Piko 97834 Expert D&RGW 4003 Diesel Locomotive HO Gauge

Expert D&RGW 4003 Diesel Locomotive 1:87 scale model produced by Piko. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection. Features: Analogue DC Model This model mainly operates in USA This model is decorated in Rio Grande company markings This model is best suited to 438mm radius curves The powerful motor, combined with perfectly balanced flywheels, ensures smooth operation. The various lighting functions are implemented using state-of-the-art LED technology and can be easily digitally controlled with a suitable decoder. For easy retrofitting of analog models, these locomotives feature a PluX22 digital interface. The locomotives do not include a NEM coupler pocket. Details Southern Pacific 9010 is a rare and fascinating piece of North American rail history: a Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 C'C' diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in 1964 for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was part of a second production order of ML 4000 models, an experiment in high-horsepower diesel-hydraulic traction aimed at reducing the number of units needed in heavy freight service. SP began operating these German-built locomotives with the hope of getting more power per axle and better adhesion than contemporary American diesel-electric designs. 9010 produced 3,540 hp from two V16 Maybach diesel engines driving a hydrodynamic transmission, making it one of the most powerful six-axle diesel locomotives of its time in the United States. Southern Pacific painted the locomotive in its scarlet and lark dark gray “bloody nose” livery throughout its career. It was renumbered 9113 in 1965 and spent its short active life on freight assignments in California’s flat territories after proving less effective in mountain service. The entire SP diesel-hydraulic program ended in 1968 as U.S. railroads increasingly favoured diesel-electric power. After retirement, 9010 was converted into a camera car (8799) for use in locomotive simulator training and remained in service in that role until 1984. It later passed through the California State Railroad Museum and was acquired by the Pacific Locomotive Association. Volunteers at the Niles Canyon Railway have worked for years restoring it to its original appearance and mechanical condition. In 2019, 9010 returned to limited operation, making it not only the sole surviving ML 4000 C'C' built for North America but also the only preserved mainline diesel-hydraulic locomotive in the region.