Empire Builders - Southern 6900 2 x A units

Size O scale , 33 x 4 x 2 3/4 in inches
Material metal, Brass , acrylic,  glass,

About Alco PA Locomotive

The ALCO PA series is a type of six axle 2,000 hp diesel locomotive built between 1946 and 1953. The engines were bought by 17 different railroads, including some being bought by the Sao Paulo (Paulista) Line in Brazil.
The ALCO PA was designed and tested near the end of WW2 in an effort to be ready for the post war market. This would also be the first use of the 244 engine in a mainline locomotive. The test engines (an A-B-A set) were sent to the Santa Fe in Warbonnet scheme.

The PA would be developed into the PA-1 and PA-2 with a proposed PA-3 that never went into production.
Minor differences in mechanics were the only real differences between the PA-1 and PA-2. Internally the PA-2 contained a water cooled turbocharger which was added to earlier models during overhauls.
The PA series resembled its smaller cousin the FA a lot. Both had long, straight flat tipped noses with the headlight in a square, slitted grill. The headlight also varied depending on the road. D&H engines usually sported the upper grill light and a smaller dual bulb light below it.

The use of the untested 244 engine led to the demise of the locomotive. Over time the engine wore out and became extremely unreliable. ALCO later supplied a 251 engine but was too late in doing so. The PA also failed to make a foothold in the passenger unit market that was dominated by EMD E-series engines. Also ALCO's partnership with GE would end leaving ALCO high and dry in the loco market.

About The Empire Builder Train

The Great Northern Railway inaugurated the Empire Builder on June 10, 1929. It was named in honor of the company's founder, James J. Hill, who had reorganized several failing railroads into the only successful attempt at a privately funded transcontinental railroad. It reached the Pacific Northwest in the late 19th century, and for this feat, he was nicknamed "The Empire Builder". Following World War II, Great Northern placed new streamlined and diesel-powered trains in service that cut the scheduled 2,211-mile-trip between Chicago and Seattle from 58.5 hours to 45 hours.
The schedule allowed riders views of the Cascade Mountains and Glacier National Park, a park established through the lobbying efforts of the Great Northern. Re-equipped with domes in 1955, the Empire Builder offered passengers sweeping views of the route through three dome coaches and one full-length Great Dome car for first class passengers.