M1a

M1a

Pennsylvania Railroad M1a 4-8-2 – Freight

  • Scale:                            1:32
  • Release:                        1991
  • Limited Edition:              40
  • Model Size:                   40”L x 4”W x 6”H
  • Base Type:                    Black Walnut
  • Base/Case Size:           61”L x 9”W x 9.5”H
  • Availability:                    Sold Out

Pennsylvania Railroad M1a 4-8-2 – Passenger

  • Scale:                            1:32
  • Release:                        1991
  • Limited Edition:              99
  • Model Size:                   40”L x 4”W x 6”H
  • Base Type:                    Black Walnut
  • Base/Case Size:           61”L x 9”W x 9.5”H
  • Availability:                    Sold Out

Pennsylvania Railroad M1a 4-8-2

They were Pennsy’s best. In an era when the Pennsylvania Railroad was the largest railroad in the world, its most versatile locomotives, favorites among its own people, were the 301 Mountains of classes M1 and M1a. The Pennsylvania Railroad came late to high-horsepower dual-service steam locomotives.

As tonnage rose in World War I, the Pennsy’s first priority had been to acquire low-drivered drag freight locomotives, such as the I1 2-10-0 Decapods, to handle its mountain grades.  Only when that was done did it turn its attention to modern, dual service power. In 1923, it took the I1’s boiler design, added a larger combustion chamber and substituted a 72-inch drivered, 4-8-2 wheel arrangement underneath. In keeping with its conservative philosophy, it ordered a single class prototype from its own Juniata shops in Altoona.

In 1926, when the prototype was judged successful, 200 more locomotives followed—class M1. These locomotives perpetuated the standard Pennsy look with their high headlights, square-shouldered Belpaire fireboxes, and unshielded air reservoirs on the pilot deck.  Happy as it was with its fleet of 325 K4 4-6-2s, Pennsy turned back to that design for 100 locomotives in 1927–28, followed by two experimental K5s in 1929, but resumed deliveries of 4-8-2s in 1930. 

Baldwin built Nos. 6700–6749, Juniata built Nos. 6750 – 6774 and Lima added Nos. 6775–6799. These 100 M1as differed from the M1s with dual air tanks and Pennsy’s first coast-to-coast large-capacity tenders—nearly as long as the locomotive itself which could hold more than 31 tons of coal.  As the 1930s unfolded, the electrification east of Harrisburg freed up many K4 4-6-2s for passenger work. The K4s, double-heading when necessary, in turn, displaced the M1s from passenger assignments, even though a single 4,000-horsepower M1 could handle up to 22 Pullmans at speed.

Fine Art Models

Our model of the M1a is exact, using the original Pennsylvania Railroad drawings and more than six hundred photos of the only remaining M1b locomotive, located at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  Our model is powered by two ball bearing motors, and the entire drive-line utilizes sealed bearings, right down to the journals.  Every hatch or door that exists on the real locomotive, either open, or are removable, on our model.

The M1a is one of our earliest models and, even though it is now more than twelve years old, it is still considered one of the finest Gauge 1 locomotive models ever built.  We invite you to look at the photos and decide for yourself.