HO - Steam Loco Kits
PRR K4 PacificThe K-4 has come to be known as "America's most famous Pacific". The first K-4 engine developed was locomotive 1737, produced in Juniata Shops in May of 1914; it's original design remained basically unchanged. This model was so popular it was mass-produced in 1917, and would be copied 424 times in the next 18 years. The first K-4s produced utilized the common boiler design. They came equipped with screw reverses, were superheated, and hand fired. They came with 80" drivers, used 205 pounds of pressure, weighed 308,890 pounds, held 7,000 gallons water, and carried 12 1/2 tons of coal.
The last engines were built in 1928. Motive power chief J.T. Wallis and his assistants, Alfred Gibbs and Axel Vogt, would be the first men to evolve the K-4. In 1919 a small group of engines were built containing power reverses and Street underfeed stokers. These stokers were deemed unreliable, and removed until the mid- 1930's, when the revolution of the K-4s began. At this time, the K-4s were fitted with dependable standard stokers. This move was considered to be the largest single operational improvement of the K-4. Stokers greatly increased the performance of the K-4 engine.
Originally the K-4 was designed to haul 11 cars and could achieve an average speed of 60-75 miles an hour. With the implementation of the stokers, engines could now pull up to 16 or more cars, still achieving high rates of speed. A test train even reached a maximum speed of 92 miles an hour in 1938! They were also fitted with larger tenders, known as Kiesel tenders, (sometimes referred to as Baldwin tenders) named after its developer W.F. Kiesel, Jr. Superheaters were also introduced, and would come to be known as the best overall improvement made to the K-4, as its efficiency was increased by 20% after their installation. The superheaters collected the engine's steam in a series of boiler tubes, and then re-routed and dried the steam.
By 1956, only 72 K-4 locomotives were left in existence. Only 20 were in use, all of which were located in New Jersey. The Pennsylvania Railroad preserved some of the K-4 engines. The K-4 was one of the most successful and widely recognized locomotives ever developed.
#525 PRR K-4 Pacific & Tender Deluxe Kit
includes boiler & tender body drilled for super detail parts, all super detail parts, and engineer and fireman. Some holes may need reamed to fit posts on parts#100515 Super detail Kit only #100516 #100514 Headlight Kit #91000 #100500 Locomotive & Tender Kit - DISCONTINUED See #525 Deluxe kit above #100513 Assembled piping DISCONTINUED #500505 Assembled Valve Gear DISCONTINUED
Prototype
SpecificationsModel
SpecificationsCylinders 27" x 28"
Firebox size 79-7/8" x 126"
Steam pressure 205 lbs.
Starting tractive force 44,460 lbs.
Weight of engine in working order 308,890 lbs.
Weight of engine on pony truck 53,640
Weight of engine on trailing truck 53,420
Weight of tender, loaded 198,400 lbs.
Weight of tender, empty 82,300 lbs.Length with Tender 11-7/16"
Height 2-1/8"
Weight 2 lb. 7 oz
Minimum Radius 18"
Recommended Radius 22"
Power DC-71 Motor
Drivers 80" with RP-25 flanges
Color Brunswick GreenInstruction Manual
Kit Photos
Boiler, Drivers, Frames, Etc.
Prototype Photos
Photos of Super detailed PRR K-4 (kit #525)
built by Tony Wasilewski for Bowser
