Recently I got a first look at a museum-quality HO scale model of one of the original 2-10-4 “Texas” type steam locomotives. Produced by Broadway Limited Imports as part of their Brass-Hybrid series, this locomotive features a painted brass boiler, cab, and tender atop a die-cast metal chassis.
This pre-production engineering sample didn’t have finalized sound files, so I couldn’t try out the various sound effects. The production model will feature the new Paragon3 sound, smoke, and control system. The dual-mode decoder operates on both direct-current (DC) and Digital Command Control (DCC) layouts.
A big upgrade available on Paragon3 locomotives is compatibility with the BLI Rolling Thunder subwoofer system. I’ve had the chance to run other Paragon3 locomotives with this under-the-layout subwoofer and the effect is quite dramatic. Look for a product review in an upcoming issue of Model Railroader.
The Texas type. The 2-10-4 wheel arrangement was basically a bigger, more powerful version of the 2-8-4 Superpower locomotives developed by the Lima Locomotive Works. With the exception of an experimental 2-10-4 built for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, the first class of 2-10-4 locomotives were delivered to the Texas & Pacific Ry. in 1925. From then on, the wheel arrangement became known as a “Texas” type locomotive.
Known as class I1 on the T&P, these first 2-10-4s were joined by four more subclasses between 1927 and 1929. The T&P would roster a total of 70 Texas-type locomotives, mainly to handle fast freight over the rolling West Texas landscape between Fort Worth and El Paso.
The pre-production HO scale 2-10-4 is an accurate model of T&P no. 610, which was part of the I1a subclass delivered in 1927. The model’s dimensions match a drawing in the Model Railroader Cyclopedia, vol. 1: Steam Locomotives (Kalmbach Publishing Co.). The model is detailed and decorated to represent the prototype as it appeared in the late 1940s.
The locomotive and tender include many separately applied detail parts, including wire handrails, piping, and sand lines. The model’s paint scheme features the T&P’s distinctive “Russia Iron” boiler and cylinder jackets. All printing is properly placed and clearly printed, including the T&P herald on the front of each of the air pump shields.
The inside of the locomotive cab is also meticulously detailed with a painted interior and boiler backhead that matches prototype photos. The superdetailed model also has cab curtains, sunshades, and engineer and fireman figures.
Prototype T&P no. 610 is significant for its later career as an excursion engine. During the 1970s no. 610 led the American freedom train and later wore Southern livery for that railroad’s steam excursion program. BLI is also offering its model of no. 610 detailed and decorated for these stages of the prototype’s later career.
Running the locomotive. Although the model didn’t have finalized sounds, it did have a production-ready mechanism. The Texas type ran smoothly on our DC and DCC test tracks. The locomotive has a minimum radius of 22″ but looked much better rounding the broad 30″ curves on the Model Railroader staff’s Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout.
When run with a DCC system, the model crept along at less than 1 scale mph in speed step 1 and accelerated to 90 mph in speed step 28. On DC, I had to advance the throttle to 9 volts before the model started rolling smoothly at 2 scale mph. At 12 volts the model reached a 90 scale mph top speed. DC operators can use a BLI DC Master Analog Control Module to lower the required starting voltage, which will help increase the control range by a couple volts.
The locomotive has traction tires on its rear drivers as well as a die-cast metal frame, both of which helped it attain an impressive 11 ounces of pulling power. This is equivalent to 156 free-rolling HO scale freight cars on straight and level track.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Brass-Hybrid T&P 2-10-4 is $749.99. Delivery of the model is expected in spring 2016 and preorders are currently being taken. For more information, visit www.broadway-limited.com.
