Broadway Limited - 3096 - Locomotive, Diesel, Alco PA/PB - Nickel Plate Road - 181

Specific Item Information: Alco PA, NKP #181, As-Delivered Bluebird Scheme, Paragon2 Sound/DC/DCC

Model Information:
Features:

• Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation
• Motor Type: 5-Pole Can with Skewed Armature and Dual Fly Wheels
• Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Schemes
• Prototypical Light Operation with Golden White LED Headlight
• Beautifully Detailed, Accurately Modeled Locomotive
• Separately Applied Details such as grab irons, steps, and ladders
• Operating Sprung Diaphragms
• Constant Intensity Directional Lighting
• Traction Tire-Equipped for Maximum Traction
• Locomotive Composition: ABS with Die Cast Chassis
• A-Unit Length: 5.1"
• B-Unit Length: 4.9"
• A-Unit Weight (Powered): 4 oz
• Couplers: (2) Micro Trains #1015
• Recommended Minimum Radius: 9.75"

DCC Information:

• Paragon2 Sound and Control System
• Integral DCC Decoder with Back EMF for Industry Best Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC

Industry-Leading SOUND Features:

• Operates in DC and DCC (use DCMaster for DC Sound)
• Record and Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation
• 16-bit Sample Rate for exceptional high frequency sound clarity
• Playback Whistle for multiple whistle lengths and patterns
• Choice of 3 selectable Whistles/Horns
• Alternate Whistle/Horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played
• Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell
• Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys
• Johnson Bar Sound at Direction Change (Steam Only)
• Passenger Station Ambient Sounds - Controlled with Function Key
• Freight Yard related radio chatter - Controlled with Function Key
• Lumber Yard Ambient Sounds - Controlled with Function Key
• Farm related radio chatter - Controlled with Function Key
• Crew Radio Communications - Controlled with Function Key
• Maintenance Yard related radio chatter - Controlled with Function Key
• Demo Mode for display and demonstrations
• Grade Crossing Automatic Signal
• 8 Diesel Motor Revs (Diesel Only)
• Simple Programming with Integral DCC Decoder
• Automatic Forward/Reverse Signal - When activated, stopping triggers a stop horn toot. When moving forward from a stopped position, toots twice. When moving in reverse, toots three times.
• Engine sound intensity varies with load
• Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect
• EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings

Prototype History: ALCO PA (DL-304/DL-305) refers to a family of A1A-A1A diesel locomotives built to haul high-speed passenger trains that were built in Schenectady, New York, in the United States by a partnership of the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and General Electric (GE) between June, 1946 and December, 1953. They were of a cab unit design, and both cab-equipped lead A unit PA and cabless booster B unit PB models were built. ALCO's beautiful PA-1 is one of America's most famous locomotives. It was ALCO's entry into the passenger train diesel craze, competing directly with the E-Units from EMD. The first PA1 celebrated Alco's 75,000th loco to roll out of the erecting shop.

The PAs, as well as their cousins, the ALCO FAs, were born as a result of Alco's development of a new diesel engine design, the Model 244. In early 1944, development started on the new design. In 1946, this new locomotive made its debut on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. Southern Pacific PA's #6055 and 6056 were later put into service on the SP's coastal division, pulling trains such as the Morning Daylight.
Having more horsepower than their leading competitor, Alco felt that they had a fleet-ready competitive product. PA1's were sleek, stylish, powerful, and were very well suited for America's passenger and fast freight trains. Additionally, their 65' 8" bodies became excellent billboard advertising for the railroads that they served with pride.
The PA-1/PB-1 were rated 2,000 hp (1,490 kW) and the PA-2/PB-2 2,250 hp (1,680 kW). A total of 297 PA/PB have been built between 1946 and 1953.

ALCO locomotives were also used in service with the famous "California Zephyr" passenger train, adopting a number of paint schemes, the most famous of which was perhaps the "Prospector" paint scheme. This paint scheme was a striking two-tone silver and gold arrangement, highlighted by a series of four black stripes going down the side of the body.

Read more on Wikipedia
and on American-Rails.com

Road Name History: The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (reporting mark NKP), abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. Commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, the railroad served a large area, including trackage in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Its primary connections included Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Toledo.

The Nickel Plate Railroad was constructed in 1881 along the South Shore of the Great Lakes connecting Buffalo and Chicago to compete with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. In 1964 the Nickel Plate Road and several other mid-western carriers were merged into the larger Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W). The goal of the N&W expansion was to form a more competitive and successful system serving 14 states and the Canadian province of Ontario on more than 7,000 miles (11,000 km) of railroad. The profitable N&W was itself combined with the Southern Railway, another profitable carrier, to form Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) in 1982.

At the end of 1960 NKP operated 2,170 miles (3,490 km) of road on 4,009 miles (6,452 km) of track, not including the 25 miles (40 km) of Lorain & West Virginia. That year it reported 9758 million net ton-miles of revenue freight and 41 million passenger-miles.

The Nickel Plate Historical and Technical Society works to preserve the memory of the Nickel Plate Road.

From WIkipedia

Brand/Importer Information: Broadway Limited Imports, LLC defines itself as "the world's foremost producer of top-quality HO and N scale model trains".

The company was founded in 2002 and introduced its first N scale model in 2009.

Broadway Limited Imports is composed of a team of 15 fun loving individuals who are dedicated to creating the most realistic model railroading experience possible, with the best customer service possible.

The Broadway Limited Imports headquarters is located in Ormond Beach, Florida at 9 East Tower Circle. It's just under an hour's drive from Disney World.

About Broadway Limited Imports.