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.

Kato has chosen to produce the MHC-2, which has not yet been available as a mass-produced N-Scale model. It will be offered only in Phase III striping as this is the only scheme the cars are known to carry at this time.