{"product_id":"rapido-48526-ho-scale-ge-44-tonner-southern-pacific-black-sp-1902-dcc-sound","title":"Rapido 48526 HO Scale GE 44 Tonner Southern Pacific \"Black\" SP 1902 DCC \u0026 Sound","description":"\u003ch1\u003eRapido 48526 HO Scale GE 44 Tonner Southern Pacific \"Black\" SP 1902 DCC \u0026amp; Sound\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRapido Trains is pleased to announce an all-new group of HO scale locomotives – the General Electric 44-Ton diesel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso commonly called “44-tonners,” these locomotive’s compact design was driven by a 1937 labor agreement with the railroad unions that specified that all locomotives over 90,000 pounds required the use of a fireman. At a target weight of 44-tons (88,000 pounds), these diesels allowed the railroads to use only an engineer, thus saving crew costs. They were perfect for light switching, industrial and shop use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuilt in several variations between 1940 and 1956, more than 300 GE 44-ton locomotives were produced. The 44-tonners saw service throughout North America (Canada, USA and México), as well in Australia, Cuba, India, France, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. The United States Navy and Air Force also owned a number of these locos. Many continued in operation with successive owners in industrial and shortline service. Numerous examples have been preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Ontario \u0026amp; Western Railway Historical Society owns ex-NYO\u0026amp;W 44-tonner #105. A group of volunteers from the society are currently restoring it back to operating condition at the Steamtown shops in Scranton, Pennsylvania.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRapido is pleased to support their efforts by donating 5% of the sales of all O\u0026amp;W 44-tonner models to the O\u0026amp;WRHS to be used in this effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRapido’s HO model features all-new tooling and represents units from Phase Ic, Phase III and Phase IV, most never offered before in a plastic ready-to-run model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFEATURES:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple phases and detail variations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhase Ic (never offered before in plastic) both with and without lighted hood side number boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhase III with positionable top hood hatches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhase IV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavy, die-cast chassis and fuel tank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCorrect fuel tank skirting in two styles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparately-applied door latches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull cab interior\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhoto-etched cab steps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmooth running, strong coreless motor with dual flywheels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDC models are DCC ready with NEXT-18 decoder socket and speakers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDCC models are sound equipped with ESU decoders and sounds and include our own “Mo-Power” power capacitor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Rapido Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44035239051477,"sku":"RAP48526","price":299.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0520\/1972\/4454\/products\/rapido-48526-ho-scale-ge-44-tonner-southern-pacific-black-sp-1902-dcc-sound.jpg?v=1738867920","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterosehobbies.com\/products\/rapido-48526-ho-scale-ge-44-tonner-southern-pacific-black-sp-1902-dcc-sound","provider":"White Rose Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}