Announced Date: |
April 2023 |
Released Date: |
Feb 2024 |
Individually Boxed: |
No - 3 to a case |
- Road Name: Pennsylvania
- Road Number: 8449
- Product Line: RailKing
- Scale: O Scale
Features:
- Intricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body
- Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
- Metal Chassis
- Metal Handrails and Horn
- Authentic Paint Scheme
- Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears
- (2) Remote-Controlled Proto-Couplers
- Prototypical Rule 17 Lighting
- Directionally Controlled Constant Voltage LED Headlights
- (2) Precision Flywheel-Equipped Motors
- Operating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust
- Onboard DCC/DCS Decoder
- Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments
- 1:48 Scale Proportions
- Proto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Freight Yard Proto-Effects
- Unit Measures: 14 1/2” x 2 1/2” x 3 3/4”
- Operates On O-31 Curves
Diesel DCC Features
- F0 Head/Tail light
- F1 Bell
- F2 Horn
- F3 Start-up/Shut-down
- F4 PFA
- F5 Lights (except head/tail)
- F6 Master Volume
- F7 Front Coupler
- F8 Rear Coupler
- F9 Forward Signal
- F10 Reverse Signal
- F11 Grade Crossing
- F12 Smoke On/Off
- F13 Smoke Volume
- F14 Idle Sequence 3
- F15 Idle Sequence 2
- F16 Idle Sequence 1
- F17 Extended Start-up
- F18 Extended Shut-down
- F19 Rev Up
- F20 Rev Down
- F21 One Shot Doppler
- F22 Coupler Slack
- F23 Coupler Close
- F24 Single Horn Blast
- F25 Engine Sounds
- F26 Brake Sounds
- F27 Cab Chatter
- F28 Feature Reset
Overview:
The American Locomotive Company pioneered the multi-purpose "road switcher" design in 1941 with its 1000 hp RS-1. Alco's designers added a second, shorter hood to a basic switcher to make room for a steam boiler for passenger train heat. The short hood also afforded the crew additional accident protection. Smoother-riding trucks made Alco's new design suitable for the higher road speeds that would be daunting in a typical switcher.
In 1946, Alco cataloged the first six-axle version of its road switcher, the RSC-2. Designed for operation on the lighter rail found on branch lines and short lines, the engine used two more axles to spread out its weight. The trucks were a so-called "A1A" configuration: the two end axles had traction motors while the middle wheels were unpowered idlers.
In 1951, the Chicago and North Western asked Alco to build a six-axle version of its RS-3, this time with all axles powered. The body and the 1600 hp Alco 244 prime mover were the same as used in the RS-3, but the additional traction motors gave the new model RSD-4 stronger low-speed performance. The longer trucks were both smooth-riding and more suitable for lighter rail. The design proved to be a winner, and a dozen railroads purchased the RSD-4 and its near-identical twin, the RSD-5, which sported an improved GE generator.