MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS

After World War II, when the railroads were free to buy new motive power to replace the equipment that had worked so tirelessly in the war effort, Great Northern ordered the most powerful single-unit electric engine that had then been built. The massive W-1 was 101 feet long, had 12 traction motors, and boasted a continuous rating of 5000 horsepower. Because of its size and B-D-D-B (or 4-8-8-4) wheel arrangement, it was dubbed the "Big Boy" of electric engines. In fact, it could pull one-third more weight than UP's Big Boy. The W-1 was capable of muscling a 2000-ton train up the 2.2% grade to GN's famous Cascade Tunnel without helpers and could run downgrade without applying air brakes. The W-1 took its name, the Cascade, from the Cascade Range that Great Northern had fought to cross. Because the tunnels were so long and grades so steep, it was dangerous to use steam going over the Range, so GN had established electric service over and through the Cascades in the 1920s. Electric engines reigned supreme on the Range until GN installed a ventilation system and made the transition to diesel power in 1956. Now M.T.H. makes this colossus available in a beautifully detailed scale model that will astonish everyone who sees it powering its way across your layout. Did You Know? UP bought W-1 5018 in 1960 and modified it to become the B-unit housing the turbine as part of the #80 Coal Turbine.