In 1942, the PRR built an experimental duplex drive freight locomotive, the Q1, with a 4-6-4-4 wheel arrangement. in 1944, after identifying a number of flaws with the Q1, the PRR built a second prototype, changing the wheel arrangement to a 4-4-6-4 and creating class Q2. This was followed by 25 production Q2 steam locomotives in 1945. These rigid-frame four cylinder locomotives may have been the epitome of superpower steam locomotive design. At 115,800 lbs of tractive effort and nearly 8,000 horsepower, the Q2s were the most powerful ten-coupled steam locomotives ever produced. These monsters were the greyhounds of the PRR, single-handedly hauling tonnage at high speeds over the PRR's lines.
Mostly seen on the Pennsy west of Pittsburg, these locomotives did venture east to territory such as Horseshoe Curve and their birthplace, Altoona. The Q2 was emblematic of the PRR's commitment to on-line coal producers to continue to use steam locomotives to power their trains after World War II. However, the Q2 could not match the maintenance records of the invading diesels and, by 1956, the last Q2 had been retired and scrapped. No example of this titan of the rails was saved for posterity.
In this production run, we are building a model of the prototype #6131 and several models of the production version Q2. In addition to the prototypical decoration, we will also offer unlettered models, a painted brass model, and two models decorated in PRR-themed fantasy paint schemes.
All of the models have hand-crafted brass boilers, cabs, and tender bodies, and die cast locomotive and tender chassis. Each model comes with our Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC sound system with synchronized puffing smoke and integral GoPack capacitors.
Industry-leading Model Features:
*ALL-NEW Paragon4 Sound & Control System
*Synchronized Puffing Smoke with Chuff Sound
*Variable Puffing Smoke Intensity and timing
*Integral DCC Decoder with Back EMF for Industry Best Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC
*Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation
*5-Pole Can Motor with Skew Wound Armature
*Handcrafted Brass Boiler, Cab, and Tender Body, and Heavy Die Cast Chassis for Increased Tractive Effort
*Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Scheme
*Prototypical Light Operation with Separately Controllable Headlight, Rear Light, Cab Light, Rear Marker Lights, and Lighted Brakeman's Cab
*Factory-installed Engineer and Fireman Figures
*Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Grab Irons, Ladders, Piping, Cab Glass, Whistle, Brass Bell, and Many Others
*Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power
*Recommended Minimum Radius: 22 inches
*Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the PRR Q2 Duplex Locomotives
