miles per hour. I could not believe how smooth and quiet this engine was throughout its entire speed range. I was very happy with the speed table, so I will not play with the top speed or the speed curve. All of that is user ad- justable if one is so inclined. One thing that I did change was the amount of momentum the engine has. I prefer to add my own train momentum by work- ing the throttle rather than allowing the decoder to control it. The engine does come pre-set for a healthy amount of momentum. That is very easily changed if one desires to do so. The engine ran around the test track
flawlessly for hours. I was able to pull 20 properly-weighted freight cars around the layout without trouble. The helix required a helper, which is not a problem for me. The engine is equipped with operating knuckle couplers, but I added my own scale-size Kadee cou- plers just for the looks. Right out of the box, this engine is going to impress even the most discerning of model rail- roaders.
I am a huge fan of Norfolk South-
ern’s heritage unit program, and I am an even bigger fan of these InterMoun- tain ES44AC models. After this review it became clear to me that I need to pick up a few more of these engines. I don’t really need them since I model a different railroad and a different time, but these models just are way too cool to not have. I think that most modelers will find themselves with a few her- itage units just because of that feeling. As far as modern units go, these Inter- Mountain models are outstanding. The InterMountain ES44AC heritage units are currently available and sell for $279.95 with sound, $189.95 without.– SCOTT LUPIA
PRR H30 covered hopper model: HO scale Mfd. by Bowser Mfg. Co. Inc., 1302
Jordan Ave., Montoursville PA 17754;
www.bowser-trains.com.
A recent HO model offered by Bowser represents the distinctive class H30
SAVE YOUR BACK ISSUES
covered hopper of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The prototype came from the PRR’s car shops in Altoona, Pennsylva- nia. They built 1,325 class H30 covered hoppers in six orders from May, 1935, through March, 1946. The hoppers were a unique PRR design for shipping bulk cement but later were used for other granular materials. The three-bay hop- per
cars were distinctive for their
bridge-like side trusses and ten square roof hatches. The external dimensions were 39′-6″ length, 10′-5″ width and 11′- 7″ height. They were numbered 254251 to 255575 and had a capacity of 70 tons and volume of 1,973 cubic feet. Ten roof doors were hinged on their sides near- est the running boards. PRR’s Altoona car shops completed 250 very similar class H30A covered hoppers from October, 1951, through 1952. They were numbered 255576- 255825. Although visually similar, the H30A differed from the H30 in a num- ber of ways. The main differences were the hopper gates and that the H30’s had cast bolsters, while the H30A’s had fabricated bolsters. Also, the roof run- ning boards on the H30 were integral to the roof while the last order of 300 H30’s had pattern steel plate welded to the roof and the lateral running boards were part of the roof. The H30’s were originally painted
PRR “freight car color” with the circle keystone scheme with seven inch let- tering. Some H30’s retained their origi- nal paint and lettering until scrapped in the early 1970’s. In the 1950’s, after many railroads found bulk cement loads often deposit- ed gray residue on covered hopper car exteriors, the standard color for cov- ered hoppers was generally changed from brown to light gray. Starting in 1953 some H30’s were repainted light gray with the circle keystone lettering in black. The size of the lettering re- mained 7″ tall. In February, 1954, the PRR began ap-
plying its new shadow keystone scheme with 13″ tall letters. From 1954 to 1960 four variations of the shadow keystone
Make your RMCcollection easy to find, organ- ized, safe, and ready for instant use. Handsome official deep red binders are stamped in gold and hold 12 issues.
www.carstensbookstore.com
Carstens Publications, Inc. order on-line at:
84 $12.95 + s & h
www.protocraft.com FEBRUARY 2014
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