MTH 30-21039-1 O Chicago North Western RailKing FM H10-44 Diesel Engine #1048

FM H10-44 Diesel Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 - Chicago North Western (Public Delivery Track)

Cab No. 1048

Roadname: Chicago North Western
Product Item Number:
30-21039-1
Catalog: ZZ2 2022 Uncataloged Items
Product Line: RailKing
Scale: O Gauge
Delivery Status:
Delivered: MAR. 2023
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 through 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 OP diesel in fact had several advantages over a conventional motor: less moving parts, terrific acceleration, and about double the horsepower per cylinder.

FM had tooled up to produce its first diesel-electric, a 1000 hp switcher, when World War II intervened, and its entire production of OP engines was requisitioned for submarine service. The War Production Board allowed FM to build one prototype locomotive in 1944, and the H10-44 was born. With a high hood like all subsequent FM locomotives — to clear the tall OP motor — and styling polished by industrial designer Raymond Loewy of Pennsy GG1 fame, the muscular H10-44 made FM a new contender in the nascent diesel locomotive business. In the postwar market, with railroads clamoring for new power to replace their war-weary fleets, FM’s plant worked at capacity filling H10-44 orders from a dozen Class 1 railroads and many short lines as well.

Did You Know?

In the H10-44 model name, "H" stood for hood type construction, "10" indicated 1000 horsepower, and "44" indicated 4 axles, 4 motors.

Intricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body
Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
Metal Chassis
Metal Handrails and Horn
Metal Body Side Grilles
Detachable Snow Plow
(2) Handpainted Engineer Cab Figures
Authentic Paint Scheme
Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears
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: 13” x 2 5/8” x 3 3/4”
Operates On O-31 Curves Diesel DCC Features
F0 Head/Tail light
F1 Bell
F2 Horn
F3 Start-up/Shut-down
F4 PFA
F5 Lights (except head/tail)
F6 Master Volume
F7 Front Coupler
F8 Rear Coupler
F9 Forward Signal
F10 Reverse Signal
F11 Grade Crossing
F12 Smoke On/Off
F13 Smoke Volume
F14 Idle Sequence 3
F15 Idle Sequence 2
F16 Idle Sequence 1
F17 Extended Start-up
F18 Extended Shut-down
F19 Rev Up
F20 Rev Down
F21 One Shot Doppler
F22 Coupler Slack
F23 Coupler Close
F24 Single Horn Blast
F25 Engine Sounds
F26 Brake Sounds
F27 Cab Chatter
F28 Feature Reset

Note: Pictures may be of another Road Number.