MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS

The 4-4-0 was the passenger engine of the last half of the nineteenth century. Subject of dozens of Currier & Ives lithographs, the 4-4-0 carried the nation westward, touched cowcatchers at the Golden Spike in 1869, transported millions of Americans out of their home towns for the first time, and hauled a good deal of freight as well. Often beautifully colored and pinstriped, the 4-4-0 steam engine became a symbol of U.S. railroading - so much so that this wheel arrangement was named the "American." The Pennsylvania Railroad, never one to do things in a small way, built or bought over 1500 Atlantics between 1849 and 1910. For five decades, engines of this wheel arrangement were the road's principal passenger power. Some remained in local service as late as World War II. Designed in Pennsy's Altoona shops in 1881, the class K Americans, later reclassified D6, represented an elegant and successful step in the evolution of Pennsy motive power. This new 4-4-0 design featured larger cylinders, higher boiler pressure, and bigger drivers (78") than its predecessors. The D6 also introduced three features not seen before on Pennsylvania engines: power reverse gear, Alligator crossheads with two-bar guides, and sand boxes in the fenders over the drivers, rather than a sand dome. The characteristic Pennsy squared-off Belpaire firebox, however, would not make its appearance until just after the 19th and last D6 was outshopped by Altoona. Following on the heels of the Pennsylvania H3 2-8-0 Consolidation announced in 2004, the Premier D6 American makes its debut in 2005. The American is fully outfitted with Proto-Soundr 2.0 and is available in both 2- and 3-rail versions. Each is equipped with Proto-Scale 3-2T, which allows the user to quickly convert either version for operation on 2- or 3-rail track.