Mantua End of Steam Series Collector B&O Passenger Train Set

THE LOCOMOTIVE

When the models of this set were produced, way back in the halcyon days of the 1970's, the model railroading world was quite different than today. First, the hobby was in it's heyday, brand names were plentiful and, with no World Wide Web or Internet, information and research was much harder to come by. Further, production tooling/unit was considerably more expensive. Model locomotive manufacturers of the day, many of whom are now gone, on the one hand had to build locomotive types in road names that people would buy and, in the other hand, needed to maximize their tooling investment. These two hands were, sometimes, at odds with each other. Case in point, the beautiful B&O 2-8-4 Berkshire Locomotive included in this set. Thanks to today's information access we know that B&O NEVER had a Berkshire locomotive on it's roster. Again, information on railroad rosters was very hard, and expensive, to come by in the good old days and we'll give Mantua the benefit of the doubt. They weren't guilty of deception but of needing to maximize their tooling cost and to sell locomotives. After all, B&O was/is a VERY popular road name and, as far as Mantua knew, might have had a 2-8-4 or two on their roster. So, does this make this great model loco more or less desirable. You be the judge.

THE LOCOMOTIVE

Mantua 317-025 B&O 2-8-4 Berkshire Locomotive #4420 with "Vandy" Tender

FEATURES:

• New C-9 Mint Condition with Excellent Original Box.
• MRRHQ Locomotive Works serviced, tested and certified.
• Test Track run time only.
• Sealed and stored in an air-tight custom fitted heavy zip lock bag.
• Operating Headlamp.
• Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom Directional Tail Lamp.
• "Long Haul" tender body of pressure-cast Zamac high impact plastic.
• Steel hand rails, rods and fittings.
• Brass Bell.
• Powerful 5-Pole Motor.
• Smooth, quiet nylon gears assembled on knurled axles.
• Slippage-free oversize knurled drive wheel axles.
• Authentic brass hex-head screws for spacer-assembled side rods.
• Easy rolling needle point truck axles of cadmium plated steel.
• Heavy cast metal locomotive body, tender frame and 6-wheel tender trucks.
• Upgraded with Front and Rear all metal Kadee Knuckle Couplers.
• Optional Upgrades Available:
  • TCS T1 Standard DCC Decoder Installed.
  • TCS T1KA Standard DCC Decoder w/KEEP ALIVE Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101 Digital DCC/Sound Decoder Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101KA DCC/Sound Decoder w/KEEP ALIVE Installed.
  • Engineer Figure Installed in Cab.

THE COACHES

Introduced in 1956, Mantua was the first to produce aluminum extruded Passenger Coaches. We have documented this achievement for this set by including an Original Framed Advertisement from the February 1956 issue of Model Railroad Magazine. Time marched on and, in the the 1970's, Mantua transitioned their rolling stock production to plastic injection molding as it become more affordable. Even WITH the Internet, we're not sure exactly when these coaches were produced or exactly when they were discontinued. Considering our ignorance we had no problem adding some serious upgrades making them, hopefully, even more unique. Enjoy.

• Mantua 221-25 B&O 85' Streamlined Baggage Coach.
• Mantua 223-25 B&O 85' Streamlined Passenger Coach.
• Mantua 225-25 B&O 85' Streamlined Room Coach.
• Mantua 226-25 B&O 85' Streamlined Observation Coach.

FEATURES

• Good Original Boxes.
  
• All Coaches Upgraded with MRRHQ MagLED® ML1 Evolutionary Model Railroad Lighting Systems.
• All Coaches Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom Passenger Silhouettes & Crystal Clear Acrylic Windows.
• All Coaches Upgraded with Knuckle Couplers.
• Room Car Observation Deck Upgraded with 15 Piece Custom Crystal Clear Windows.
• Room Car Observation Deck Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom Seating Module.
• Observation Car Upgraded with Rear Spotlight.

HO Scale 1:87