{"product_id":"preorder-atlas-master-line-n-40006053-gold-series-2-8-4-berkshire-steam-locomotive-pere-marquette-1225-dcc-sound-equipped-359-96","title":"PREORDER Atlas Master Line N 40006053 Gold Series 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive, Pere Marquette #1225 (DCC \u0026 Sound Equipped)","description":"In the spring of 1925, the Berkshire Hills on the Boston and Albany railroad resounded with the roar of a new concept in locomotive design  – the first  “Super-Power ” 2-8-4. Dubbed the A-1 by Lima Locomotive Works, the  “Berkshire ” - as it quickly came to be known - was more than a logical upgrade to the 2-8-2  “Mikado ”, as it featured a larger boiler, firebox, feedwater heater and superheater. These features taken together overcame the issues of wheel slip and loss of steam pressure upon acceleration that plagued earlier drag-freight designs based on the Mikado.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndeed, this first Berkshire easily pulled over 2500 tons up the 1.5% grades of the B\u0026amp;A without assistance, resulting in an order for 55 by the B\u0026amp;A alone. More upgrades were soon to come, however. By the early 1930s, the railroads under the ownership of the Van Swerigen brothers (Nickel Plate, Chesapeake \u0026amp; Ohio and Hocking Valley, Erie, Pere Marquette, Wheeling \u0026amp; Lake Erie) had joined together the engineering talents of their several railroads into an Advisory Mechanical Committee, which produced many of the most successful steam locomotives of the era, including the C\u0026amp;O T-1 (or  “Texas ” type). The improved Berkshire design resulting from this committee was derived from scaling the primary dimensions of the T-1 down by 70% - except for the drivers, which were increased in size from 63 ” to 69 ”. By the end of production of the 2-8-4 Berkshire in 1949, Lima had produced 368 of the 611 locomotives to carry the name. Two remain in operation  – NKP 765 (the  “Queen of the West ”) and PM 1225, the star of the movie  “Polar Express ”.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeatures\u003cbr\u003eAccurate paint schemes\u003cbr\u003eMaster series Silver (Sound Ready) and Gold (DCC with sound) versions\u003cbr\u003eSeparately applied details\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAtlas Master Series Gold Features:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSoundtraxx Tsunami2 Steam Decoder equipped\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKey features include:\u003cbr\u003e10 Exhaust Chuffs for the ultimate customization.\u003cbr\u003eOver 20 Selectable Hyperlight lighting effects.\u003cbr\u003e16 Polyphonic Sound Channels for rich, layered audio.\u003cbr\u003eDynamic Digital Exhaust (DDE) for an authentic operating experience.\u003cbr\u003eAdjustable Exhaust Cut-Off for more precise operation.\u003cbr\u003eFunctioning Locomotive and Train Brakes with adjustable braking rates.\u003cbr\u003e90 Whistles for unparalleled customization.\u003cbr\u003eSelectable Compressors, Bells, Dynamos, Couplers, and more.\u003cbr\u003eSupport for traditional 2-cylinder, as well as 3-cylinder and articulated settings on all exhaust chuffs.\u003cbr\u003eA variety of Background Sounds, including Fireman Fred tailored for coal-fired, wood, oil, or auger-fueled locomotives, general service, cab sounds, clickety clack, drifting sounds, and more!","brand":"Atlas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42187373707346,"sku":"ATL-40006053-PRE","price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0581\/3410\/2098\/files\/70373311384426_qycb_443283a5-24d7-4a4e-85b8-f59f15045e4c.jpg?v=1767330292","url":"https:\/\/modeltrainstuff.com\/products\/preorder-atlas-master-line-n-40006053-gold-series-2-8-4-berkshire-steam-locomotive-pere-marquette-1225-dcc-sound-equipped-359-96","provider":"Model Train Stuff","version":"1.0","type":"link"}