 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
Gs4 4-8-4 Northern
In 1937 the Southern Pacific trumpeted a new train in full-page magazine ads:
Let us stand by the tracks of Southern Pacific's Coast Line, as thousands now do every day and listen… Suddenly from far off comes a musical note, rising. Round a curve flashes a streak of color. Here comes the Daylight, the most beautiful train in the West!
The Daylights linked Los Angeles and San Francisco "in a glorious daylight trip, streaking along the Pacific Ocean for more than a hundred breathless miles." Travelers were invited to "Step inside the Daylight and see the beauty and luxury that have already won the West. Notice the wide, soft seats in the coaches. They are cushioned with sponge rubber and turn to face the extraordinarily large windows." Presenting a glorious streak of orange and red from locomotive to observation car, the Daylights were a sharp departure from the SP's normal dark olive passenger cars.
Leading the trains were the Southern Pacific's class GS (for "Golden State") Northerns, arguably among the handsomest steam engines ever built. Constructed by Lima Locomotive Works, inventor of the super-power concept, the Daylight 4-8-4s had the combination of power and speed that characterized steam power at its zenith. Class GS-4 engines, delivered in 1941 and 1942, were among the last and best-looking of the breed, with tall 80" drivers and enclosed all-weather cabs. In addition to handling premier passenger trains, the Golden State 4-8-4s were regularly used in high-speed freight service on the San Francisco-Los Angeles Overnight.
M.T.H.’s HO locomotives feature the firm’s most sophisticated version of its highly acclaimed Proto-Sound sound and command control onboard electronics. The Proto-Sound 3.0 system found in M.T.H.’s HO locomotives includes features not found in previous Proto-Sound systems including battery-free operation and a command control receiver that can operate with M.T.H.’s DCS Digital Command System or any manufacturer’s DCC system.
Unlike other HO sound-equipped locomotives currently on the market, M.T.H.’s steam locomotives include synchronized puffing smoke timed to drive wheel revolutions for an incredibly realistic operating experience. First appearing in M.T.H.’s O Gauge locomotives in 2000, each M.T.H. HO locomotive features a prototypically correct four chuffs/puffs per each drive wheel revolution.
Digital sound features including whistle, bell, chuffing, squeaking brakes, authentic Doppler, passenger station announcements, air let-off, air pump, blow down, pop-off, injector and dozens more are included in each engine – a variety unmatched in HO today. In addition, each engine features 120 speed steps, each in scale one-mile-per-hour increments for a true prototypical operating experience.
The locomotive is completely compatible with any analog DC power supply. Under analog operation, the user retains direction control, synchronized puffing smoke, digital chuffing (synchronized to driver revolution and smoke puffing), squeaking brakes and speed control.
When operated in command mode using M.T.H.’s DCS Digital Command System (DCS), operators will have access to hundreds of features and sounds, including crossing signals, a user controlled “quillable” whistle that simulates an engineer’s differing pressure on the whistle pull cord for seamless whistle pitches, and the optional city horn.
The die-cast metal boiler and tender house the electronics and a precision five-pole flywheel-equipped motor. Intricately detailed, the boiler and tender shells feature additional detail elements ensuring an accurate reproduction of perhaps the most unique looking steam locomotive to ever run the rails. Additional features include sprung drivers, (2) Kadee® compatible couplers, prototypical Rule 21 lighting, interchangeable RP25 drivers with traction tires for added pulling strength, detailed cab interior, detailed tender undercarriage and even a tender to boiler deck plate.
Anticipated delivery for the Gs4 is slated for Spring 2008. The locomotive will be distributed through the M.T.H. Authorized Retailer Network.
See the GSs4 in action by clicking here to see a video!
80-3114-1 Southern Pacific (Daylight - Small Lettering) 4-8-4 GS-4 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4453 $449.95 80-3115-1 Southern Pacific (Black) 4-8-4 GS-4 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4437 $449.95 80-3116-1 Southern Pacific (Daylight - Large Lettering) 4-8-4 GS-4 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4449 $449.95 80-3117-1 Southern Pacific (Daylight - Small Lettering) 4-8-4 GS-4 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4449 $449.95 80-3118-1 BNSF (Black) 4-8-4 Gs4 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4449 $449.95 80-3119-1 American Freedom 4-8-4 Gs4 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4449 $449.95 80-3120-1 Western Pacific 4-8-4 Gs6 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 483 $449.95 80-3121-1 Southern Pacific (Black - Large Lettering) 4-8-4 Gs6 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4460 $449.95 80-3122-1 Southern Pacific (Black - Small Lettering) 4-8-4 Gs6 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 4466 $449.95
