The B&O streamlined Pacific was first cataloged in 1940. The design is based on the B&O Royal Blue locomotives, and the locomotive was only available in blue. It appeared in several sets, and was later produced in S gauge starting in 1948. The engine is cataloged and numbered as 556, and the tender is 555. The tender was always pressed steel.
Set 4106
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| This locomotive and tender were repainted. |
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| Prewar vs postwar |
In 1940 only, it was also produced as #553, painted in gun-metal grey with a four-drivered running gear and sold at a much reduced price in starter sets. The tender is the same as above, except for color. Like the 545, this four-drivered design works very well and is actually one of the best runners in the prewar roster. The 553 is heavier than the 556.
Randy,
ReplyDeleteMy only gripe with the look of the post war S gauge was the name American Flyer on nearly all of the tenders. I wish they had kept the railroad names as they were on the pre-war tenders. When Lionel too over and re-introduced the S gauge line the put names on tenders and cabooses. I collected several of their cars which used the same tooling.
Ted Miles