Rapido Trains Inc. is pleased to announce the definitive HO scale model of the Alco/MLW FA-2 and FPA-2.
The FA-2 was Alco’s response to the ubiquitous EMD F7 that was swiftly becoming the locomotive of choice for many freight and passenger railroads. The FA-2 was intended for freight service while the FPA-2 included a steam generator and obligatory large water tank for heating passenger cars. Our models will have the correct details for each version.
Pennsylvania RR FA-2 with vertical battery box louvers, coupler cover and trainphone antenna.
Delivered between October 1950 (Erie 736A) and June 1956 (L&N 211), a total of 283 FA-2 and FPA-2 locomotives were built by Alco-GE in Schenectady, New York for 12 different American railroads. A further 51 FA-2 and FPA-2 locomotives were built under licence by Montreal Locomotives Works for CP, CN and NdeM. Each 1600-HP locomotive had a 12-cylinder Alco 244 prime mover and GE air-cooled turbocharger. It took some time for Alco to design out the issues in this combo resulting in significant reputational damage to the Alco-GE partnership.
Even after the fitment of a new water-cooled turbocharger and upgraded engine components the FAs required more maintenance than the rival EMD machines, which accounts for why these locomotives rarely lasted past 1970 without being significantly rebuilt.
When it comes to FA-2 locomotives, one size definitely does not fit all. There were substantial variations from railroad to railroad, and we’re covering all of the major ones. Rapido’s model will include:
Correct water/fuel tank combination for the FPA-2
Dynamic Brakes
Vertical battery box louvers
Prototype-specific details
Underbody piping and conduit
Nose louvers for B&O
Trainphone Antenna for PRR
In all, we are actually tooling four different fuel and fuel/water tanks: two FA-2 fuel tanks (one for CP and one for everyone else) and two FPA-2 fuel/water tanks (one for CP/CN and one for everyone else).
Most importantly, ours is the ONLY FA model ever produced that was scaled from a 3D scan of the prototype, FPA-4 #6765 in Exporail. The nose on our model is the only one guaranteed to be the correct shape, as it’s the only one designed from a 3D scan! It is quite different from the nose used on older models.
Our HO Scale Alco/MLW FA-2/FPA-2 features:
HO Scale DC or DC/DCC/SOUND
5-pole, skew-wound motor with excellent slow-speed performance
Operating number boards, headlights and two-color class lights
Roadname-specific details
Dynamic brakes
Etched-metal grilles (Farr or chicken wire, as appropriate)
Full underbody piping and conduit
Correct, roadnames-specific FA-2 and FPA-2 fuel tanks
Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
Heavy, die-cast chassis
Full cab interior
Accurate sounds recorded from a real Alco 244 prime mover
Factory-installed Macdonald-Cartier couplers mounted at the correct height
