Model Attributes

• Running Noise (1 = low, 10 = high):  5
• Motor Type:  Can
• Window Glazing: Yes
• In-Cab / Interior Detail: Yes
• Lights:  None
• DCC:  None

       Please be sure to check out the photos.

       Notes: 

       NOTE: Model grading is shown in the "GRADING" tab

A LITTLE L4 / MOHAWK HISTORY:

The NYC called the 4-8-2 the Mohawk type. It was known as the Mountain type on other roads, but the mighty New York Central didn't see the name to be fitting on its famous Water Level Route, so it instead picked the name of one of those rivers its rails followed, the Mohawk River, to name its newest type of locomotive. Despite the more common name, the 4-8-2 was actually suited in many ways more to flatland running than slow mountain slogging, with its 4-wheel leading truck for stability at speed.

The NYC became the largest user of this wheel arrangement in North America, with 600 locomotives of this type built for its service; only the PRR came anywhere close, with 301 of the type.

The Mohawk type was the preeminent freight power of the system, displacing the Mikado from first line service. While other roads obtained much more massive freight power, the NYC, with its practically gradeless high-speed raceways along the rivers, needed speed, not lugging ability.

Fifty L-4 locomotives were produced by the Lima Locomotive Works in 1943. None of them had booster engines, although they were built to take them should they be ever needed in a dash, but they were not. The L-4s were truly dual purpose locomotives, and worked the heaviest freight and passenger trains during the war. The L-3 and L-4 classes had huge tenders riding on two six-wheel trucks that were almost as long as the locomotives hauling them, and were mostly coal space, a capacity for 43 tons of coal; water was taken en route using the tender scoop from track pans and thus the locomotives did not need to have that great an on-board water capacity. Some L-4s had Scullin Disc drivers. Many L-4 locomotives were fitted with smoke deflectors later on.