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S&A Pacific #750

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#750 was built by ALCO in 1910 for the Florida East Coast where it was originally number 80. It’s intended purpose was to haul passengers across the “Flager Extension” on the Florida Keys. When the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane significantly destroyed the connecting bridges, several excess engines were sold off including #80. She was purchased by the Savannah & Atlanta Railroad and she became their #750. When the S&A dieselized in the early 1950s, #750 was still kept on the active roster to handle the work trains, she was officially retired in 1962. After retirement, she was acquired by the Southern Railway for use in their newly formed steam program. Eventually she found her way to the New Georgia Railroad and ran until 1989.

#750 is currently on display at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA

S&A #750 set includes: (1) Engine and (1) Tender

1935 MILW Hiawatha Released!

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K&L welcomes the 1935 Milwaukee Road Hiawatha Trainset to the roster!

Includes: Engines, (2) Tenders, Cafe, Coach, (2) Parlors, (2) Beaver Tail Observation Cars

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MILW A Hiawatha

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During the years of the Great Depression, very few railroads were spared devastating declines in stocks, as well as freight and passenger revenues. One way many railroads attempted to appeal to the public to maintain passenger ridership was to offer new sleek streamlined trains, which allowed for faster travel as lower operating costs. The Milwaukee Road was no exception. A fierce competition ensued between the CB&Q, the C&NW and the MILW to offer the fastest service between Chicago, IL and Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN. The CB&Q experimented with a diesel powered streamlined consist called “The Zephyr”, the C&NW recommissioned a number of 4-6-2 pacifics and existing passenger cars and created “The 400″ named for it’s 400 minute service, and finally, the MILW ordered (4) brand new 4-4-2 Atlantics from ALCO, and had their own shops produce (2) sets of (6) matching cars. The result was the most powerful 4-4-2 Atlantic ever produced (highest HP), and a fleet of passenger cars weighing 35% less than the conventional heavyweight equipement of the time. The locomotive had enormous 84” drivers, smaller cylinders, and an odd arrangement of the running gear stemming from the lead driver rather than second driver, which dramatically cut down piston speeds and was less taxing on the running gear overall. The new 1935 timetable called for 422 miles in 7 hours, with an average speed of 60mph, which included 11 stops along the route. Consists began in 1935 with a Tip Top Tap buffet lounge, (3) coaches, a parlor, and a beaver tail parlor observation car. By the end of the first year, another coach needed to be added to accommodate the growing popularity of the train. By 1937, the train had grown to 9 cars in length, and still need to grow. At this point, the MILW acquired modernized 4-6-4 F7 Hudsons, which resulted in the 4-4-2s being reassigned to other Hiawatha trains. Designed as oils burner, with a Leslie A-125 airhorn, the A Class was considered the first steam locomotive designed to cruise at 100mph on a daily basis, and that they did for 16 years until diesels took over in 1951.

Sadly, none of the (4) A Class locomotives built in 1935 and 1936 were saved from the scrapper’s torch.

MILW A Hiawatha set includes: Engine, (2) Tenders, Cafe, Coach, (2) Parlors and (2) Beaver Tail Cars

 

Steam Session for JR’s Coal Country – T:ANE, 2019 & 2022 ONLY! – Requires K&L PRR I1sa Decapod and JR Coal Country Route

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Coal Country Steam Session Now Available!

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An add-on session for Jointed Rail’s “Coal Country” Route which utilizes K&L’s PRR I1sa is now available.

Steam Session Add-on available HERE
Jointed Rail’s “Coal Country” Route available for purchase HERE
K&L’s PRR I1sa Decapod Coal Pack available for purchase HERE

PRR I1sa Decapod Released!

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K&L welcomes the PRR I1sa Decapod Heavy Coal Pack!

Includes: (2) Engines, (4) Tenders, (2) Hoppers each with 6 auto selecting variations and (2) Cabooses

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PRR I1sa Decapod

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A total of (598) I1s’ were constructed between 1916 and 1923 by Baldwin and Juniata. They were the largest 2-10-0 Decapods built in the US, producing 90,000 lbs of tractive effort. With large 30.5 x 32″ cylinders, a nearly 8′ diameter free steaming boiler and (10) 62″ drivers, the I1s were absolutely massive, taking advantage of the PRR’s heavy trackage and high allowed axle loads. Their power was undeniable, but they were not popular with the crews, for they were rough riding at all but low speeds. Because of the large boiler, the size of the drivers were limited, which made it impossible to mount counterweights large enough to balance the piston thrusts, resulting in the engine to pound constantly, giving them their nicknames: “The Holy Terror of the PRR”. In 1919, USRA Russian Decapod #1147 (eventually becoming Frisco’s #1630) was leased to the PRR for testing. It was found to be inadequate with the I1s producing practically twice the power. A test was performed in 1923 with I1s #4358 at the Altoona Test Plant. It was determined that at 21.36 mph, a total of 7000 lbs of coal were consumed in just 30 minutes! An average of 7 tons per hour! Eventually, (498) of the I1s’ were converted to I1sa’s, which utilized a 78% cut-off adjustment that increased the total tractive effort to a whopping 96,000 lbs! Their tenders were also found to be insufficient with the ferocious appetites for coal when assigned longer trains and longer distances. The standard 90F82 (9000 Gallons, Freight, 82″ Firing Deck) tender were swapped out for massive 210F82 (21000 Gallons, Freight, 82″ Firing Deck) welded tenders to accommodate for longer runs. Coal capacity was increased from 18.5 ton to 31 tons. The Coast to Coast Tenders as they were referred to were actually longer than the engine, and weighed more when loaded. After WWII, a number of modifications were made to the I1sa’s, including: Swapping the positions of the Headlight and Dynamo to make easier access for maintenance on the Dynamo, the tender lettering was spaced farther apart and many engines were equipped with cab signal systems. The whistles were also swapped on many engines. Originally equipped with a Banshee, crews expressed frustrations with them, and they were swapped out for traditional PRR 3 Chime whistles removed from older late 1800’s era passenger engines that were being scrapped. The PRR’s I1sa’s lasted until the very end of steam in 1957.

Today: Only (1) of the (598) PRR I1sa Decapods survive:

#4483 and a 90F82 tender are on display on a siding at the WNYRHS Headquarters in Hamburg, NY

PRR I1sa Decapod Heavy Coal Pack includes: Pre-War Engine, Short & Long Tenders, Post-War Engine, Short & Long Tenders, GLa Hopper, H21 Hopper and N5c Cabooses with and without Train Phone system

Coal Country used in the Promo video can be purchased HERE
A Steam Session is also available as a free add-on for Coal Country HERE

Greenbrier Presidential Express Released!

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K&L welcomes the Greenbrier Presidential Express! The most luxurious train of our time in the US that never came to be!

Includes: Engine, Tender, Aux Tender, Tool Car, Crew Car, (2) Lounge Cars, Diner & Observation Car

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Greenbrier Presidential Express

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With the collaboration of entrepreneurs Jim Justice, Jr. and Ross Rowland, Jr., the Greenbrier Presidential Express was to be the finest regularly scheduled passenger train in the country, and to top it off, it was to be powered by steam. Scheduled to run from Union Station in Washington, D.C. to the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV, the train was to be powered by former C&O J3a 4-8-4 #614, and the consist was to be comprised of (15) cars furnished with luxury comparable to that of the Orient Express; Red carpets on the platform leading to the train, deluxe cocktails, a Steinway Baby Grand piano, an on-board registered nurse, and at the conclusion of the 6 hour excursion, horse-drawn carriages waiting to take patrons to the resort. It was to be a grand excursion!

The plans were revealed for this majestic trip in June of 2011, and work immediately began on the train. Jim Justice invested $15 million into the acquisition and rehabilitation of the (15) cars which were stored and worked on at a plant in Bethlehem, PA. Ross Rowland had the C&O 614 moved to Clifton Forge, VA for storage until restoration work could begin. While there, the 614 was stripped of her rusting black paint and received a brand new paint scheme. Green and black were the primary colors, along with gold striping, and white paint on the hand rails.

Unfortunately, in May of 2012, the project was abruptly cancelled. Capacity of the Buckingham Branch Railroad which the train was to run on, and Federal approval of the train to run on it’s own were the ultimate demise of the project. According to an interview with Ross Rowland, the train faced the issue of not receiving government funding if it was to operate as a private entity. The train would need to either be it’s own railroad, or run under another railroad supervision, which was something Amtrak and CSX wanted no part of.

The (15) cars planned for use with the Greenbrier Express were ultimately sold at auction, and the 614 and her aux tender still reside on display at the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, VA, awaiting an eventual return to steam.

Greenbrier Presidential Express set includes: Engine, Tender, Aux Tender, Tool Car, Crew Car, (2) Lounge Cars, Dining Car and Private Observation Car.*
*Note, the consist was never finished or painted, so the paint scheme on the passenger cars depicted in this set is not necessarily what the final train was to look like.

C&O #2765 Released!

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K&L welcomes the NKP 765 masquerading as C&O 2765, along with a set of CSX Business Cars!

Includes: Engine, Tender, Aux Tender, Tool Car and (9) CSX Business Cars

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C&O Berkshire #2765

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In the first 28 years of the Collis P. Huntington Chapter of the NRHS’ sponsored New River trains, many different locomotives, both steam and diesel, powered the trips, but only 1 of the steam engines was actually a C&O locomotive, #614. Two other steam engines bearing the markings of the C&O have graced the rails of the Hinton Division. Reading T1 2101 dressed up in Chessie System colors for the Chessie Steam Special in 1977 and 1978 was one…and the other wasn’t so extravagant….at least at first it wasn’t.

In early 1993, a simple idea was tossed around of adding a 2 to the NKP 765, giving her an authentic C&O Kanawha running number for the annual New River Trips coming up that October. That simple idea grew to maybe reletting the tender. Eventually it was decided to lower the headlight, add a radiator cover in-between the front air compressors, and add C&O to the sand dome. With the exceptions of the sand dome and steam domes being reverse, not having a cast pilot and the larger cab, the 765 took on the appearance of a C&O K-4 Kanawha. And thus, the 2765 was re-born.

From June through October of 1993, the 2765 heading many excursions throughout Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and finally the 2 weekends of annual New River Trips from Huntington to Hinton, WV on the old C&O Hinton Division that October. This would not only be the last season that the 765 would power the New River Trips, but the final season of her operation in general. After accumulating 115,000 miles since the NKP’s last major overhaul in the late 1950’s (52,000 miles of that since her restoration to excursion service in 1979), the 765 was showing signs of wear and was sidelined for running gear work. Unable to have the engine ready the following year, Milwaukee Road 261 filled in for 765 and pulled the 1994 New River Trains. This turned out to be the final year of steam power on the C&O Hinton division, and on CSX trackage anywhere.

C&O #2765 set includes: Engine, Tender, Aux Tender, Tool Car and (9) CSX Business Cars

Southern Ks Consolidations Released!

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K&L welcomes the Southern Ks Consolidation to the K&L Roster!

Includes: (6) Engines, (5) Tenders and (3) Aux Tenders, as well as (5) TVRM Passenger Cars and (4) various other passenger cars!

 

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Southern Ks Consolidation

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Locomotives 630 and 722 were part of the Southern Railways Ks Consolidation class. 630 was built in February of 1904 by Alco (Richmond Works), and 722 was built in September of 1904 by Baldwin. Although built by different locomotive works, both locomotives were relatively identical in design with the exception of a few cosmetic changes. They sat on (8) 56″ drivers, powered by 24×30 cylinders, and carried boiler pressures of 200psi, producing 46,700 lbs of tractive effort. They were used on the Southern’s Murphy Branch between Murphy, NC and Asheville, NC. Both engines were retired in 1952 and were eventually sold to the ET&WNC and renumbered to 207 (630) and 208 (722).

The ET&WNC utilized them until 1967 when they were sold back to the Southern Railway to become staples in the newly formed Southern Steam Program. Receiving their old numbers again, 630 began pulling excursions in February of 1968, and 722 returned in July of 1970. 630 retained her black paint scheme, while 722 acquired the famed Southern Crescent Green scheme, matching fellow excursion engine 4501. Both engines were utilized fairly heavily until 1980 when they were loaned to the Tennessee Valley Railroad, having been replaced by larger locomotives CP 2839, T&P 610 and C&O 2716.

722 remained at the TVRM until 1992 when she was moved to Asheville, NC and put on display. She was sold to the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad in 2000 and remains there awaiting a future restoration. 630 was donated to the TVRM in 1999 and remains there pulling excursions on the TVRM line. In 2011, 630 kicked off the new Norfolk Southern 21st Century Steam Program pulling mainline excursions over the NS system.

Southern Ks Consolidation Megapack set includes:

  • 630 Engine, Tender and Aux Tender in current configuration
  • 630 Engine, Tender and Aux Tender in 1970’s Black configuration
  • 722 Engine, Tender and Aux Tender in 1970’s Green configuration
  • 722 Engine and Tender in pre-excursion Black configuration
  • ET&WNC 207 and 208 Engines and Tender
  • NS 1407 Tool Car
  • N&W Powhatan Arrow Coach
  • Silver Unnamed Coach
  • Southern Crescent Coach
  • (5) TVRM Excursion Cars

K&L Trainz Gift Cards!

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The Holiday Season has arrived!
For a limited time, K&L Trainz is offering Gift Cards of various values!

 

*Please note: A gift card code will be emailed to the recipient. It will not be listed in your K&L Trainz account, so please save the gift card code. You can add your gift card code towards your purchase when viewing your cart.

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Gift Card

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The Holiday Season has arrived!
Just in time! K&L Trainz is offering Gift Cards of various values!

*Please note: A gift card code will be emailed to the recipient. It will not be listed in your K&L Trainz account, so please save the gift card code. You can add your gift card code towards your purchase when viewing your cart.