Rapido Trains Inc HO 23020 DCC Ready ALCo PA-1 Nickel Plate Road NKP #184

Description

Please note picture is representative of the item but may not be same road number. Always refer to product description for actual product details.

Rapido Trains Inc HO 23020 DCC Ready ALCo PA-1 Nickel Plate Road NKP #184

The Rapido Trains HO Scale Alco PA series diesels are based on what many believe to be one the most attractive diesel locomotives ever produced. The PA locomotives were built by a partnership of American Locomotive and General Electric between 1946 and 1953. They offered two models, the PA-1 initially followed by the PA-2. Both were powered by Alco's 16-cylinder 244 diesel engine generating 2,000 HP in the PA-1 and 2,250 in the PA-2. The PA locomotives were designed to compete with General Motors EMD E-units in the passenger locomotive market. While one could argue the ALCos won in style, they did not win in reliability. Their 244 prime movers could not unseat the EMD 567, and the PAs were demoted to secondary service on many lines. Most were retired as passenger service declined in the 1960s, and nearly all were scrapped. 

Available in single PA1 or PA2 A units or as PA-PB sets, these units are perfect for powering your railroad's passenger trains. Rapido Alco PA series locomotives (both PA and PB diesels) feature completely accurate contours and road-specific details. Carbody contours have been generated using a 3-D laser scan of Doyle McCormack's preserved unit. Other features include roadname-specific details, directional headlights, operating Gyralite, lighted control stands, cab details and lighted numberboards. The smooth-running drive features flywheels and the model comes equipped with Macdonald-Cartier knuckle couplers compatible with all magnetic knuckle couplers. This sound-equipped Alco PA, or PA-PB set is equipped with a full-featured TCS sound and DCC decoder with accurate sounds recorded from the prototype.

Our first run of HO Scale ALCo PA models feature:

• Correct nose and roof profiles 3D-scanned from the prototype
• Loads of roadname-specific details
• A units and A-B sets available
• Dynamic or non-dynamic brake versions, where appropriate
• Full underbody piping and conduit
• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
• Etched-metal grilles, where appropriate
• Lit number boards, headlights and green and white class lights
• Lit control stands and full cab interior
• Includes pre-decorated etched side number panels for Rio Grande (non-illuminated)
• Operating Gyralite or red Mars light, where appropriate
• Rapido’s proven drive system adapted from the FA-2
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound options**
• Available as single powered A-units or in A+B powered sets

**Lombard Hobbies Recommendation - As modelers ourselves we highly recommend ONLY running DCC on DCC systems and DC on DC systems, regardless of 'Dual-Mode' capability. This gives optimum performance and safeguards the unit from possible damage from running on a different system than originally intended and from any inexperienced operator errors. 

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