All-Railroad's Adaptations of "N" 4-8-4 Steam Loco

Adaptations of the "N" Scale 4-8-4 "Northern" type Steam Loco

The 4-8-4 "Northern class" wheel arrangement was one of the most popular among the major railroads as it proved to be very efficient for the railroads to operate.

But of course every railroad had its own idea about what was the ideal the wheel arrangement, and cosmetic look of the locomotive.

With the cost of creating the hardened steel tooling used to make one of our models now exceeding the cost of a new Rolls Royce Limousine. It is not practical for us to create unique tooling for each and every railroads version of the 4-8-4. So compromises had to be made to make the model look more like various railroads locos without incurring huge tooling costs. (It would cost upwards of $150,000 to change the tooling "exactly" for each different railroad !)

We realize some "nit pickers" and purists may not happy with all of our decisions, but then that's why they make the limited run Brass models (usually over $1,000 each at retail prices), so the "nitpickers" and purists can have exactly what they want. (as an aside the Brass models usually do not run very well either, and our 4-8-4 mechanism really runs GREAT ! ) But we are trying to make the models available (and affordable) for a wider range of model railroaders who are in the hobby for the fun of it, rather than the small percentage that seem to be unhappy with their hobby and always find things to complain about.

New Features of the 4-8-4 "Adaptations"

Three new smoke box fronts.

We have created tooling for 3 new Smoke Box fronts, which then dramaticly change the appearance of the engine.

#1: We created one with a center headlight and bell at the top of the Smoke Box as common on the Santa Fe, Rio Grande, Union Pacific and other roads. The photo above does not due justice to the super delicate detail of the Bell we created.

#2: We created one as used on the Pennsy and others, with a headlight at the top of the smoke box, and a number board in the shape of the Pennsy Keystone in the center of the smoke box (as was common on most Pennsy locos. (Also shown above.)

#3: We also created a version of the Single headlight smoke box as used on the some of the various Western Pacific "GS" engines..you can see a photo of this on the Wartime GS-4 Page.

New Coal Tender

We have created a new Coal Tender for these models..see the photos below from rear and from the front. These are of the Pennsy decorated version, but the Coal tender is the same on all models except for the lettering on the tender.

Front angle view of the new Coal tender, note even the addition of "spilled coal" on the bottom of the butterfly doors.

Rear angle of new Coal Tender.

Pennsy version: $298.89 each

The Pennsy version of the 4-8-4 features a coal bunker tender, and a new smoke box door on the front of the boiler that features a top mounted headlight and PRR Keystone loco in the middle of the smokebox door. Available in 3 different Cab numbers.

Part #     	Cab #
0001-3882	8750	Pennsylvania 	PRR version top light
0001-3883	8752	Pennsylvania 	PRR version top light
0001-3884	8755	Pennsylvania 	PRR version top light

Union Pacific version: $298.89 each

The Union Pacific version features the new coal bunker tender and a new smoke box door on the front of the boiler that features a center headlight and a Bell mounted at the top of the smoke box. (This bell has SUPER Detailing, best ever in N Scale). The Union Pacific also features Smoke Deflectors (sometimes called Elephant Ears). Avaiable in 3 different Cab numbers.

Part#           Cab #
0001-3885	832	Union Pacific 	Center HL with top bell
0001-3886	837	Union Pacific 	Center HL with top bell
0001-3887	835	Union Pacific 	Center HL with top bell

Santa Fe version: $298.89 each

The Santa Fe features a coal bunker tender,and a the smoke box door on the front of the boiler with a center mounted headlight and a bell mounted at the top of the smoke box. Available in 3 different Cab numbers.

Part#           Cab#
0001-3888	3776	Santa Fe	Center HL with top bell
0001-3889	3778	Santa Fe	Center HL with top bell
0001-3890	3782	Santa Fe	Center HL with top bell

Northern Pacific version: $298.89 each

The Northern Pacific features a coal bunker tender,and a the smoke box door on the front of the boiler with a center mounted headlight and a bell mounted at the top of the smoke box. Available in 3 different Cab numbers.

Part#           Cab#
0001-3891	2654	Northern Pacific	Center HL with top bell
0001-3892	2655	Northern Pacific	Center HL with top bell
0001-3893	2656	Northern Pacific	Center HL with top bell

Rio Grande version: $298.89 each

The Rio Grande features a coal bunker tender,and a the smoke box door on the front of the boiler with a center mounted headlight and a bell mounted at the top of the smoke box. Available in 3 different Cab numbers. Note the Multi-color RIo Grande herald on the tender. This is correct, as we did a lot of reserach on it, but I do not think it has appeared on any N Scale model in the past.

Part#             Cab #
0001-3894	1801	Rio Grande	Center HL with top bell
0001-3895	1803	Rio Grande	Center HL with top bell
0001-3896	1804	Rio Grande	Center HL with top bell