The N Scale Broadway Limited 4-8-8-4 Big Boy is an N Scale replica of one of the largest steam locos ever made, and certainly a contender for the Worlds Most Famous Locomotive. The Big Boy was forged under some of the most strenuous demands ever placed on a locomotive. Union Pacific needed a locomotive that could be used to pull a 3,600-ton train over Sherman Hill and the 1.14% grade from Ogden to Wasatch, Utah without the need for helpers. When the design specifications were complete, it was decided on the use of a simple articulated, high speed, 132 ft. long locomotive sporting sixteen 68" diameter drive wheels. What they created was the longest and among the heaviest, most powerful steam locomotive legends in the world. And had not the worker at Alco chalked Big Boy on the side of the smoke box of one of the 4-8-8-4s under construction, a name that immediately caught on, it is rumored that the name of the type would have been Wasatch, for the mountains they were built to conquer.
There were 25 Big Boy locomotives built in two different groups: Class 1 #4000-4019 and Class 2 #4020-4024. The first Big Boy #4000 was delivered to Omaha, NE on September 5, 1941. The UP's commitment to the Big Boy required replacement of older, lighter rail, realignment of sharp curves to wider radii, and enlarging of clearances along the line and in servicing facilities.
Several examples remain in museums around the country and one, #4014, has been restored for display and excursion service.
The N Scale model features accurately modeled front end with appropriate aftercooler system for each class, accurately modeled 25-C-100 and 25-C-400 tender, appropriate for each class, and an accurately modeled oil tender for #4014 which operates in excursion service. Full Paragon4 sound and DCC offers realistic sound and motor control. The Paragon4 sound system works with all Broadway Limited Rolling Thunder(TM) advanced sound systems. Other features of this locomotive include a heavy die cast chassis, smooth-running flywheel-equipped drive, directional lighting and magnetic knuckle couplers. The N Scale 4-8-8-4 Big Boy can be operated on all DCC systems as well as on standard DC railroads (with limited sound functionality). It has wheels profiled to operate on Code 55 and larger rail and curves of 9-3/4" radius and larger are recommended.