FACTORY SEALED Mantua 369-085 R.I.&P. 4-4-0 American Standard Locomotive #307

The 4-4-0 American Standard Locomotive is legendary in the history of American Railroads and, if you're so inclined, you can read about them in many of the other 4-4-0 listings on this web site. Here, however, it's all about two VERY special locomotives, the actual prototype and the Mantua homage represented here, whose relationship to each other may entail a small amount of poetic license.

The Mantua 369-085 Rock Island & Peoria #307 4-4-0 American Standard Locomotive, offered for one year only*, is described in the 1992 Mantua Catalog as being "An authentic reproduction replica of the 1867 Paris Exposition award winner." Historical data from this period is scarce at best and it took a lot of digging to confirm that, yes, a 4-4-0 locomotive, aptly named "America", featuring a striking real silver plated boiler, was manufactured by the Grant Locomotive Works of Patterson, N.J. (also home of the more famous Rogers Locomotive Works) in 1867 for display at the 1867 Paris Exposition and did indeed win a Gold Medal. We could find no exact date but the award winner's next appearance in the historical record was in the livery of the Rock Island & Pacific railroad bearing road number 109. The Rock Island & Peoria railroad DID precede and DID become the Rock Island and Pacific railroad so it is possible that, at one point, the original America was indeed rostered by the Rock Island & Peoria railroad bearing road number 307 (or 305*). We simply could find no evidence to support this possibility. So, is our model truly "An authentic reproduction replica of the 1867 Paris Exposition award winner." as described? You decide. In any case, our MRRHQ Collectible HO Scale Mantua 369-240 R.I.&P. 4-4-0 American Standard Locomotive is a rare, magnificent and intriguing example of model railroading history.

FEATURES:

• FACTORY SEALED C-10 Mint Condition with Excellent Original Box.
• Test Track run time only.
• Factory Installed Working Headlamp.
• Boiler, Cab, Tender body and frames of heavy cast metal.
• Castings are sharp and clean and include highly detailed boiler fronts, smoke stacks, valves, pipes and rivet heads.
• Real Brass hand rails, fittings, ornate steam domes.
• Three piece Brass Bell.
• Smooth, quiet brass worm gear with dual bearing drive shaft.
• Authentic brass hex-head screws for spacer-assembled side rods.
• Replaceable long-life brass axle bearings.
• Easy rolling needle point truck axles and Tender wheels of cadmium plated steel.
• Optional Upgrades Available:*
  • Rear Kadee Knuckle Coupler Installed.
  • TCS MC2-KAC Standard DCC Decoder Installed.
  • MRRHQ Custom CanDrive MC94 Can Motor Upgrade Installed.
• Mantua Catalog 1992 One Year Only.

HO Scale 1:87

By choosing ANY of the available options you acknowledge that you WILL NOT receive this item as Factory Sealed.

Dimensions: 7 3/8"L x 2"T x 1"W