BACHMANN SPECTRUM
HO Scale
READY-TO_RUN
4-6-2 K4 "PACIFIC" Steam Engine
PACIFIC PASSENGER
This is a DC POWERED LOCO
OUT - OF - PRODUCTION Locomotive
DISCONTINUED By the Manufacturer
PRESERVED and DEDICATED the
" OFFICIAL K4 STEAM "
LOCOMOTIVE of the PENNSYLVANIA
The two preserved K4s Nos. 1361 and " 3750 " were designated as Pennsylvania's official state steam locomotives on December 18, 1987, when Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey signed into law House Bill No. 1211.
Lettered for the:
PENNSYLVANIA
Featuring the
" PENNSYLVANIA " LOGO Paint Scheme
The unit is highly detailed
The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) K4 4-6-2 "Pacific" (425 built 1914–1928, PRR Altoona, Baldwin) was its premier passenger-hauling steam locomotive from 1914 through the end of steam on the PRR in 1957.
Attempts were made to replace the K4s, including the K5 and the T1 duplex locomotive. However, the low factor-of-adhesion of K5s meant that they were limited in their pulling power. By contrast, the T1s were very successful but suffered from greater maintenance costs, wheel slip due to poor springing, and inexperienced crews. The T1s also came too late in the game for steam traction. As such, the tried and tested K4s held their role as the PRR's primary express locomotives for thirty to forty years. The K4s hauled the vast majority of express passenger trains until they were replaced by diesel locomotives. The K4s were not powerful enough for the heavier trains they often pulled from the mid-1930s onward, so they were often double-headed or even triple-headed, sometimes with early Atlantics and E6s. This was effective, but expensive, and several crews were needed. The PRR did have the extra locomotives, many having been displaced by electrification east of Harrisburg.
The two preserved K4s Nos. 1361 and 3750 were designated as Pennsylvania's official state steam locomotives on December 18, 1987, when Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey signed into law House Bill No. 1211.
Development
The K4s was designed under the supervision of PRR Chief of Motive Power J.T. Wallis, assisted by Chief Mechanical Engineer Alfred W. Gibbs and Mechanical Engineer Axel Vogt, as one of a pair of classes with the L1s 2-8-2 "Mikado", sharing a boiler and other features. Some inspiration came from the large experimental K29s Pacific built in 1911 by the American Locomotive Company. Also influential was Gibbs' design for the successful E6 4-4-2 "Atlantics", from which the K4s inherited its heat-treated, lightweight machinery, its cast-steel KW trailing truck and much of its appearance.
The K4s design increased grate area from previous classes' 55 to 70 sq ft (5.1 to 6.5 m2). The boiler barrel was fatter than previous classes, and the increase in heating surface and boiler size gave the class good steam-generating capability. Equipment on the prototype, built in 1914, was conservative and included a screw reverse (power reverse would soon be added); a small 70-P-70 tender holding only 7,000 US gallons (26,000 L) of water and 12½ tons of coal, set up for hand-firing; a wooden cowcatcher pilot; a square-cased, old-fashioned headlight and piston tailrods (soon to go).
The K4s design was successful enough that it influenced other locomotive designs, and not only those of other PRR locomotives. London and North Eastern Railway Chief Mechanical Engineer Nigel Gresley incorporated much of the boiler design (including the tapered shape) into his famous Class A1 Pacific.
A World War I-era prototype had distinctive "chicken coop" slat pilots, while the postwar versions had modern pilots.
Production
Three years elapsed until production examples were built. Partly, this was due to extensive testing, but wartime necessitated priority in construction to the L1s Mikado type for freight. In 1917, Altoona's Juniata Shops started producing K4s in numbers. The first 168 carried widely scattered road numbers, traditional for the PRR, but subsequent locomotives produced after 1920 were numbered in consecutive blocks.
FEATURES:
More Variety for Steam- and Transition-Era Railroads
* DC Version
* Loco & Tender Electrical Pick-Up
* Improved Tractive Effort
* Weighted for Maximum Tractive Effort
* Nickel-Silver Plated RP-25Wheels
* One-piece boilers, engine covers, cabs and tenders of pressure-cast high impact plastic.
* Steel main and side rods.
* Steel handrails and coupler release bars on both loco and tender.
* Many additional fine details.
* Powerful can motor.
* Scale 75" Drivers.
* Easy rolling steel needle point truck axles
* Meticulously Detailed Cab Interior
* Tender Coal Bunker Style as Appropriate to Road
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of locomotives, 4-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels. In the US it became known as the PACIFIC in most of North America.
" These have been highly sought after Units "
THIS IS AN ASSEMBLED READY-TO-RUN
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE
We do combine shipping on
multiple purchases. If you do a Buy It
Now the transaction requires immediate payment for each item separately.
What you need to do is put it in the shopping cart and then
when you go to checkout it will recalculate the shipping and combine the items
for you.
If you pay first I am unable to make any adjustment because
ebay has then taken its fees on the shipping as well. If you have a concern message me and I can
work something out for you.
THIS IS AN ASSEMBLED Item
The item is NEW in the original box from old stock
PERSONAL INVENTORY:
Many of these unique items are from my personal inventory
which was accumulated over the years.
They are hard to part with but due to downsizing in retirement they too
are looking for a good home which can appreciate and enjoy them.
STORE INVENTORY:
Having discontinued my Hobby Store and left frigid
“Minne-Snow-Da” I have relocated and retired to the warmer part of the country,
Down to Sunny TEXAS.
I will be Liquidating the remaining stock.
I will be listing items over the next year or so clearing
them out.
Please see the photos we take actual photos of each item
Most of these items are New in the box removed only to take
photos of them.