New Product Announcement: 2-8-8-2 Mallet Steam Locomotive
Optional Sound/DCC
Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power
Estimated Delivery:  May/June 2009

HO-Scale model shown for illustration purposes.  N-Scale model details will vary.

Prototype Information:

First built for the Southern Pacific in 1909 to tame its tough western grades, the 2-8-8-2 articulated Mallet soon caught the attention of roads facing similar problems. In 1910, Norfolk and Western ordered five 2-8-8-2s (Class Y-1) similar to the SP models from Baldwin. By 1918, lessons learned from the first group led to an improved version, the Y-2; with minor changes to the cylinders, these became Class Y-2a, which served as the basis for the United States Railway Administration (USRA) 2-8-8-2. Although delivered too late for the war effort, the N&W received 50 of the USRA engines in 1919, which it classified as Y-3. In 1923 another 30 were ordered with larger tenders (Y-3a), followed by 10 more in 1927 fitted with feedwater heaters. During World War II, several Y-3s were sold to various western railroads that were desperate to ease motive power shortages. Although well suited to coal-hauling duties in the Appalachians, the big articulated proved too slow for most of their new owners and they were retired or sold following the war. At home, Y-3s remained in service until 1958.

Model Information:

● Now Available With or Without Quantum(R) Sound & DCC* ● Traction Tires for Superior Pulling Power ● Electrical Pickup on Loco & Tender ● Railroad-Specific Details ● Accumate(R) Knuckle Couplers ● Flywheel Equipped for Smooth Operation ● Constant Intensity & Directional Headlights ● RP-25 Wheels Operate on Code 55 or Larger Rail ● Heavy Diecast, Split-Frame Chassis ● Five-Pole Skew-Wound Motor
 
*Sound can be operated with standard DC power pack or DCC controllers. Sound features include: Exhaust, Whistle, Bell, Squealing Brakes, Doppler Effect, Air Let Off (in neutral), Turbo Generator Whine, and Trailer to mute whistle and bell for double heading

DISCOUNT: ALL RESERVATIONS RECEIVE 25% OFF M.S.R.P.

This is a limited production run.  All reservations need to be received by Wednesday January 7th, 2008 in order to obtain this model.  Reservations will close after that date.

New Product Announcement: USRA 0-8-0 Steam Locomotive Second Run!
Estimated Delivery:  February 2008

Prototype Information:

By 1917, the arrival of larger and much heavier freight cars had pushed most 0-6-0 designs to their limits. Realizing that railroads needed bigger and more powerful switchers to handle these modern cars, the United States Railway Administration developed plans for an all-new 0-8-0. Up-to-date in all respects, these big switchers were the equals in power of many road freight locomotives from just a few years earlier! Unlike some USRA designs, the 0-8-0 was well liked by the railroads that received it; 175 were completed before government control ended in 1920. But the USRA 0-8-0's ultimate success came in the years that followed as the USRA design was eventually copied by 35 different roads. In fact, the last new steam locos built in the US were a series of 0-8-0s, constructed by the N&W in 1951-53 that followed the general outline of the decades-old USRA design!

Model Information:

● All-New Model ● All Drivers Geared ● Traction Tires for Superior Pulling Power ● All-Wheel Electrical Pickup on Loco & Tender ● DCC Ready - Socket in Tender ● Railroad-Specific Details ● Accumate(R) Knuckle Couplers ● Flywheel Equipped for Smooth Operation ● Constant Intensity & Directional Headlights ● RP-25 Contour Wheels - Operate on Code 55 or Larger Rail ● Heavy Diecast, Split-Frame Chassis ● Five-Pole Skew-Wound Motor

DISCOUNT: ALL RESERVATIONS RECEIVE 25% OFF M.S.R.P.

This is a limited production run.  All reservations need to be received by

This is a limited production run.  All reservations need to be received by Wednesday October 31, 2007 in order to obtain this model.  Reservations will close after that date.