N FP7A F7B Diesels Milw.Rd./Post 1955 Scheme
The Milwaukee Road used a total of three different locomotives to pull the consist between Chicago and Olympia, WA in the early 50’s – two electrics (used on electrified portions of the journey) and the EMD FP7 – a specialized variation of the F7A which was lenghtened to accomodate a larger water resevoir for its steam generators (a necessity for long distance passenger service like that of the Olympian Hiawatha). While E units could also have filled this role (and did, in later years), their A1A truck design (spreading their weight and giving them less traction) made them less than ideal for handling the steep grades of the Milwaukee’s route through the Rocky Mountains.
For the Olympian Hiawatha release, Kato will be making a new FP7A locomotive and a new tooled version of the F7B featuring a winterization hatch (a necessity for trips through the northern US and across the Rockies!)
Model Features:
- Totally new FP7 mechanism and new F7B shell to reflect the prototypical appearance of the Milwaukee equipment
- DCC friendly mechanism
- A-unit LED has directional headlights and illuminated number boards
- Locomotives have a powerful five pole motor with all wheel electrical pickup and blackened wheels
- KATO magnetic knuckle couplers
- Drop in DCC compatible with the Train Control Systems K0D8 series and Digitrax DN163K0B
