Hello again again folks, and welcome to another model train review!
Today we're looking another Bowser model of an interesting prototype, something Bowser seems to do pretty often.
So without further ado, let's get started...
Baldwin AS-416 History: Built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton from May of 1951 to December of 1955, a “whopping” 25 of these road-switchers would be produced, for four railroads. They were powered by a BLH 608A prime mover, which produced 1,625 horsepower that passed through a Westinghouse YG42B generator to power 4 Westinghouse 370DL traction motors (they had six axles, but only 4 were powered, the outers – an A1A-A1A arrangement). The A1A-A1A arrangement was, and is, used to reduce weight by eliminating two traction motors, but still spreading the weight across 6 axles, which is useful on shortlines and branchlines, whose track conditions may not be up to mainline standards.
(GE currently offers A1A-A1A trucks that have a mechanism that can raise the unpowered axles off the track slightly to improve traction on the powered axles)
The four railroads that purchased AS416 units were: Savannah and Atlanta (3), Columbus and Greenville (1), Norfolk Southern (17), and, interestingly, Office des Chemins de Fer Algeriens (Algerian State Railways) (4).
As I’ve mentioned before, Baldwin diesels were not particularly successful, so none of these would have an especially long working life, though NS would get good service from their units into the early/mid 70’s.
However, the vast majority of AS-416’s would be retired and scrapped by the late 70’s, with two remaining in preservation today NS 1616 and CAGY 606.
NS 1615 History: As we’ve encountered before on normal, non-preserved locomotives, 1615 doesn’t have a particularly interesting history.
It was built in March of 1955 for the original Norfolk Southern. It would haul freight around NS’s system until the early/mid 70’s, when it and all the NS Baldwins were retired. 1615 would not be as fortunate as preserved sibling 1616, and was subsequently scrapped.
Box info.
As I've mentioned before, early diesels often were set up to operate long hood first, and this one is no exception.
As I'll elaborate on later, the pickups, some wires, and other mechanical details, are pretty visible on the trucks.
I thought this area was particularly impressive, with all the hoses, railings, walkways, etc.
Most of those hoses are for the MU (multiple units) capability, which allows the crew of one locomotive to operate all the units in a multi loco consist. Baldwins had a proprietary system for this, which meant only Baldwins could MU with Baldwins - EMD, GE, FM, etc could all operate together.
And the issues...
Seems like there were an abundance of molding issues.
They were relatively minor, but still easily noticable to a novice like me.
Yes, I realize the caboose is a modern Norfolk Southern one, but it's the closest I have.
Ratings~
Good: Overall the model is well made, and operates accordingly. Paint looks very nice, with the stripes being particularly impressive. The lettering and stickers are all applied well, and look great. There is an abundance of separate details, all of which are well made and well applied.
The DCC works as it should, and the sounds are all top-notch, and the lighting is very nice, as well.
It operates very nicely, is smooth and powerful, and handles all my trackwork perfectly.
It weighs in at a decent 11.2oz.
Bad: I noticed a few molding issues: on the top around the horns and exhaust, a few noticeable spots of “bubbles” on the frame, and the rear corner of the cab (over battery box) on the engineer’s side. Also, a very noticeable glue blur/excess glue on the rear pilot. And the last issue I found – the pickups are very obvious and visible from the sides.
Overall: Mechanically, it has no faults whatsoever; it runs and sounds great.
It also looks great for the most part, but a few issues let it down somewhat. The molding issues are really noticeable, even to a novice like myself; it seems they may need to check out their molds and/or machines. The excess glue blur is a quality control issue – a little spot of “shiny” around a part from too much glue is understandable, but in this case it’s a little much because it’s such a comparatively large area, and on black paint it especially stands out.
The pickups are seemingly a design issue – I realize a Baldwin locomotive prototype will have a different truck design than an EMD, GE, ALCo, etc, but that means a little extra effort needs to be made to get it right for each individual prototype. Pickups shouldn’t be visible except from under the model, if that.
All that said, it’s still a decent model overall, none of these issues is that major, and they don’t effect performance.
I can easily recommend it.
That's all for today - as always, thanks for looking!
