MTH Electric Trains 30-5235 O Maintenance of Way RailKing Operating Hand Car

Operating Hand Car - Maintenance of Way (Tuscan)

No. N/A

Roadname: Maintenance of Way
Product Item Number:
30-5235
Catalog: FL 2023 All Scales
Product Line: RailKing
Scale: O Gauge
Delivery Status:
Delivered: FEB. 2024
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.

The American Locomotive Company pioneered the multi-purpose "road switcher" design in 1941 with its 1000 hp RS-1. Alco's designers added a second, shorter hood to a basic switcher to make room for a steam boiler for passenger train heat. The short hood also afforded the crew additional accident protection. Smoother-riding trucks made Alco's new design suitable for the higher road speeds that would be daunting in a typical switcher.

In 1946, Alco cataloged the first six-axle version of its road switcher, the RSC-2. Designed for operation on the lighter rail found on branch lines and short lines, the engine used two more axles to spread out its weight. The trucks were a so-called "A1A" configuration: the two end axles had traction motors while the middle wheels were unpowered idlers.

In 1951, the Chicago and North Western asked Alco to build a six-axle version of its RS-3, this time with all axles powered. The body and the 1600 hp Alco 244 prime mover were the same as used in the RS-3, but the additional traction motors gave the new model RSD-4 stronger low-speed performance. The longer trucks were both smooth-riding and more suitable for lighter rail. The design proved to be a winner, and a dozen railroads purchased the RSD-4 and its near-identical twin, the RSD-5, which sported an improved GE generator.

Did You Know?

While they were the first to be cataloged, the RSC-2s were not the first six-axle Alco RS locomotives. Back in World War II, the first two years of RS-1 production had gone to the military. The 13 units that had been delivered to American railroads were requisitioned from their owners and, along with 144 additional engines, were sent to Iran, Russia, and U.S. Army posts. These RS-1s were fitted with three-axle trucks to make them suitable for lighter rail on overseas roads. A group that plied the Trans-Iranian Railroad became known as "the diesels that saved Russia" because they brought in food and other supplies after the Luftwaffe had crippled Russian shipping. These engines later became the prototype for Russia's own early diesels.

Features:
Intricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body
Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
Metal Chassis
Metal Handrails and Horn
Authentic Paint Scheme
Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears
(2) Remote-Controlled Proto-Couplers
Prototypical Rule 17 Lighting
Directionally Controlled Constant Voltage LED Headlights
(2) Precision Flywheel-Equipped Motors
Operating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust
Onboard DCC/DCS Decoder
Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments
1:48 Scale Proportions
Proto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Freight Yard Proto-Effects
Unit Measures: 14 1/2” x 2 1/2” 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.