HO - Steam Loco Kits
PRR L-1 Mikado

L1s were the freight counterparts to the famous K-4s because of their identical boilers. They were originally built to replace 2-8-0's in main line freight work. They were later to be known as "heroes" of World Wars I and II. The L1s gained their popularity during World War I, with the delivery of much-needed goods to U.S. soldiers.

J.T. Wallis, Superintendant of Motive Power for Lines East, along with his assistants, Alfred Gibbs and Axel Vogt, planned for the identical boilers, along with other similar parts, to be in both the L1 and K-4 models, so that the parts could be interchangeable.

Some characteristics of the L1 are: a 27" x 30" cylinder, boiler pressure of 205 pounds, and a weight of 314,600 pounds. The L1 would later be improved, with more horsepower, by stoker-firing the engine.

Between the years of 1914 and 1919, shops at Baldwin, Juniata, and Lima produced 574 locomotives identical to the original developed in 1913. Modernization of the L1s began in the 1920's. Air tanks were shoved up front after the implementation of a power reverse gear on boiler-side, and stokers were introduced very slowly, with some locos never receiving them at all. The stokers replaced hand firing of the trains. Steel pilot beams and footboards were also added in later years.

By the mid 1920's the L1s were spreading nationwide. They could be found throughout the Central and Eastern United States, and some were starting to spread into the West. With the onslaught of the depression in the 1930's, and electricfication of the east, L1 engines were now made in surplus, and pushed onto storage tracks. Two of the large storage yards were located in Hollidaysburg and Marysville, both towns in Pennsylvania. With the start of World War II came the implementation of even more stokers. Engines that had been hand fired were having stokers attached as quickly as possible.

On October 20th of 1957, L1s 520 pulled one of the last steam powered passenger trains; the era of the steam powered engines was coming to a close. 

#526	PRR L-1 Mikado Deluxe Kit includes boiler & tender body drilled for super detail parts, all super detail parts, and painted engineer and fireman.  Some holes may need reamed to fit posts on parts
#100815	Superdetail Kit only
#100514	Headlight Kit
#100516	Smoke Unit  (not in #100815)
#91000	Painted Engineer & Fireman
#100800	Locomotive & Tender Kit - Discontinued see #526 deluxe kit above
#100813	Assembled piping  Discontinued
#500805	Assembled Valve Gear  Discontinued

Click here for price Lists

Prototype  Specifications

Model  Specifications

Cylinders 27" x 30" Firebox size 79-7/8" x 126" Steam pressure 205 lbs. Weight of engine in working order 324,700 lbs. Weight of engine on pony truck 31,000 lbs. Weight of engine on drivers 232,500 lbs. Weight of engine on trailing truck 61,200 lbs. Tractive force 61,465 lbs. Weight of tender, empty 77,300 lbs. Weight of tender, loaded 189,850 lbs. Tender capacity, water 8,835 gals. Tender capacity, coal 38,935 lbs. Overall length w/ tender 82' 0-1/4" Overall height 15 feet

Length w/ tender 11-1/2" Height 2-1/8" Weight 2 lb. 2 oz. Minimum radius 18" Drivers 62" Power Bowser DC-71 motor Color Brunswick Green

Kit Photos

• Side Rod Kit

• Miscellaneous Kit

• Lead Truck Bag

• Valve Gear Parts

• Boiler Detail Parts

• Trailing Truck Parts

Click to see:
Assembly Instructions 
Repair & Reference Manual Pages

Photos of Superdetail model built by Tony Wasilewski

Prototype Photos