{"product_id":"20-30143-1-new-york-central-l-4b-4-8-2-mohawk-3148-o","title":"20-30143-1 NEW YORK CENTRAL L-4b 4-8-2 MOHAWK #3148-O","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhile its competitors needed monstrous engines to conquer mountain ranges, the New York Central did not. Its Water Level Route from New York City to Chicago was a nearly level raceway built along rivers and the Lake Erie shoreline, and the Central’s main line steam engines were racehorses bred for speed on that route. By the early 1930s, the NYC relied on two locomotives for premier services: the 4-6-4 Hudson for its Great Steel Fleet of passenger trains and the nation’s largest stable of 4-8-2s for fast freight. Although the 4-8-2 was labeled a Mountain on any other railroad, that would hardly do on the Water Level Route, so the Central named its engines Mohawks after one of the rivers its rails followed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the Depression waned in the late 1930s and traffic picked up, the need arose for a dual service locomotive that could augment the Hudson fleet and hustle freight as well. As an experiment, two existing L-2 Mohawks were modified with higher boiler pressure, smaller cylinders, lightweight rods and other reciprocating parts, and roller bearings —which pushed their top speed from 60 mph to the 80 mph needed for passenger work. The success of these engines led to the class L-3 Mohawks delivered from 1940–1942. With over 5000 horsepower on tap, they were equally at home pulling the 20th Century Limited or more than 100 freight cars. A new feature on the L-3s was the largest tender yet seen on a Central locomotive, with a 43-ton-capacity coal bunker. These tenders didn’t carry enough water to match all that coal, however, because the Central used water scoops under its tenders and track pans between the rails to enable locomotives to pick up water on the move. One of the most spectacular sights of the steam era was a Mohawk or Hudson taking on water at speed, with excess water blasting out of relief vents on the tender deck.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClass L-3 engines were delivered in three sub classes. ALCo-built class L-3a Mohawks were dual service steamers with roller bearings on all axles. Class L-3b engines, built by both ALCo and Lima, and class L-3c built by ALCo, were fast freight locomotives. Lima-built L-3b’s carried a cylindrical Elesco feed water heater atop their smokebox fronts, while all other L-3’s had Worthington feed water heaters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pinnacle of Mohawk development was Lima-built wartime class L-4, with larger 72” drivers. Tenders on the final L-4’s were upgraded with an expansion cistern behind the coal bunker, so water could be scooped at up to 75 mph without blowing the tender apart. Famed author Alvin Staufer noted that “The dual purpose concept had really taken hold on the Central and the wartime service they performed was almost beyond belief. It was nothing for them to come in on a heavy freight drag, be serviced, and leave a few hours later at the head of one of the Great Steel Fleet. Whenever possible, the heavy War Trains were assigned to the L-4 Mohawks.” Soon after the war, L-4 and L-3 engines were retrofitted with smoke deflectors (a.k.a. “elephant ears”) to deflect smoke from the engineer’s line of vision. Whether they worked, and whether they improved or ruined the look of the Central’s premier freighter, remains a subject of debate among rail fans to this day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReturning in 2026, this NYC racehorse is offered in accurate detail for each subclass of L-3 and L-4. The L-3c and L-4b models are equipped with removable elephant ears, so you can model them before or after smoke deflectors were applied. And like the prototype, these engines are dual purpose: using our optional Digital Command System (DCS), you can change your Mohawk’s sound set from passenger to freight or vice versa with a free Internet download. Check out the details on this accurate, full-scale, smooth-running model; we think you’ll agree it’s a “must-have” for any New York Central fan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"max-w-screen-md\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Die-Cast Boiler and Chassis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntricately Detailed, Die-Cast Tender Body\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAuthentic Paint Scheme\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReal Tender Coal Load\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemovable Smoke Deflectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDie-Cast Locomotive Trucks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand painted Engineer and Fireman Figures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Handrails, WhistLe and Bell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemote-Controlled Proto-Coupler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eO Scale Kadee Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrototypical Rule 17 Lighting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstant Voltage LED Headlight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating LED Firebox Glow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating LED Number board Lights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLighted LED Cab Interior\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePowerful 5-Pole Precision Flywheel-Equipped Skew-Wound Motor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSynchronized Puffing ProtoSmoke System\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteaming Quillable Whistle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLocomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWireless Drawbar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:48 Scale Dimensions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnboard DCC\/DCS Decoder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProto-Scale 3-2 3-Rail\/2-Rail Conversion Capable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Quillable Whistle With Passenger Station Proto-Effects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit Measures: 28 1\/4\" x 3 7\/8\" x 2 5\/8\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates On O-54 Curves\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteam DCC Features:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF0 Head\/Tail light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF1 Bell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF2 Horn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF3 Start-up\/Shut-down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF4 PFA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF5 Lights (except head\/tail)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF6 Master Volume\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF7 Front Coupler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF8 Rear Coupler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF9 Forward Signal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF10 Reverse Signal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF11 Grade Crossing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF12 Smoke On\/Off\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF13 Smoke Volume\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF14 Idle Sequence 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF15 Idle Sequence 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF16 Idle Sequence 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF17 Extended Start-up\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF18 Extended Shut-down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF19 Labor Chuff\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF20 Drift Chuff\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF21 One Shot Doppler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF22 Coupler Slack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF23 Coupler Close\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF24 Single Horn Blast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF25 Engine Sounds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF26 Brake Sounds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF27 Cab Chatter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eF28 Feature Reset\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":66965364998189,"sku":null,"price":1529.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0656\/6618\/7309\/files\/20-30143-1.jpg?v=1783005322","url":"https:\/\/jrjunction.com\/products\/20-30143-1-new-york-central-l-4b-4-8-2-mohawk-3148-o","provider":"Jr Junction Train \u0026 Hobby","version":"1.0","type":"link"}