NOTE: Picture is courtesy of Kato USA

MHC Phase III cars trail the California Zephyr eastbound through Cisco, UT on April 22, 2000.

Amtrak rosters two types of MHC cars, or Material Handling Cars. They are known by modelers as MHC-1 or 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; this car has been previously offered by Con-Cor.
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 than the earlier cars. Further, there was 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.

This production of the MHC-2 will be decorated in Amtrak's Phase IV paint scheme. All cars are factory equipped with Kato's Magnetic Knuckle Coupler with fine lettering. Cars will be equipped with trucks that have pickup contacts. This will facilitate modeler installation of aftermarket End of Train / Flashing Rear End Devices (EOT/FRED). NOTE: Kato does not manufacture EOT/FRED kits.

• Build complete, multi-car consists behind the P42 "Genesis" locomotive and Superliner models with these car sets.
• Two different 2-car MHC-2 Car Sets will be available in Phase III paint schemes.
• All cars are factory equipped with the Kato fully-automatic knuckle coupler.
• All cars are finely lettered with car number and other markings.
• Cars feature the large door wheel characteristic of this class of cars.
• MHC-2 cars are equipped with trucks that have pickup contacts. This will facilitate modeler installation of aftermarket End of Train / Flashing Rear End Devices (EOT/FRED). NOTE: Kato does not manufacture EOT/FRED kits.