Broadway Limited Imports HO 7800 Class Q2 4-4-6-4 Duplex Prototype Version Paragon4 Brass Hybrid, Pennsylvania Railroad #6131 (DCC and Sound)

This Broadway Limited Class Q2 4-4-6-4 Duplex steam locomotive is based ona unique Pennsylvania Railroad engine. In 1942, the PRR built anexperimental duplex drive freight locomotive, the Q1, with a 4-6-4-4 wheelarrangement. In 1944, after identifying a number of flaws with the Q1, thePRR built a second prototype, changing the wheel arrangement to a 4-4-6-4and creating class Q2. This was followed by 25 production Q2 steamlocomotives in 1945. These rigid-frame four cylinder locomotives may havebeen the epitome of superpower steam locomotive design. At 115,800 lbs oftractive effort and nearly 8,000 horsepower, the Q2s were the most powerfulten-coupled steam locomotives ever produced. These monsters were thegreyhounds of the PRR, single-handedly hauling tonnage at high speeds overthe PRR's lines.
Mostly seen on the Pennsy west of Pittsburg, these locomotives did ventureeast to territory such as Horseshoe Curve and their birthplace, Altoona.The Q2 was emblematic of the PRR's commitment to on-line coal producers tocontinue to use steam locomotives to power their trains after World War II.However, the Q2 could not match the maintenance records of the invadingdiesels and, by 1956, the last Q2 had been retired and scrapped. No exampleof this titan of the rails was saved for posterity. This Q2 model has fullParagon4 sound and DCC for realistic, reliable sound and motor control. TheParagon4 sound system works with all Broadway Limited Rolling Thunder(TM)advanced sound systems. Other features include a smooth-runningflywheel-equipped drive, synchronized puffing smoke and integral GoPackcapacitor, roadname-appropriate and era-appropriate detailing and magneticknuckle couplers. The Class Q2 4-4-6-4 can be operated on all DCC systemsas well as on standard DC railroads (with limited sound functionality).This model has wheels profiled to operate on Code 70 and larger rail andcurves of 18" radius but larger curves are recommended. The Class Q24-4-6-4 Duplex is one of manyBroadway Limited HO Scale Paragon4 locomotives.