Precision Scale Co. BRASS SP CAB FORWARD 4-8-8-2 Crown Series #0029 O Scale

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Southern Pacific Lines AC-6 4-8-8-2 CAB FORWARD -- Flat Face -- with 160-C-2 Tender BRASS Crown Series Serial Number: 0029 Made in Korea by D&D Mfg. Co., Ltd. Imported by Iron Horse Models by Precision Scale Co., item #15025 O Scale. In original box with original foam. I do NOT have an O Scale test track set up to test this. Therefore I am selling it AS IS. I also do not know every single detail piece that this originally had so you have to look at the photos (I took 83 of them!). You owe it to yourself to go cruise through the PHOTO ALBUM on this one! Where doors opened I tried to photograph them closed and then the next photograph is of them open. There are MORE doors and hatches that appear to open but did not readily open so I did not apply any force. If you have any specific questions or want to see something in particular, please ask! This will be insured for the full amount for shipping. I will ONLY ship this to the US or Canada. Precision Scale Co. BRASS SP CAB FORWARD 4-8-8-2 Crown Series #0029 O Scale This is a RARE find so don't let it get away! --- The Sacramento division of the Southern Pacific had close to 150 miles of grades of up to 2.5%. On this Roseville - Sparks line over the Sierra Nevada there were also almost 30 miles of snow sheds and tunnels. Over the years, as trains grew in length, more powerful locomotives were required. In 1908 the Southern Pacific ordered two 2-8-8-2 conventional mallets classified MC-1 (Mallet - Consolidation) numbered 4000 and 4001. On a trial run up the "Hill" two problems became immediately evident. The great volume of exhaust gasses almost asphyxiated the crew. The stack exhaust velocity was so great that it blew the roof boards off of the snow sheds. The second problem was easily handled by installing "stack splitters" (a deflector located above the smoke stack which directed the exhaust to the sides), as shown at the top of the image on the right. The first problem required more consideration. Shortly after delivery of the MC-1s, an enterprising engineer decided not put up with nearly being asphyxiated or exposing himself to the tremendous heat and noise. He had the engine turned, hooked the engine pilot to the front of the train, and backed his locomotive over the hill pulling the train behind. This alleviated the above problems but created others such as pushing the tender ahead of the engine and the engineer being on wrong side for the signals. Despite these problems, other engineers began following this example.A team of Southern Pacific design engineers came up with a plan and designs for a mallet with the cab in front, classified MC-2. Southern Pacific had Baldwin build 15 without testing one! Numbered 4002-4016, they were delivered in February and March of 1910. The engineer's and fireman's controls were shifted to opposite sides of the cab so that when run "backwards" the crew was on the usual side of the track.Since the firebox on these locomotive was located in the front (far from the tender), they were designed to burn oil. Oil was piped from the tender along the locomotive to the firebox. The oil bunker in the tender on these locomotives was made air-tight and was structurally braced. They were slightly pressurized with air from the main air reservoir to insure a constant oil flow to the burner in the fire box when to the locomotive when traveling upgrade. After the MC-2s had proven themselves, 32 more, classified MC-4 and MC-6 (MC-3 and MC-5 were skipped) were ordered. Before it was all over, Southern Pacific ended up with a total of 256 Cab Forwards (all classes). these Cab Forwards came in several wheel arrangements including 2-8-8-2, 4-6-6-2, and 4-8-8-2.Although the crews initially complained about concerns that if they hit a gasoline truck at a grade crossing they would be right on top of it when it exploded. Fortunately, in 46 years of running Cab Forwards, this never happened. This was partially because of the unobstructed view from the cab. The advantage in visibility was treme... read more

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