Review

This nicely detailed 2-8-8-2 steam locomotive is patterned after the Norfolk & Western's 50 Y3 locomotives, which were built to USRA standards (which improved upon an earlier N&W design, the Y2a) and delivered in 1919. They were a compound design, meaning that the steam was used twice: once in each cylinder on each side.

Although capable of higher speeds than earlier 2-8-8-2s, these were heavy, relatively slow, heavy machines that excelled at hauling big trains up stiff grades. These locomotives had long service lives-some of N&W's Y3s remained in service through the end of the 1950s, and others were sold to power-short lines during World War II, including Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and the Virginian Ry.

The Proto N model features a factory-installed Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder with sound, as well as many separately applied details.

The motor (with twin flywheels) sits in a metal frame, with the plastic boiler and cab sitting atop the frame. Worms on either end of the motor armature turn gears atop each driver set. The decoder and speakers are located in the tender, and a multi-pin connector from the locomotive must be plugged into the tender. Automatic knuckle couplers are installed on the rear of the tender and the locomotive pilot.

This model is a smooth, quiet runner, and I was quite impressed with its slow-speed performance. Its decoder allows it to run on either standard DC layouts or with a DCC system. The sound will work on either; you'll have much better control over the sound effects with a DCC throttle.

This is a sharp-looking, smooth-running, good-sounding model. The price is, in my opinion, a bargain for a sound-equipped steam locomotive.