PreOrder page for the upcoming HO Scale Nickel Plate Road Class S-2 2-8-4 Steam Locomotive.
Roadnumbers available from this group: 749, 755 ,757 and 760 Era: 1950's
PreOrder now for ZERO down. The current ETA for these models is Early 2025
On the checkout page for PreOrdering please scroll to the bottom and select: 'Paypal Invoice Upon Shipment'. This will not ask you to sign into Paypal or submit any card information and enables us to log your order and send an invoice upon day of shipment.
By placing a PreOrder you will have an order slot with the factory and a guaranteed model reserved in your name. There will not be a pending charge and you will only be charged the amount when the model is ready to ship!
If you hold interest in this model it is very important that you place a PreOrder, if sufficient PreOrders are not received then the finale of this project will not materialize. There are only plans to produce models to PreOrders received. Do not miss out!
PreOrders can be cancelled anytime. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Currently the PreOrder retail price is set at 699.99. Since the date of project completion is still some ways out there's a small chance the retail price might need to be increased in order to account for variables outside of the control of Cardinal River Models LLC and still make the project viable. In the event this happens you will of course be contacted with the option of moving forward.
Cardinal River Models is proud to offer you what will be an exquisite model of a very highly revered prototype. This Project has been ongoing for over 5 years now and has left no stone unturned in the trek of commitment for faithfulness to prototypical accuracy.
The model will be created from 100% new tooling produced from a 3D Laser Scan of 765, Original Lima Engineering Drawings and Official Nickel Plate Road Mechanical Drawings.
CRM firmly believes this will be the best model ever produced of a Nickel Plate Road Class S-2 2-8-4 in HO 1:87 Scale. Possibly any scale.
Super standout features of the model will be: Underside Cylinder Steam Effect Synchronized To Decoder Sounds. This is an industry first offering for the U.S HO 1:87 Scale market. Color variable classification lights. First time offered in HO with the NKP Shops and Hunter-Spiller Co style bell.
Please note some of the details on the models shown will be modified before final rendering.
Model Features are as follows:
ESU LokSound V5 DCC Decoder
Synchronized Puffing Smoke
Synchronized Underside Cylinder Steam (US 1:87 Scale Industry First)!
Diecast Alloy Frame, Chassis, Cab, Boiler and Tender
Powerful 5 Pole Skew Wound Motor With Quality Drive Suited to Slow Speed Operation And Maximum Pulling Capacity
Traction Tire Equipped
RP25 Wheel Contours
Conforms to All Applicable NMRA Standards
Removable "Extra" Flags Next To Number Boards
Correct Nickel Plate Road Style Number Boards With Illumination
Front Headlight And Rear Tender Backup Light
Correct Pyle National Headlight Arrangement With Visor
Illuminated Classification lights of Red/Green/Clear
Correct Turbogenerator Arrangement
Correct Placement of 50s ERA Turbo-Alternator on Engineers (Right Hand Side)
Correct Advisory Mechanical Committee Forked Main Rod
Kadee Style Knuckle Couplers
Overfire Jets As Appropriate
Accurate Notch On The Firemans Side Inner Running Board Step Support For Removal Of Airpump Shuttle Valve. (First time in HO)
Accurately Depicted Nathan 4000 Injector Under Cab Right With Cab Floor Valve and Lever
Late and Early Side Rods
Late and Early Air Reservoirs
Auxiliary Pill Air Reservoir
Late and Early Bell
Late and Early Bell mount
Late and Early Steam Dome
Steam Line and Steam Line Connection
ATS (Automatic Train Stop) Equipment Where Appropriate: Shoe, Box, Conduit
Correct 'Horseshoe' Shape of SmokeStack with Auxiliary Exhaust Ports
Correct Brake Master Cylinder
Correct retrofitted ALCO Power Reverse
Correct Blowdown "Skirt": NKP shop fitted and LIMA versions
Correct Boiler Band Arrangement
Correct Sand Line Arrangement
Correct Engine Truck
Correct Drive wheels
Cab Front Smoke Inspection Port Style Windows
Cab Rear Curtain Correct Length
Conduit Boxes on Cab Front
Correct Conduit Routing
In Cab Detail
Cab Side Vent Detail
Cab Roof Hatch Detail Accurately Depicted
Correct Leaf and Coil Spring Detail
Fireman Side Hot Water Pump Exhaust
Fireman Side Vertical Step Stanchion To Clear AirPump Boss
Detroit and Nathan Lubricators Respectively
'Valve Oil' Plaque Legible on Engineer Side Nathan DV7 Lubricator
Rocking Lever Above Vale Gear On Both Sides for Valve Oil Driveline
Accurate Arrangement For Fireman Side (Left Hand Side) Cold Water Pump
Correct Cold Water Piping
Full Underside Locomotive Detail
Correct Mars Light Arrangement
Correct Legible Builders and Trust Plates of: LIMA, NKP Trust and ELESCO Superheater CO.
Correct Tender fittings including but not limited to: Radio, Safety Chains on Trucks, Wrecking Chain, Toolbox, Rack for Rerailer, Rerailers
Correct Coal Board Arrangement on Tender Front
Correct Buckeye Steel Casting Company Trucks
Correct Conduit Lines on Tender Sides
Tender Front Underside Water Valves
Full Underside Tender Detail
Recommended Minimum Radius is 22" but should be able to navigate 18" under slow speeds.
Authentic Lettering and Paint Where Appropriate
Featuring Sounds Recorded From 765 in 2022
(Please check back as this list may develop further)
Specific Details For 1950's Version: (Roadnumber Specific See Below)
Original Lima Hinged Bell Mount
Overfire Jet Detail on Firebox Sides
No Antenna on Cab Roof
Nickel Plate Shops Proprietary "drum" Blowdown Skirt
No MU stand in cab
Classic Journal Boxes Where Appropriate
Standard Piping Underside Cab
Correct Period Turbogenerators on Firemans Side With Red Painted Valve Wheels
Turbo-Alternator and Mount on Engineers Side
Mars Company Signal Oscillating Light
No Cylinder Head Covers
Correct Period 6ET Brake Cylinder
Piping for Speed Recorder Across Engineers Side of Firebox
Fireman Side Hot Water Pump Exhaust Pipe
Hunter Spiller Bell company Notched Lip Bell
Nickel Plate Shops Bracketed Electrical Conduit Across Upper Smokebox Door
Tender Deck Mounted Radio box with Accurate Electrical Conduits
Steam Line Fitted To Tender Underside
Wrecking/Towing Chain on Tender Firemans Side
Automatic Train Stop (ATS) Box and Pickup Shoe on Tender Engineers Side
#749 Era: Mid to Late 1950's
Original Lima Hinged Bell Mount
Original Air Reservoirs
Nickel Plate Shops 4" Taller Steam Dome
Late Style Side Rods
#755 Era: Mid 1950's
Original Lima Hinged Bell Mount
Late Style Main Air Reservoirs and Original Forward Engineer Side Air Reservoir
Late Style Side Rods
Original (but reinstalled) headlight number Bracket. (The headlight bracket on 755 was altered a few times but the original style she wore -after the late 40s having a slightly modified version- in the 1950s is accurate and represented here)
#757 Era: Mid to Late 1950's
Original Lima Bell Mount
Original Air Reservoirs
NKP Shops Modified 4" Taller Steam Dome
Late Style Side Rods
#760 Era: Mid to Late 1950's
Original Lima Bell Mount
Original Air Reservoirs
Original Side Rods
Be sure to check back. There is so much to be said about this fine model that it seems every note or file has something else to list here.
Thank you sincerely for your interest in the first locomotive from Cardinal River Models. Your patronage is beyond valuable and we hope to bring enjoyment to many model railroaders for years to come.