The USMRR provided strategic direction and operational management to the North’s transport efforts. Col. Daniel C. McCallum, former superintendent of the Erie RR, replaced Gen. Herman Haupt as its head.
This O gauge model from SMR Trains re-creates a locomotive made by the Mason Locomotive Works for the Army. Originally named Col. D.C. McCallum, it was renamed Pocahontas after Confederate troops captured the 4-4-0 and it was used by the Richmond & Danville. A replacement 4-4-0 was named Gen. McCallum by the USMRR.
SMR Trains offers both the USMRR Gen. McCallum and the Richmond & Danville Pocahontas versions.
Opening the box
SMR Trains has a unique niche in the O gauge world – highly detailed, premium-quality locomotives and rolling stock from the 1860s-90s.
The 4-4-0 is so beautiful that I was tempted to handle it wearing cotton gloves! While it’s delicately detailed, using reasonable care in placing your fingers should prevent any damage.
The decoration of the locomotive comes from a time when locomotion was still comparatively new – something amazing, scientific, and larger than life. Locomotives were painted shades of gold, blue, red, yellow, and just about any color under the sun. Tenders and even the locomotive might have anything from artwork to deer antlers mounted on the body.
On the mechanical side, for such a simple locomotive design you’ll find controls, pipes, levers, and other elements. One of my favorites was the sand line going straight down from the sand dome to the track.
From the pilot to the link couplers, this model packs a lot of visual punch. The Gen. McCallum has terrific gold-toned accents, such as boiler bands, brass rails along the boiler, and gold-painted steam chests. The pilot and drive wheels have white rims, red spokes, and gold centers.
The running boards have wood texture and gold trim on the sides as do the “fenders,” arching over the drivers. There is elaborate decoration, with blue and gold on the center and spokes.
The tender has an intricate painting of General McCallum himself, angels, and assorted flags. Both sides of the headlight have an era-appropriate stylized American eagle.
The boiler top has a bell that can move, a tether, and a jumbo whistle atop the steam dome. The steam and sand domes have gold-colored sides and blue caps with rings of gold stars around the diameter.
The cab lacks a crew, but it does have an appropriately simple backhead.
The only esthetically unappealing element of the model deals with the tender. A wood load comes ready for you to slide into place. This does not completely cover the metal bit protecting the circuit board and motor (the motor is in the tender). So, depending on the angle when you look at the locomotive, you may glimpse a circuit board over the top of a toolbox.
I surmise this is done to allow some venting for the motor. Regardless, if you have access to a small twig from a tree – and a knife – you can probably carve your own cosmetic fix for this.
On the test track
Generally, motor operation was smooth. Moderate and high-speed operation was very smooth, though at the low end it was a bit uneven.
Our conventional low-speed average was 10.4 scale miles per hour, and the high-speed average was 70.4 scale mph.
Assessing drawbar pull was a bit trickier than usual due to the delicate nature of the model. The locomotive measured a drawbar pull of 6 ounces.
The 4-4-0 has a Seuthe smoke unit. Don’t apply smoke fluid through the cinder screen; instead, gently lift the screen and apply drops right down the tube. When I attempted to lift the screen from the stack, a metal strap (which seemed the logical grip) began to separate from the screen, so I used a pin to lift the screen. A gentle smoke trail kicked in after the third lap.
Should you want to run some conventional knuckle-coupler cars with this locomotive, there is a dummy coupler adapter (included) that you may opt to install to replace the link coupler.
The SMR Trains Gen. McCallum is a first-rate historical model that would be worthy of spending its life in a display case – but which has the ability to get up and get going with a freight or passenger train. The model’s brass construction and detailed decoration may have you contemplating your own Civil War-era railway line.
Features: O-42 operation, brass construction, can-style motor, smoke unit
Made by SMR Trains. Go to smrtrains.com to see the line of available Civil War-era trains and rolling stock
This is a superior model! Two or 3 Rail, You will not find a more accurate CW era engine.