O FM Trainmaster w/PS3 MILW by MTH (MTH30200951)

30-20095-1

Product Line: RailKing
Roadname: Milwaukee Road
FM Trainmaster Diesel Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 - Milwaukee Road

Cab No. 418

First appeared in: 2012 Volume 1

Fairbanks Morse got into the locomotive business because it made submarine engines. FM's unique opposed-piston diesel engine powered about half the U.S. Navy's World War II submarine fleet and developed a great reputation for reliability; the adaptation to railroad equipment during and after the war seemed like a natural transition.

In the opposed-piston motor, each cylinder had a piston at either end and the combustion chamber in the middle. There were no valves or cylinder heads. Intake and exhaust occurred through holes in the cylinder walls. The upper and lower banks of pistons each powered a separate crankshaft, and the two crankshafts were linked together to power the locomotive. While this sounds like a complex way to build an engine, the O.P. diesel in fact had several advantages over a conventional motor: less moving parts, terrific acceleration, and about double the horsepower per cylinder.

In 1953 the O.P. engine reached its zenith in the Trainmaster. Introduced at the Railroad Manufacturers' Supply Association show that year, FM's new locomotive took the show by storm. It was the most powerful single-motored diesel locomotive of its era and had a brawny body to match its bold name. Emblazoned in bright yellow and red, four Trainmaster demonstrators barnstormed the country and walked away with any consist the railroads threw at them. For one brief moment, Fairbanks Morse looked like a contender.

Ultimately, however, the opposed-piston engine proved ill-suited to locomotive use. The bone-jarring railroad environment was much rougher on the motor than a submarine cushioned by an ocean. The top crankshaft proved prone to oil leakage. Perhaps most important, maintenance was a nightmare. Whereas a single bad cylinder in an Electro-Motive diesel could be accessed by pulling off one cylinder head, a cylinder repair in an O.P. engine required removal of the top crankshaft and removal or disconnection of the entire top bank of cylinders - which also meant the roof of the locomotive had to come off. Ultimately, only 127 Trainmasters were sold to 11 U.S. and Canadian railroads.

In the world of O gauge railroading, however, the Trainmaster was a hit from the moment it went on the market in the mid-1950's. The engine's massive size and tremendous pulling power have made it one of the most-loved engines among 3-rail operators for nearly half a century. The Trainmaster returns to the RailKing Scale lineup in 2012 complete with the digital sound, amazing slow speed capability, and variable smoke output that make Proto-Sound 3.0 the best sound and control system in O gauge. Our model also features crew figures in the cab, LED illuminated number boards, headlights and illuminated front and rear marker lights.
Features
Directionally Controlled Headlights
Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears
Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
(2) Remotely Controlled Proto-Couplersr
Colorful Paint Scheme
Metal Chassis
Metal Handrails and Decorative Horn
(2) Precision Flywheel Equipped Motors
Intricately Detailed ABS Body
(2) Cab Figures
Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments
Operating Smoke Unit
Illuminated Number Boards
Proto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring: Freight Yard Proto-Effects
Unit Measures:17" x 2 5/8" x 3 7/8"
Operates On O-31 Curves Diesel DCC Features
Headlight
Bell
Whistle/Horn
Start Up/Shut Down
Rear Coupler
Front Coupler
Engine Sounds On/Off
Sound Volume
Ditch Lights Auto/On/Off
Forward Signal
Reverse Signal
Grade Crossing Signal
Cab Light On/Off
Extended Start Up
Extended Shut Down
Rev Up
Rev Down
Coupler Slack Sound
Coupler Close
One-Shot Doppler
Feature Reset
Idle Sequence 1
Idle Sequence 2
Idle Sequence 3
Brakes Auto/Off
Cab Chatter Auto/Off
Clickety-Clack Auto/Off

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