MTH 20-21688-1 O Norfolk & Western FM Train Master Diesel Engine DCC Sound #150

FM Train Master With Proto-Sound 3.0 (Hi-Rail Wheels) - Norfolk & Western (Public Delivery Track)

Cab No. 150
Roadname: Norfolk & Western
Product Item Number: 20-21688-1
Catalog: ZZ2 2022 Uncataloged Items
Product Line: Premier
Scale: O Scale
Delivery Status: OCT. 2022
This product is compatible with all O Gauge 3-Rail track systems including those systems offered by Atlas and Gargraves and Lionel and Ross Custom Switches.

Fairbanks Morse got into the locomotive business because it made submarine engines. FM's unique opposed-piston diesel engine powered about half the U.S. Navy's World War II submarine fleet and developed a great reputation for reliability; the adaptation to railroad equipment during and after the war seemed like a natural transition.

In the opposed-piston motor, each cylinder had a piston at either end and the combustion chamber in the middle. There were no valves or cylinder heads. Intake and exhaust occurred through holes in the cylinder walls. The upper and lower banks of pistons each powered a separate crankshaft, and the two crankshafts were linked together to power the locomotive. While this sounds like a complex way to build an engine, the O.P. diesel in fact had several advantages over a conventional motor: less moving parts, terrific acceleration, and about double the horsepower per cylinder.

In 1953 the O.P. engine reached its zenith in the Trainmaster. Introduced at the Railroad Manufacturers' Supply Association show that year, FM's new locomotive took the show by storm. It was the most powerful single-motored diesel locomotive of its era and had a brawny body to match its bold name. Emblazoned in bright yellow and red, four Trainmaster demonstrators barnstormed the country and walked away with any consist the railroads threw at them. For one brief moment, Fairbanks Morse looked like a contender.

Ultimately, however, the opposed-piston engine proved ill-suited to locomotive use. The bone-jarring railroad environment was much rougher on the motor than a submarine cushioned by an ocean. The top crankshaft proved prone to oil leakage. Perhaps most important, maintenance was a nightmare. Whereas a single bad cylinder in an Electro-Motive diesel could be accessed by pulling off one cylinder head, a cylinder repair in an O.P. engine required removal of the top crankshaft and removal or disconnection of the entire top bank of cylinders - which also meant the roof of the locomotive had to come off. Ultimately, only 127 Trainmasters were sold to 11 U.S. and Canadian railroads.

In the world of O gauge railroading, however, the Trainmaster was a hit from the moment it went on the market in the mid-1950's. The engine's massive size and tremendous pulling power have made it one of the most-loved engines among 3-rail operators for nearly half a century. The Premier Trainmaster comes complete with the digital sound, amazing slow speed capability, and variable smoke output that make Proto-Sound 3.0 the best sound and control system in model railroading. Unlike past iterations of the Trainmaster from other model railroad companies, our model's tooling was designed to allow us to customize the model according to each railroad's prototype. In short, this is the most accurate Trainmaster ever constructed for the O Gauge marketplace.

Features:
Intricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body
Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
Metal Chassis
Metal Handrails and Horn
Metal Body Side Grilles
(2) Handpainted Engineer Cab Figures
Authentic Paint Scheme
Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears
(2) Remote-Controlled Proto-Couplers
O Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads
Prototypical Rule 17 Lighting
Directionally Controlled Constant Voltage LED Headlights
Lighted LED Cab Interior Light
Illuminated LED Number Boards
Lighted LED Marker Lights
(2) Precision Flywheel-Equipped Motors
Operating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust
Onboard DCC/DCS Decoder
Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments
Proto-Scale 3-2 3-Rail/2-Rail Conversion Capable
1:48 Scale Proportions
Proto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Freight Yard Proto-Effects
Unit Measures: 17” x 2 5/8” x 3 7/8”
Operates On O-42 Curves

Diesel DCC Features
Headlight/Taillight
Bell
Horn
Start-up/Shut-down
Passenger Station/Freight Yard Announcements
Lights (except head/tail)
Master Volume
Front Coupler
Rear Coupler
Forward Signal
Reverse Signal
Grade Crossing
Idle Sequence 3
Idle Sequence 2
Idle Sequence 1
Extended Start-up
Extended Shut-down
Rev Up
Rev Down
One Shot Doppler
Coupler Slack
Coupler Close
Single Horn Blast
Engine Sounds
Brake Sounds
Cab Chatter
Feature Reset
Smoke On/Off
Smoke Volume