibles market as a new source of sales. One development in this new direction was the Spirit of '76 set featuring new tooling for a contemporary U-36-B locomotive with a prototype-inspired paint scheme, and newly-tooled wood-sided reefer cars for the Spirit of '76. Another was the GM50. Unlike the Spirit of '76, MPC did not create new tooling to represent the actual GP-40-2 locomotive, but rather chose to adapt the GM50 scheme to fit Lionel's existing GP-7 locomotive tooling. The result was a rather inexpensive gamble to target the collector market without investing in new tooling. It worked. Soon Lionel was producing commemorative and collectible trains decorated for special US Bicentennial celebrations, Burger King, Coca-Cola, Disney and others.

Locomotive Features

The GM50, like other Lionel
"Geeps", has no problem
navigating O27 curves.

Despite being targeted as a premium collector locomotive the GM50 is typical of MPC diesel locomotive production in that it lacks many features often associated with Lionel's Postwar-era trains. There is a single motor, like Lionel's Postwar "O27" GP-7's. There is no horn. There is no magnetraction, but two rubber traction tires instead. Some of the drive train uses plastic gears instead of metal. Electrical pickup is limited to a single pair of rollers on the power truck. The rear truck contains neither a motor nor electrical pickups.

The model does include front and rear headlights, operating knuckle couplers at each end, and a 3-position "E" unit for remote direction control. While the front and rear handrails are stamped steel, the side handrails are wire with plastic stanchions.

Lionel's model features a sharp
rendition of the Chessie System graphics.

In terms of pulling power, the GM50 and its MPC contemporaries are lightweights. With only a single motor and traction tires the locomotive can pull 10-12 modern freight cars on level track before the wheels begin to slip. Overall, if you are accustomed to modern locomotives with twin motors and diecast framesy ou will be disappointed. Also,the lack of any type of sound system may leave fans of modern production lacking as well. However, if you are looking for dependable, bare-bones power on a budget (most MPC era diesels may be found in excellent condition for $80 - $100) MPC models may fit the bill.

The Box

End flap of the GM50 box,

For collectors, a box can be even more valuable than the item inside. The MPC GM50 came in a red and white window box with styrofoam insert typical of the early and mid-1970's. The cellophane window is very thin and only lightly glued to the box. It is not uncommon for the window to be missing entirely after years of storage. In original packaging the locomotive should also be wrapped in a plastic sleeve. These are easily lost as well.

View of the top side of the GM50 box.

The box is decorated with illustrations of other Lionel locomotives, cars and accessories for those looking to expand their empires. Also look for the MPC / Fundimensions logos to date these items as MPC production. An item numer of 6-xxxx is also an identifier of MPC-era items.

Bottom view of the GM50 box.

Overall, these boxes provide no-nonsense packaging. Illustrations are used instead of photos. Simple red and white with blue illustrations are inexpensive but effective. A window allows you to see the item without opening the box while styrofoam provides cheap but effective protection on all but the top side.

Under The Hood

From time to time you may need to access the inner working of your locomotive for lubrication or bulb replacement. All MPC diesels of the era have similar features to those described in these photos.

- Happy Railroading!