084 SP Cab-Forward AC-12, #4277, No Sound/DCC Ready, HO

From the very beginning of WWII, the Southern Pacific Railroad faced perhaps the most formidable challenge of any stateside railroad.  With the port of San Diego being the jumping off point for the war effort in the Pacific, Southern Pacific required motive power that could handle super long freight drags as well as passenger trains.  These locomotives had to traverse the rugged terrains from the Gulf of Mexico to Utah and Northern California.

Numerous tunnels, many miles of snow sheds and steep grades made the AC-12 the intelligent choice.  This simple compound articulated locomotive averaged speeds of 15 miles per hour over the many cuts and passes.  With this in mind, Southern Pacific acquired permission from the War Production Board to purchase a group of 20 locomotives from Baldwin.

Baldwin delivered the initial group of AC-12's, beginning with #4275, to El Paso, Texas in the fall of 1943.  The balance was received in March of 1944.  Interestingly, the 4294 was the last new steam locomotive ever to be purchased by Southern Pacific.

Baldwin utilized the same newer semi-streamlined cab shape that was practically identical to some of the earlier cab forward classes.  Many consider these to be the most attractive of all the AC series.  By the way, the AC-12's were equipped with both the conventional steam whistle as well as a single note "fog" horn.

This legendary locomotive has cemented a chapter in the histories of the Southern Pacific and the United States.  You will be proud to run and display this unique, articulated locomotive on your layout.  And your engineer and fireman will thank you as they will be able to breathe easy...

Locomotive features:

• Motor Type: 5-Pole Can with Skewed Armature & Fly Wheels
• Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Schemes
• Prototypical Light Operation with Golden White LED Headlight and Reverse Light
• Beautifully Detailed, Accurately Modeled Locomotive
• Separately Applied Details such as brass bell, grab irons, and ladders 
• Lighted number boards
• Factory-installed Painted Engineer and Fireman Figures
• Locomotive Composition: Brass body with Brass chassis
• Tender Composition: Brass body with Brass chassis
• Locomotive Length: 10.8 inches
• Tender Length: 6.35 inches
• Locomotive Weight: TBA
• Couplers: (2) Operating metal knuckle couplers
• Recommended Minimum Radius: TBA