Micro-Stories: The State Cars
©2006-2010 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Legal Stuff
Love it or hate it-- and there's not been all that much middle ground-- the State Car Special Edition series has been, by far, the most ambitious SE program in the entire history of Micro-Trains Line, going all the way back to 1972. Dwarfing the "Bicentennial" series, a mere fourteen releases produced in 1975 and 1976, this collection of rolling stock honored all fifty United States and also included a pair of FT locomotives and a caboose. Additional "member only" cars from the N Scale Collector's Society made by MTL in the same "look and feel" supplemented the main series; we've got those NSC cars included here as well.

Aided by a substantial marketing push in the second half of 2002, the first car in the group, January 2003's Illinois was a very quick sellout and jumped quickly to a high aftermarket premium. The second and third cars, California and New York, also command significant aftermarket values at times, but the Illinois is the key car in the series. Most of the other regular run cars, though becoming a bit harder to find, generally do not yet have any consistent premiums above the original prices. The NSC cars, though, can and do sell for more than they cost members (a combination of the price of belonging to the NSC and the price of the car itself over and above that).

The series has already been through two catalog number changes in its history. Originally, the catalog numbers were by tens as is the practice for most MTL freight car releases. It was probably noted very quickly that the 21000's would have been almost out of numbers by the time that was completed-- the group would have ended at 21810!-- so a switch to single digit increments began with the South Dakota release, 21371. That would have ended the numbering at 21419, except that the eight digit catalog numbers began in January 2005 with West Virginia, 021 00 386.

Starting in July 2008, Z Scale versions of the State Cars are to be issued. Please refer to the alphabetical listing here to view the release sequence, which will not be the same as with the N Scale releases-- other than the Illinois car which opened the Z Scale series in July 2008. The images below are ordered by the sequence of N Scale releases... sorry, but they were done first! Note also that The N Scale Collector's Society will be issuing their "almost a state" cars in Z Scale as well, beginning with the District of Columbia.

If you'd like to see when your state was issued, jump here to see a table of the states in alphabetical order with the N Scale Release information.

With most images provided through the kind courtesy of Micro-Trains Line, here is the rundown of the state series by date of issuance.

N Scale Release #1 / January, 2003
Catalog Number 21320 - MSRP $19.85
Illinois
Z Scale Release #1 / July, 2008
Catalog Number 501 00 501 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #2 / February, 2003
Catalog Number 21330 - MSRP $19.85
California
N Scale Release #3 / March, 2003
Catalog Number 21340 - MSRP $19.85
New York
N Scale Release #4 / April, 2003
Catalog Number 21350 - MSRP $19.85
North Carolina
Z Scale Release #42 / January, 2012
Catalog Number 501 00 542 - MSRP $22.95
NSC Number 03-01 - NSC Membership Car 2003
Released Approximately April, 2003
(Not available to general public)
District of Columbia
Z Scale "Almost A State" Release, 2009
(Not available to general public)
N Scale Release #5 / June, 2003
Catalog Number 21360 - MSRP $19.85
Minnesota
Z Scale Release #31 / January, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 531 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #6 / July, 2003
Catalog Number 21370 - MSRP $19.85
Massachusetts
N Scale Release #7 /October, 2003
Catalog Number 21371 - MSRP $19.85
South Dakota
N Scale Release #8 / November, 2003
Catalog Number 21372 - MSRP $19.85
Alabama
Z Scale Release #15 / September, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 515 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #9 / December, 2003
Catalog Number 21373 - MSRP $19.85
Missouri
Z Scale Release #19 / January, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 519 - MSRP $22.95

Catalog Number 987 01 501 - MSRP $97.50
USA FT A Diesel Locomotive
Released December, 2003
N Scale Release #10 / January, 2004

Catalog Number 21374 - MSRP $19.85
Texas
Z Scale Release #3 / September, 2008
Catalog Number 501 00 503 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #11 / February, 2004

Catalog Number 21375 - MSRP $19.85
Kentucky
Z Scale Release #16 / October, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 516 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #12 / March, 2004
Catalog Number 21376 - MSRP $19.85
New Mexico
Z Scale Release #27 / September, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 527 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #13 / April, 2004
Catalog Number 21377 - MSRP $19.85
Maryland
Z Scale Release #28 / October, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 528 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #14 / May, 2004
Catalog Number 21378 - MSRP $19.85
South Carolina
Z Scale Release #12 / June, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 512 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #15 / June, 2004
Catalog Number 21379 - MSRP $19.85
Wyoming
Z Scale Release #17 / November, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 517 - MSRP $22.95
Catalog Number 987 02 501 - MSRP $95.50
USA FT B Diesel Locomotive
Released July, 2004
N Scale Release #16 / July, 2004
Catalog Number 21380 - MSRP $19.85
Iowa
Z Scale Release #24 / June, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 524 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #17 / August, 2004
Catalog Number 21381 - MSRP $19.85
Arizona
N Scale Release #18 / September, 2004
Catalog Number 21382 - MSRP $19.85
New Jersey
N Scale Release #19 / October, 2004
Catalog Number 21383 - MSRP $19.85
Arkansas
Z Scale Release #35 / June, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 535 - MSRP $22.95
NSC Number 04-72 - NSC Members Only Car (Purchase)
Released Approximately October, 2004
US Virgin Islands
N Scale Release #20 / November, 2004
Catalog Number 21384 - MSRP $19.85
Oregon
Z Scale Release #14 / August, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 514 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #21 / December, 2004
Catalog Number 21385 - MSRP $19.85
Louisiana
Z Scale Release #32 / March, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 532 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #22 / January, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 386 - MSRP $19.85
West Virginia
Z Scale Release #40 / November, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 540 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #23 / February, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 387 - MSRP $19.85
Wisconsin
Z Scale Release #10 / April, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 510 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #24 / March, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 388 - MSRP $19.85
Alaska
Z Scale Release #5 / November, 2008
Catalog Number 501 00 505 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #25 / April, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 389 - MSRP $19.85
Ohio
Z Scale Release #26 / August, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 526 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #26 / May, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 390 - MSRP $19.85
Nebraska
Z Scale Release #22 / April, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 522 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #27 / June, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 391 - MSRP $19.85
Utah

Catalog Number 100 00 240 - MSRP $19.85
Released July, 2005
USA Caboose
N Scale Release #28 / August, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 392 - MSRP $19.85
Tennessee
N Scale Release #29 / September, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 393 - MSRP $19.85
Washington
Z Scale Release #2 / August, 2008
Catalog Number 501 00 502 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #30 / October, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 394 - MSRP $19.85
Maine
Z Scale Release #21 / March, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 521 - MSRP $22.95
NSC Number 05-04 - NSC Members Only Car (Purchase)
Released Approximately October, 2005
Guam
N Scale Release #31 / November, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 395 - MSRP $19.85
Michigan
Z Scale Release #37 / August, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 537 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #32 / December, 2005
Catalog Number 021 00 396 - MSRP $19.85
Kansas
Z Scale Release #7 / January, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 507 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #33 / January, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 397 - MSRP $19.85
Florida
Z Scale Release #41 / December, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 541 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #34 / Released February, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 398 - MSRP $19.85
Idaho
Z Scale Release #39 / October, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 539 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #35 / March, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 399 - MSRP $19.85
Hawaii
Z Scale Release #20 / February, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 520 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #36 / April, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 400 - MSRP $19.85
Colorado
Z Scale Release #33 / April, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 533 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #37 / May, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 401 - MSRP $19.85
Mississippi
Z Scale Release #23 / May, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 523 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #38 / June, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 402 - MSRP $19.85
Vermont
Z Scale Release #25 / July, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 525 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #39 / July, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 403 - MSRP $19.85
Indiana
Z Scale Release #13 / July, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 513 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #40 / August, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 404 - MSRP $19.85
New Hampshire
Z Scale Release #9 / March, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 509 - MSRP $22.95
NSC Number 06-02 - NSC Members Only Car (Purchase)
Released September, 2006
Puerto Rico
N Scale Release #41 / September, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 405 - MSRP $19.85
North Dakota
Z Scale Release #34 / May, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 534 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #42 / October, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 406 - MSRP $19.85
Virginia
Z Scale Release #6 / December, 2008
Catalog Number 501 00 506 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #43 / Released November, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 407 - MSRP $19.85
Nevada
Z Scale Release #11 / May, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 511 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #44 / December, 2006
Catalog Number 021 00 408 - MSRP $19.85
Georgia
Z Scale Release #4 / October, 2008
Catalog Number 501 00 504 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #45 / January, 2007
Catalog Number 021 00 409 - MSRP $19.85
Rhode Island
Z Scale Release #36 / July, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 536 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #46 / February, 2007
Catalog Number 021 00 410 - MSRP $19.85
Pennsylvania
N Scale Release #47 / March, 2007
Catalog Number 021 00 411 - MSRP $19.85
Oklahoma
Z Scale Release #29 / November, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 529 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #48 / April, 2007
Catalog Number 021 00 412 - MSRP $19.85
Connecticut
Z Scale Release #38 / September, 2011
Catalog Number 501 00 538 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #49 / May, 2007
Catalog Number 021 00 413 - MSRP $19.85
Montana
Z Scale Release #8 / February, 2009
Catalog Number 501 00 508 - MSRP $22.95
N Scale Release #50 / July, 2007
Catalog Number 021 00 414 - MSRP $19.85
Delaware
Z Scale Release #30 / December, 2010
Catalog Number 501 00 530 - MSRP $22.95
NSC Number 07-02 - NSC Members Only Car (Purchase)
October, 2007
American Samoa
Z Scale States of the Union GP-9 Diesel - July, 2009
Catalog 982 01 019 - MSRP $185.95
NSC Number 08-02 - NSC Members Only Car (Purchase)
October, 2008
Northern Mariana Islands
NSC Number 09-01 - NSC Membership Car 2009
March, 2009
Wake Island
NSC Number 09-02 - NSC Members Only Car (Purchase)
October, 2009
Midway Islands
Z Scale States of the Union Caboose
Catalog 535 00 310 - MSRP $24.90

Releases, State By State

The table below shows the states (and territories) listed alphabetically, so that you can check for a state of interest at a glance for both N Scale and Z Scale releases. The Z Scale releases began in July, 2008 so it will be a while before they are completed.
State N Scale Catalog
Number		 Rel Date Rel # Z Scale Catalog
Number		 Rel Date Rel #
Alabama 21372 Nov 200308502 00 515Sep 200915
Alaska 021 00 388Mar 200524502 00 505Nov 200805
American Samoa NSC 07-02 Sep 2007**
Arkansas 21383 Oct 200419502 00 535Jun 201135
Arizona 21381 Aug 200417
California 21330 Feb 200302
Colorado 021 00 400Apr 200636502 00 533Apr 201133
Connecticut 021 00 412Apr 200748502 00 538Sep 201138
Delaware 021 00 414Jul 200750502 00 530Dec 201030
District of ColumbiaNSC 03-01Apr 2003**NSC 2009 "Almost"2009**
Florida 021 00 397Jan 200633502 00 541Dec 201141
Georgia 021 00 408Dec 200644502 00 504Oct 200804
Guam NSC 04-72 Oct 2004**
Hawaii 021 00 399Mar 200635502 00 520Feb 201020
Idaho 021 00 398Feb 200634502 00 539Oct 201139
Illinois 21320 Jan 200301502 00 501July 200801
Indiana 021 00 403Jul 200639502 00 513July 200913
Iowa 21380 Jul 200416502 00 524June 201024
Kansas 021 00 396Dec 200532502 00 507Jan 200907
Kentucky 21375 Feb 200411502 00 516Oct 200916
Louisiana 21385 Dec 200421502 00 532Mar 201132
Maine 021 00 394Oct 200430502 00 521Mar 201021
Maryland 21377 Apr 200413502 00 528Oct 201028
Massachusetts 21370 Jul 200306
Michigan 021 00 395Nov 200531502 00 537Aug 201137
Midway Islands NSC 09-02 Oct 2009**
Minnesota 21360 Jun 200305502 00 531Jan 201131
Mississippi 021 00 401May 200637502 00 523May 201023
Missouri 21373 Dec 200309502 00 519Jan 201019
Montana 021 00 413May 200749502 00 508Feb 200908
Nebraska 021 00 390Jun 200526502 00 522Apr 201022
Nevada 021 00 407Nov 200643502 00 511May 200911
New Hampshire 021 00 404Aug 200640502 00 509Mar 200909
New Jersey 21382 Sep 200418
New Mexico 21376 Mar 200412502 00 527Sep 201027
New York 21340 Mar 200303
North Carolina 21350 Apr 200304502 00 542Jan 201242
North Dakota 021 00 405Sep 200641502 00 534May 201134
Northern Mariana IslNSC 2008Oct 2008**
Ohio 021 00 389May 200525502 00 526Aug 201026
Oklahoma 021 00 411Mar 200747502 00 529Nov 201029
Oregon 21384 Nov 200420502 00 514Aug 200914
Pennsylvania 021 00 410Feb 200746
Puerto Rico NSC 2006 Aug 2006**
Rhode Island 021 00 409Jan 200745502 00 536Jul 201136
South Carolina 21378 May 200414502 00 512Jun 200912
South Dakota 21371 Oct 200307
Tennessee 021 00 392Aug 200528
Texas 21374 Jan 200410502 00 503Sep 200803
US Virgin IslandsNSC 05-04Oct 2005**
USA FT-A Unit 987 01 501Dec 2003*
USA FT-B Unit 987 02 501Jul 2004*
USA Caboose 100 00 240Jul 2005*
Utah 021 00 391Jul 200527
Vermont 021 00 402Jun 200638502 00 525Jul 201025
Virginia 021 00 406Oct 200642502 00 506Dec 200806
Wake Island NSC 09-01 Mar 2009**
Washington 021 00 393Sep 200529502 00 502Aug 200802
West Virginia 021 00 386Jan 200522502 00 540Nov 201140
Wisconsin 021 00 387Feb 200523502 00 510Apr 200910
Wyoming 21379 Jun 200415502 00 517Nov 200917
* "USA" releases aren't being counted in the release sequence.
** N Scale Collector release not available to general public. Also, not a state!