GHQ Models - 55010 - Passenger Train, Steam, North American, Transition - Northern Pacific - Northern Pacific W-3 Mikado Coal Conversion Kit

Specific Item Information: This kit allows you to convert a generic Kato 2-8-2 Mikado (not included) into a prototype specific Northern Pacific W-3. In addition to enhancing the look of your locomotive, the added weight of the pewter boiler casting greatly improves the pulling capacity. Per Pack: 1 complete conversion kit that includes: • a cast pewter boiler, • a polyurethane tender, • cast pewter detail parts, • brass etched pieces, • brass wire, decals, etc.

Prototype History: During the transition period (1939 - 1957), it was common to see both steam and diesel motive power on North American railroads. However, it wasn't the case that the only steam locomotives were leftovers from the war. Many new model steam engines were produced during this period. These were the latest and best technology that steam technology produced. These were especially common on coal hailing routes where fuel was plentiful, but steam was also common on passenger routes.

One example was the Norfolk and Western J class. These pulled some of their flagship named trains such as the Pochontas, Powhattan Arrow and the Cavalier. Steam passenger service continued well into the 1950s when N&W started the dieselization process.

Road Name History: The Northern Pacific Railway (reporting mark NP) was a transcontinental railroad that operated across the northern tier of the western United States from Minnesota to the Pacific Coast. It was approved by Congress in 1864 and given nearly 40 million acres (160,000 km2) of land grants, which it used to raise money in Europe for construction. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in western Montana on Sept. 8, 1883.

The railroad had about 6800 miles of track and served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. In addition the company had an international branch to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The main activities were shipping wheat and other farm products, cattle, timber and minerals; bringing in consumer goods, transporting passengers; and selling land.

The company was headquartered first in Brainerd, Minnesota, then in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It had a tumultuous financial history, and in 1970 it merged with other lines to form the Burlington Northern Railroad.

Read more on Wikipedia.

Brand/Importer Information: GHQ has been a leader in the fine scale model industry since 1967. Over the years, we have dabbled in various model railroading projects. In 1993, we made a concerted effort to enter the N-Scale market. Our first offering was a Mi-Jack straddle crane. From there we went on to produce the finest line of N-Scale vehicles ever made.

Our vehicles have received glowing reviews from many model railroading magazines, including Model Railroader, N-Scale, Model Railroad News, Railmodel Journal, Model Railroading, and Railroad Model Craftsman.

All of the kits that you see listed on our website are available, but these kits are not in constant production. When overall customer interest on kits wanes, those items will be pulled. So, if you see something that you want, buy while it is available.

GHQ 28100 Woodside Rd Shorewood, MN 55331 Telephone (612-374-2693) Fax (952-470-4428)