Rivarossi 1530 C&A ALCO P-16A 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific Locomotive #5299

The Chicago & Alton Railroad was a pioneer of luxury passenger service. In the nineteenth century, the first sleeper cars and the first true dining cars saw service on the C & A. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the railroad's premier run between Chicago and St. Louis was named the Alton Limited, often referred to as the "red train" because of its trademark livery. In 1924, although on the verge of bankruptcy, the C & A updated the Alton Limited into a railroading legend. Fast, Heavy Pacific type locomotives pulled a brand new set of Pullman steel-sided heavyweight cars, all painted in matching shades of maroon and red. Inside, the cars featured luxurious rosewood, plush green fabrics and even Venetian blue smoking couches. From its debut at Chicago's then under-construction Union Station, the "new" Alton Limited held the title "Handsomest Train in the World."

Technological Advances by the Alton Railroad

• The Alton was the first railroad to install a sleeping car designed by George Pullman and built in the C&A’s Bloomington shops. This went into service on the Chicago to East St. Louis line on September 1, 1859.
• The Alton was the first railroad to install a dining car, the Delmonico, in regular service. It was built by George Pullman in the CB&Q Railroad’s Aurora, Illinois shops. Two more dining cars, the Tremont and the Southern were also built and leased by the Chicago and Alton, providing dining car service on all of its Chicago to East St. Louis trains.
• In 1932 the Alton was the first Chicago-St. Louis Railroad to install air conditioning on its passenger trains.

Alton ALCO P-16A 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific Locomotive #5299

FEATURES:

• Upgraded C-7 Condition with Good Original Box. (Repaired minor & common damage to Left Upper Handrail Mount)
• Test Track run time only.
• MRRHQ Locomotive Works serviced, tested and certified.
• Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom High Performance LED Headlamp.
• Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom Factory Quality LED Back-up Light w/Plastic Lens.
• Two-piece boiler, cab and tender of pressure-cast high impact plastic.
• 12 Wheel Long Haul Tender.
• Steel main and side rods, guides, hand rails, fittings and coupler lift bars.
• Many additional fine details.
• Beautiful 4-Color Paint.
• Powerful state-of-the-art can motor.
• Scale 73" Drivers.
• Easy rolling steel needle point truck axles.
• Upgraded with working rear McH54 Knuckle Coupler.
• Optional Upgrades Available:
  • TCS MC2-KAC Standard DCC Decoder Installed.
  • TCS MC2-KAC Standard DCC Decoder w/KA4 Keep Alive Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101 DCC/Sound Decoder Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101Ka DCC/Sound Decoder with Keep Alive Installed.
  • Awesome Cal-Scale 2006 Brass Feedwater System w. Shield, Radiator and Equalizing Tank Painted and Installed.
• The FIRST ALTON: Made in Italy. Production year 1979.

HO Scale 1:87