I believe that a Weaver Gold Edition brass locomotive offers the best value that can be found for its high quality.
Only five of the universally-acclaimed Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 4-6-4 locomotives survive today, with #2860 being the most famous. #2860 is still fully operational, occasionally pulling special passenger trains on the British Columbia Railway between Vancouver and Squamish, BC and it has made trips to Eastern Canada as well as to Los Angeles. The six drive wheels are 75" each in diameter, the steam pressure of the boiler is 275 psi, it holds 47,000 lbs of fuel and 12,000 gallons of water. Total weight is 659,000 lbs (299 tons), overall length is 90' 10". Its adhesive weight, which relates to the friction grip between the drive wheels and the rail, is an astounding 194,000 lbs. #2860 was delivered new in 1940, being one of only five oil-burning Royal Hudson 4-6-4s that were built, and it is considered one of the most beautiful North American steam locomotives ever built, in design, streamlined shape, and paint colors. |