Often called the largest steam loco ever made, and certainly a contender for the Worlds Most Famous Locomotive, the Big Boy was forged under some of the most strenuous demands ever placed on a locomotive. The UP Railroad needed a locomotive that could be used to pull a 3,600-ton train over Sherman Hill and the 1.14% grade from Ogden to Wasatch, Utah without the need for helpers.
When the design specifications were complete, it was decided on the use of a simple articulated, high speed, 132 ft. long locomotive sporting sixteen 68 diameter drive wheels. What they created was the longest and among the heaviest, most powerful steam locomotive legends in the world. And had not the worker at ALCO chalked Big Boy on the side of the smoke box of one of the 4-8-8-4s under construction, a name that immediately caught on, it is rumored that the name of the type would have been Wasatch, for the mountains they were built to conquer.
Quote from Worlds Greatest Steam Locomotives by Eugene L. Huddleston:
There were 25 locomotives fabricated in two different groups. Class 1 were locomotives #4000-4019 and Class 2 was numbered 4020-4024. The first Big Boy #4000 was delivered to Omaha, NE on September 5, 1941. The Union Pacific Railroad's commitment to the Big Boy required them to replace the lighter rail and straighten out many miles of track for clearance as well as to resize elements of their service areas (such as turntable lengths, etc.) for the entire line these locos would run on.
The Big Boys demonstrated fantastic strength and speed as they faced these challenges throughout their storied careers. With the total mileage on the Big Boy fleet being approximately 1,000,000 miles for each locomotive, one must say that they earned their reputation.
Several examples remain in museums around the country but silently they sit as a visual echo to the thunder that once made them revered throughout the landscape that the Big Boys dominated.
In our first production of this model in N scale, BLI is modeling the Union Pacific Big Boy with these notable features:
Accurately modeled front end with appropriate aftercooler system for each class
Accurately modeled 25-C-100 and 25-C-400 tender, appropriate for each class
Accurately modeled oil tender for #4014 which operates in excursion service today
Two models painted in attractive two-tone gray paint schemes that the Big Boys never received in real life
Industry-leading Model Features:
Paragon4 Sound & Control System featuring ROLLING THUNDER
Integral Dual-Mode Decoder with Back EMF for Superb Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC
Precision Drive Mechanism Engineered for Heavy Towing and Smooth Slow Speed Operation
Operating Smoke Unit with On/Off Switch
Six Drivers and All Tender Wheels Pick-up Electricity from Track
Die Cast Locomotive Body with Die Cast Chassis for Heavier Weight and Maximum Tractive Effort
Rubber Tires on Two Drivers for Additional Tractive Effort
Premium Caliber Painting
Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes and Road Numbers
Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Grab Irons, Piping, Tender Ladders, Whistle, and Bell
Prototypical Headlight and Rear Light Operation
Separately Controllable Cab Light and Lighted Numberboards
Prototypically Accurate Sounds for the Union Pacific Big Boy
Operating Microtrains-compatible Couplers
Will Operate on Code 55, Code 70, and Code 80 Rail
Minimum Operating Radius: 9.75 inches
Broadway Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon4: The new benchmark for premium HO sound-equipped locomotives. These DC and DCC-Sound equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon4 sound and control system. Each Paragon4 locomotive comes with BLI's own integral DCC Decoder factory installed. Paragon4 locomotives offer Dual Mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF motor control, improved DC motor control, built-in capacitor pack for more reliable electrical pick-up, industry best on-board sound with Rolling Thunder functionality, Pro Lighting Mode for prototypical light control, Switcher model for precise low speed control, recordable DCC operation for automated playback, and the same excellent detail level as Broadway Limited's Paragon3 Series models.
Paragon4 Sound & Control System Features:
Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound)
Built-In extra capacitance to navigate imperfect track
Pro Lighting Mode offers individual control of all lights on model
Switcher Mode for precise low speed control
Record & Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation
High Resolution Audio
Quillable Horn for various whistle lengths and patterns
Choice of 3 selectable Horns
Alternate Whistle / Horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played
Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell
Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys
Multiple realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command
Grade Crossing Automatic Signal
Automatic Forward / Reverse Signal
Prime Mover sound intensity varies with load
Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect
EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings
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