The 2-8-8-0 was known amongst railroads as the “Consolidation Mallets” as they were considered an extension amongst the common 2-8-0 Consolidation type locomotives. The locomotive type was originally experimented with the Santa Fe but the railroad never received more than one locomotive because of balance issues and a low tractive effort rating on the railroads steepest grades.

The Great Northern and Union Pacific revised the designs and proceeded to order several of these locomotives. The Union Pacific crews developed the nickname for the locomotives “Bullmoose” because they had the ability to pull the heaviest of freight trains over the railroad’s Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie Wyoming.

The Union Pacific eventually rostered 70 of these Mallets either built by its own shops or manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (Alco). They first went into service in 1918. As time went on, the Bullmoose locomotives received several upgrades and rebuilds before ultimately being replaced by the 9000 series, Big Boys, and Challengers.

In Broadway Limited Imports first production run of the Bullmoose, they are offering the locomotive in two versions. Broadway Limited Imports are building three prototypical road numbers in their “Pre-1944” appearance, and three prototypical road numbers in their “Post-1944” appearance. Broadway Limited Imports are also building 1 locomotive in the Two Tone Gray Fantasy Scheme. Each model will be available with Broadway Limited Imports Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC electronics and smoke. In addition to the Paragon4 models, Broadway Limited Imports are also building these models in their Stealth Series. Stealth Series models are no sound models and are DCC-Ready.

Industry-leading Model Features:

• ALL-NEW Paragon4 Sound & Control System

• Synchronized Puffing Smoke with Chuff Sound

• Variable Puffing Smoke Intensity and timing

• Integral DCC Decoder with Back EMF for Industry-Best Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC

• Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation

• 5-Pole Can Motor with Skew Wound Armature

• Hand crafted Brass Boiler, Tender Body, and diecast Chassis for maximum Tractive Effort

• Prototypically Accurate Details for Each Road Number

• Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Ladders, Piping, Cab Glass, Whistle, Brass Bell, Markers, Numberboards, Air Tanks, and Many Others

• Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Schemes

• Prototypical Light Operation with Separately Controllable Headlight, Reverse Light, Cab Light, Front Numberboards, Rear Marker Light

• Factory-installed Engineer and Fireman Figures

• Two operating Kadee-compatible couplers. 

• Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power

• Will Operate on Code 70, Code 83, and Code 100 Rail

• Recommended Minimum Radius: 18 inches

• Coupler to Coupler length: 14.2 inches

• Wheel base: 12.4 inches

• Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the Union Pacific Bullmoose

Broadway Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon4: The new benchmark for premium HO sound-equipped locomotives. These DC and DCC-Sound equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon4 sound and control system. Each Paragon4 locomotive comes with BLI's own integral DCC Decoder factory installed. Paragon4 locomotives offer Dual Mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF motor control, improved DC motor control, built-in capacitor pack for more reliable electrical pick-up, industry best on-board sound with Rolling Thunder functionality, Pro Lighting Mode for prototypical light control, Switcher model for precise low speed control, recordable DCC operation for automated playback, and the same excellent detail level as Broadway Limited's Paragon3 Series models.

Paragon4 Sound & Control System Features:

• Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound)

• Built-In capacitor pack to navigate imperfect track

• Capacitor Pack automatically disabled on program track for full compatibility with JMRI Decoder Pro

• Pro Lighting Mode offers individual control of all lights on model

• Switcher Mode for precise low speed control.

• Record & Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation

• High Resolution Audio

• Quillable Whistle for various whistle lengths and patterns

• Choice of 3 selectable whistles

• Alternate Whistle / Horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played

• Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell

• Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys

• Johnson Bar Sound at Direction Change

• Multiple realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command

• Grade Crossing Automatic Signal

• Automatic Forward / Reverse Signal - When activated, stopping triggers and stop whistle toot. When moving forward from a stopped position, toots twice. When moving in reverse. toots three times.

• Chuff sound intensity varies with load

• Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect

• EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings

Looking for more Broadway Limited Imports 2-8-8-0 Steam Locomotives? Click here!