Introduction

BLI 9430 HO Scale 2-8-8-0 “Bullmoose” SA-C-2 Steam Loco Union Pacific 3548 Stealth Hybrid

Pre 1944 Appearance

The 2-8-8-0 was known amongst railroads as the Consolidation Mallets as they were considered an extension amongst the common 2-8-0 Consolidation type locomotives. The locomotive type was originally experimented with the Santa Fe but the railroad never received more than one locomotive because of balance issues and a low tractive effort rating on the railroads steepest grades.

The Great Northern and Union Pacific revised the designs and proceeded to order several of these locomotives. The Union Pacific crews developed the nickname for the locomotives Bullmoose because they had the ability to pull the heaviest of freight trains over the railroads Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie Wyoming.

The Union Pacific eventually rostered 70 of these Mallets either built by its own shops or manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (Alco). They first went into service in 1918. As time went on, the Bullmoose locomotives received several upgrades and rebuilds before ultimately being replaced by the 9000 series, Big Boys, and Challengers.

In this first production run of the Bullmoose, BLI is offering the locomotive in two versions. They are building three prototypical road numbers in their Pre-1944 appearance, and three prototypical road numbers in their Post-1944 appearance. They are also building 1 locomotive in the Two Tone Gray Fantasy Scheme. Each model will be available with Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC electronics and smoke. In addition to the Paragon4 models, BLI is also building these models in Stealth Series. Stealth Series models are no sound models and are DCC-Ready.

FEATURES:

• Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation
• 5-Pole Can Motor with Skew Wound Armature
• Hand crafted Brass Boiler, Tender Body, and diecast Chassis for maximum Tractive Effort
• Prototypically Accurate Details for Each Road Number
• Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Ladders, Piping, Cab Glass, Whistle, Brass Bell, Markers, Numberboards, Air Tanks, and Many Others
• Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Schemes
• Prototypical Light Operation with Separately Controllable Headlight, Reverse Light, Cab Light, Front Numberboards, Rear Marker Light
• Factory-installed Engineer and Fireman Figures
• Two operating Kadee-compatible couplers
• Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power
• Will Operate on Code 70, Code 83, and Code 100 Rail
• Recommended Minimum Radius: 18 inches
• Coupler to Coupler length: 14.2 inches
• Wheel base: 12.4 inches