In days gone by, the legendary steam locomotives were glorious haulers of precious freight and cargo. The journeyed from coast to coast, thundering across mountains and valleys of this great nation, transporting everything from minerals to passengers. With their great power and ground-breaking speeds, they bore such memorable names as the Bullet Nosed Betty, the Pacific and the Mountain Express. In the shadow of these splendid transcontinental locomotives, were the unsung heroes of the rail industry: the switcher locomotive.
Although the high-speed steam locomotives could deliver their cargo in record time, they were inefficient in short-distance deliveries to final destiations or precision redirecting. With blooming industrialization and the advent of large freight yards, a growing need developed for efficient "switching" of "shifting" of large blocks of freight cars. This is were the 0-8-0, affectionatly named Yard Bull came in. This behind-the-scenes behemoth, with its incredible traction and slower speed, could deliver the perfect combination of precision and brute force that was needed to accomplish this daunting task.
There were no long, magnificent cross-Canada trips for the humble switcher locomotive, but in a world were high speed seemed to be the ultimate goal, strength and precision were still needed and the Yard Bull was there to fulfill its duty.
The switcher locomotive were divided into two sub-classes: the P-5-e, manufactured by Baldwin in 1927 and the P-5-d manufactured by Canadian National in 1927 and in 1928 (numbered 8330-8339). The one we have replicated, the 8333, was undoubtedly, like its numerous counterparts, put to work as soon as it hit the rails and continued to toil well into the 1950s or until the very end of the steam era.
Though the Yard Bull may have lead an existence founded on hard work with no glory, we are proud to commemorate its invaluable contribution to the success of Canadian rail transportaion. Our collector's edition Yard Bull Switcher is a faithful reproduction of this classic locomotive and it is comapatible with all HO scale model electric train sets, including our entire President's Choice Collector's Series.
Engine Attributes:
- Engine weight: 300g (10.5 ounces)
- Power pickup from locomotive and tender car
- Opperating locomotive headlight and automatic backup light on tender car
- Heavy duty can motor
- coated brass flywheel
- Helical matched gears
- Intricately matched smooth running gear transmission
- Functional nickel-plated coined brass driving rods
- Metal boiler and tender hand rails
- Tender car with extended coal bunker
- Metal coupler lift bar on loco pilot deck and rear of tender car
- 24 karat gold-plated swivel bell
- Functional coupler in universal coupler box on pilot
- Authentically detailed, painted and lettered with unique collector's quality markings
- Will operate on 46cm (18in) radius oval track layout
Includes:
- Uniquely designe collector's quality 0-8-0 Switcher Sub-Class P-5-d awitcher steam locomotive with functioning headlight and front coupler
- 1 tender car with power pickup and automatic back-up light
- 5 individually numbered ore cars - the perfect compliment to the seires of cars from our 1997 President's Choice Mountain Express train set
- 1 caboose with specialty collector's graphics
- Quality brass track for oval layout
- Two-piece power pack with wall mount addapter and hand-held smooth-motion controller
- Assembly and operation instructions
- Limited warranty
Compatible with all popular HO brands, including all President's Choice train sets. Authentic period-sized cars are to scale.
Oval tack layout Includes:
- 1 curved 46cm (18in) radius terminal brass railer
- 11 curved sections of 46cm (18in) radius brass track with rail joiners
- 12 strait sections of 23cm (9in) brass track with rail joiners
- 10 extra brass rail joiners
- 26 track snap locks
- Spare couplers and track snap locks, conecting wires
