Switch engines are an essential, specialized piece of railroad equipment that look quite different from their kin that work the mainline. Because of the nature of their work, moving cars around railroad yards, switch engines spent much of their time waiting for their assignments. That meant steam switchers needed smaller fireboxes, boilers, and tenders than road engines. The cut out or sloping tenders on most steam switchers were designed to give good rear visibility, which was essential for these small and agile engines that needed to slip into tight spaces where other engines could not fit. The 0-6-0 switcher would typically have been assigned to move about six cars at a time.
The rugged RailKing 0-6-0 is perfect for working the yard of any early- or mid-twentieth-century layout. This sturdy model comes in the markings of the Pennsylvania, Long Island, Baltimore & Ohio, Union Pacific, New Haven and Chicago Northwestern railroads.
It boasts Imperial features including a real coal load, legible builders plates, crew figures, and tender truck safety chains. Modeled on the Pennsylvania Railroad B6 switchers constructed from 1902-1913, our RailKing version has remotely activated Proto-Couplers for versatile switching use.
Did You Know?
Steam switchers almost always had front and rear sand boxes, though the rear one was sometimes hidden inside the cab rather than appearing as a prominent dome.
