WORLDWIDE SHIPPING!  OPENING HOURS: MON - SAT 10AM to 4.30PM / 10AM to 4PM SUN & Bank Holidays

Choose a category...
Welcome to Kernow Model Rail Centre  /   Call our team on 01209 714099 for all enquiries & orders  /   Post Free UK Orders over £250. More details >>>

0 x item(s)

99 selected products
  • LS-031 Proses O Scale 2 X Billboards No: 2 Magic Bra + Sammies
  • 811505 Rapido HR Loch Class No.131 'Loch Shin' - DCC SOUND
  • 968504 Rapido Port of Par Bagnall - Alfred Port of Par Yellow
  • R406 Hornby Colour Light Signal
  • A02101 Airfix Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c 1:72 Kit
  • GM1822 GM184 Gaugemaster Birch Trees - Pack of 3
  • 38-625A Bachmann BR FGA Outer Flats 2-Pack BR Blue
  • STFS-8 Plastruct Fineline Square Tube
  • 7P-002-001UD Lionheart Trains BR Mk1 Maroon BCK
  • TT-EAL-104E Revolution Trains EALNOS JNA/MMA 81 70 5500 164-5
  • 811006 Rapido HR Loch Class No.14383 'Loch An Dorb'
  • W-013 Proses 18 pcs 12mm Diameter Round Windows HO/OO
  • LS-009 Proses HO-OO Double Engine Loco Shed Laser-Cut Kit
  • 927006 WSL Rapido Diagram 1426 Van number 47159 - SR late brown
  • A05119A Airfix Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX
  • TT3040M Hornby BR Terrier 32655
  • 8264 KS Metals Rectangular Brass Tube
  • 22620 Lenz BM3 Braking Module
  • 59029 ESU LokPilot 5 Basic DCC 21 Pin wire Wire Harness
  • 1068 Heljan PCA Tank Wagon BCC Grey 10738
  • 7P-002-101U Lionheart Trains BR Mk1 Crimson & Cream BCK
  • TT-EAL-101D Revolution Trains EALNOS JNA/MMA 81 70 5500 442-5
  • 76JM025 Oxford Diecast Morris J2 Paralanian 1963 Sage Green
  • 974501 Rapido MR 483 No.502 Midland Railway Royal Train
  • 951004 Rapido GWR 44xx No.4406 G W R Wartime Green
  • 974003 Rapido MR 483 No.518 Midland Railway Crimson
  • 3931 Heljan Tango O2/1 Steam Locomotive number 3481 LNER
  • TT6040 Hornby GTParker & Sons 7 Plank Wagon
  • PO307 Metcalfe Shop Fronts Stone - Card Kit
  • PA39 Parkside by Peco Wagon Load Kit - Limestone
  • OR76TOT005 Oxford Rail GWR Totem A Plain Grey
  • 951501 Rapido GWR 44xx No.4400 Great Western Green - DCC SOUND
  • R7350 Hornby Skaledale Victorian End of Terrace House Left End
  • SB003J LSWR 10 Ton Goods Brake Van number 54551
  • 370-165SF Graham Farish The Thanet Flyer SOUND FITTED Train Set
  • KMR-305B Rapido Class 16XX Steam Locomotive number 1628
  • J6003 Airfix Quick Build BAE Hawk Black
  • PA17 Parkside by Peco Coal Loads for HBA / HEA Coal Wagons
  • OR76CPK002 Oxford Rail Carflat Pack 1970s Cars
  • 9623 WSL Heljan Newton Chambers Car Transporter Pack - BR Blue
  • 33-306E Bachmann GWR 20T 'Toad' Brake Van BR Grey (Early)
  • N35TA-205A WSL Revolution Trains 35 Ton Class A Tank Twin Pack
  • 811005 Rapido HR Loch Class No.131 'Loch Shin'
  • ST227 Peco Setrack Curved No 2 Radius
  • 3941 Heljan Tango O2/4 Steam Locomotive number 63924 in BR Black
  • PC77 Parkside Dundas BR 21 ton Hopper Wagon Kit
  • E87041 WSL EFE Rail SPA Open Wagon 460547 EWS DB Weathered
  • BFS-10 Plastruct Fineline I Beams
  • FT-HO-01 Proses HO/OO Flexible Track Holder
  • 98010 WSL Bachmann Thomas & Friends S.C.Ruffey
  • DCW-LRD DCC Concepts Locomotive and Stock Weathering Powders
  • 932508 WSL Rapido LNER Y7 Steam Loco No.6 NCB
  • 4F-028-218 WSL Dapol 45ft Curtain Side Containter Stobart Pack
  • 21010 Lenz Digital LH01 Hand Controller
  • 811004 Rapido HR Loch Class No.127 'Loch Garry'
  • GM1824 GM186 Gaugemaster Poplar Trees - Pack of 3
  • HL-K-02 Proses 2 X Big Machineary Crates
  • TT-EAL-102C Revolution Trains EALNOS JNA/MMA 81 70 5500 059-7
  • SL96 Peco Medium Radius Turnout Left Hand Insulfrog
  • ST244 Peco Setrack Right Hand Curved Turnout
  • 7P-002-101 Lionheart Trains BR Mk1 Crimson & Cream BCK
  • GM1642 GM178 Gaugemaster Wild Flowers
  • SSMP218 Wills Cobblestones Materials Pack
  • 951502 WSL Rapido GWR 44xx No.4408 Great Western Green
  • PC79 Parkside Dundas GWR Horsebox Wagon Kit
  • HL-K-06 Proses 2 X Steel Loads
  • VA13319 Corgi Vanguards Ford Capri MkI 3.0 GXL - Daytona Yellow
  • KMR-302A Rapido Class 16XX Steam Locomotive number 1646
  • TT-EAL-103E Revolution Trains EALNOS JNA/MMA 81 70 5500 505-9
  • 951008 Rapido GWR 44xx No.4401 BR Early Crest Plain Black
  • E85705 EFE Rail Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 Tank Green 1700 Wissington
  • 974001 Rapido MR 483 No.502 Midland Railway Royal Train
  • LS-006 Proses Laser-Cut 4 Car Shed Kit HO/OO
  • PA40 Parkside by Peco Wagon Load Kit - Coal
  • N35TA-104A Revolution Trains 35 Ton Class A Tank
  • 974004 Rapido MR 483 No.70 SDJR Blue
  • TT6034 Hornby TTA Tanker Shell-BP
  • PA64 Parkside SR Wagon Tarpaulin
  • 76MM015 Oxford Diecast Morris Minor Van
  • ATD038 ATD Models Slate Roofing Texture Pack (8 x A4 Sheets)
  • 45092 WSL Heljan Class 45/0 Diesel Locomotive D12 BR Green
  • ST261 Peco Setrack Curved Level Crossing for second radius
  • 811502 Rapido HR Loch Class No.119 'Loch Insh' - DCC SOUND
  • SSMP215 Wills Limewashed Stone Materials Pack
  • 968002 Rapido Port of Par Bagnalls Twin Pack - Lined Light Green
  • A05141 Airfix British Bristol Bulldog Mk.II (1:48 Scale)
  • A05126B Airfix Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I 1:48 Scale Kit
  • PC82 Parkside Dundas GWR 10 Ton China Clay Wagon Kit
  • 37-688 Bachmann 14T Tank Wagon 'Power Petrol' Buff
  • R7169 WSL Hornby Ballast - Gneiss
  • ATD013 ATD Models Bus Depot Card Kit
  • 33-307B Bachmann GWR 20T 'Toad' Brake Van BR Bauxite (Early)
  • LS-004 Proses Laser-Cut Cottages Kit (2 cottages) HO/OO
  • 914006 WSL Rapido HR Jones Goods 4-6-0 Steam Loco 17917 LMS
  • GM1403 Gaugemaster Light Brown Flock 30g
  • 908019 WSL Rapido Diagram V6 Iron Mink No. W204925 - BR grey
  • 936514 WSL Rapido E1 Steam Locomotive number 30 - Hartley
  • 2452 Heljan Class 24/0 Diesel Loco - D5072 - BR TT Green
  • 126-4014-DCC WSL Kato Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Loco 4014
126-4014-DCC Kato Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Locomotive number 4014. 126-4014-DCC Kato Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Locomotive number 4014. 126-4014-DCC Kato Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Locomotive number 4014.
Click an image to enlarge.

126-4014-DCC WSL Kato Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Loco 4014

by Kato

Add To Comparison

126-4014-DCC Kato Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Locomotive number 4014.

THE HISTORY OF THE BIG BOY

The Union Pacific Railroad (UP) 4000-class steam locomotive “Big Boy” is the world’s biggest and strongest steam locomotive, with the world’s only 2DD2 (4-8-8-4) axle arrangement, a gross weight of 507 t, and a total length of 40 m, including the tender. After receiving an order from the Union Pacific Railroad, the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) constructed 25 Big Boys between 1941 and 1944, which were active until 1959. In 2019, a year that marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of North America's first transcontinental railroad, No. 4014 resumed operation after about 60 years of having been preserved in working condition.

The Union Pacific Railroad, which was founded in 1869 to be in charge of the construction of North America's first transcontinental railroad, manages a rail line network whose focus is the transcontinental route that runs from Omaha, Nebraska in the Midwest through Salt Lake City, Utah, and splits in two to arrive in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles, California at the west coast. It is the oldest among all of the USA’s transcontinental routes and prides itself in having transported the largest volume of goods as the main railroad that connected to all important cities of the west coast during its time.

The most perilous pass for this line is the Wasatch Range in the Rocky Mountains, located at the border of Wyoming and Utah. This section of the line has an incline that reaches 11.4‰ and goes on for over 100 km. Although it is not so steep, the over 100 km long uphill incline was menacing to locomotives that had to pull over 1.6 km long huge freight trains.

The Union Pacific Railroad set up a locomotive of great size for this section early on. In 1936, the 3900-class 'Challenger', a simple articulated locomotive, also nicknamed the Big Boy’s “Big Brother”, was introduced. Although the Challenger was powerful and capable of high-speed performance, it was not enough to pull all trains by itself when crossing the Wasatch Range, which is why double heading was often necessary.

BUILDING THE WORLDS BIGGEST STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

In 1940, World War II had already come to a boil in the West. Due to a rising demand in military transport, William Jeffers, the president of the Union Pacific Railroad, sensed the need to reinforce transportation capacities even further. Thus, he ordered Otto Jabelmann, vice-president and leader of the research and development department, to develop “a steam locomotive that possesses the ability to pull 3300 t heavy freight trains across the Wasatch Range on its own.” To achieve this, an enormous locomotive called a “2DD2” (4-8-8-4) that was equipped with a huge boiler and firebox and included two units of running gear between the leading truck and the trailing truck was designed.

In November 1940, UP ordered 15 of these locomotives from the American Locomotive Company. In January of the next year, 5 more were added to the order for a total of 20 locomotives for the first run, which was completed between August and October of 1941. They were given the numbers 4000-4019. Each of them cost about $265,000 per locomotive, which corresponds to about $4,200,000 today.

In 1944, transportation capacities increased rapidly and 5 more locomotives (No. 4020-4029) were added. This group, which constitutes the second run, had no cooling tube on the handrail deck and instead had adopted a mechanical cooling system. Furthermore, there were differences in the weight because different metals were used. In 1946, the first diesel locomotive for the Wasatch Range was introduced, and after 1948, operations between Ogden and Green River decreased, with the activity steadily moving towards the east. Because the cost for coal and labor had risen after World War II, the times had changed from favoring steam to diesel locomotives. Still, the Big Boy was one of the steam locomotives that kept running until the very end.

On July 21, 1959, the 18 year long run time of the Big Boy came to an end with No. 4015 pulling freight trains on its usual route from Laramie to Cheyenne one last time. Most of the Big Boys were stored in working condition until 1961, but today only 8 of the 25 are left.

THE RESTORATION

In December 2012, the Union Pacific Railroad expressed an interest in restoring the world’s biggest steam locomotive, the Big Boy, to active service. In 2013, an agreement was reached about the transfer of No. 4014, which was stored at the RailGiants Train Museum in California. In 2019, a year that marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of North America's first transcontinental railroad (1869), No. 4014 once again resumed operation after roughly 60 years. Today, its stirring form can be observed when it transports passengers as an excursion train on anniversaries and the like.


THE MODEL

For KATO, a manufacturer who specializes in model trains and has experience creating models of steam locomotives from countries all over the world, creating an N-gauge model of the Big Boy was a dream come true. Still, a lot of challenges came with creating this huge locomotive – which is as big as two regular Japanese D-type locomotives put together – with a quality that was equal to their work until now.

In spring 2023, KATO will bring this world famous steam locomotive to the market as a 1/160 N-gauge model, making full use of their knowhow and skills in creating steam locomotive models.

FEATURES

  • Capable of navigating 11” (282mm) radius curves thanks to its articulated frame.
  • An all-new synchronized twin-motor coreless drive that provides the combined power of two individual engines!
  • Illuminated deck-mounted headlight.
  • Post 2021 “modern” excursion appearance!
  • Exquisitely molded details replicating the distinct and extensive piping details that stretch the length of the boiler.
  • Heavily weighted with its metal frame and additional weights in the body details for precise balance and unparalleled pulling capacity.
  • Both body and tender electrical pickup for unmatched electrical reliability.

SPECIFICATIONS

OPERATOR Union Pacific
CLASS 4014 "Big Boy"
LIVERY Post 2021
RUNNING NUMBER 4014
WHEEL CONFIGURATION 2-D-D-2
COUPLINGS Knuckle
FINISH Pristine

MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH 250mm (Aprox)
MINIMUM RADIUS 282mm

Name:
126-4014-DCC WSL Kato Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Loco 4014
DCC Status:
DCC Fitted
Gauge:
N Gauge
Price:
£ 369.99 Saving £115.01 (23.71%) on RRP (£485.00)
Product Code:
TKQ002
Availability:
In Stock - usually despatched within 24 hours
Stock Level:
5
Brands
None Deliverable