BLI 8291 HO Scale Baldwin RF-16 Sharknose Diesel US Air Force USAF 801 – Stealth

Built between 1950 and 1953, the RF-16 Sharknose diesels were cab unit diesel locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works to the specifications of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Their distinctive contours were reminiscent of Raymond Loewy’s design for the Pennsy’s T1 class steam locomotive. Baldwin built a total of 160 of these locomotives – 109 A-units and 51 cabless booster B-units. In addition to the PRR, B&O and NYC railroads also operated a substantial number of the “Sharks”.

The Sharknose locomotives were known as excellent “luggers”. They regularly saw service hauling heavy ore and coal drags. The RF-16 Sharknose locomotives beat the F7 with 100 additional horsepower and tied the FA2 with 1600 horsepower. Unfortunately, they did not last as long as the F7’s. With a few exceptions, most of the engines were retired by 1967.

In this production, BLI is offering single A and B units in five prototypically accurate paint schemes. In addition to the prototypically accurate models, they are building models in several fantasy paint schemes that never quite made it to reality, but would have been beautiful on the rails. The CNJ and the MP owned Baldwin babyface locomotives, but didn’t order the Sharks. The DMIR owned the EJ&E Sharks for a few months, but never repainted them. BLI has painted the models in a prototypical DMIR paint scheme. The ATSF and the SP tested the Baldwin demo set, but declined to order production models. BLI is offering models decorated in the appropriate ATSF and SP liveries if those railroads had decided to operate the “Sharks”.

In addition to the Paragon4 version of these models, BLI is offering models in Stealth Series. These are No-Sound / DCC-Ready models that operate on DC out of the box, or a modeler can easily install their DCC decoder of choice. Out of the box, front and rear lights are directional, and other lights are always ON with track power. Additionally some light functions may be missing depending on selected aftermarket decoder the modeler installs.

FEATURES:

• Stealth Series – Model is DCC-Ready out of the box, No Sound
• Out of the box, front and rear lights are directional, other lights are ON with track power
• Model comes with 8 ohm speaker installed for easy installation of DCC/Sound Decoder
• Precision Drive Mechanism Engineered for Heavy Towing and Smooth Slow Speed Operation
• All Wheel Electrical Pick-up
• ABS Body with Die Cast Chassis for Maximum Tractive Effort
• Premium Caliber Painting
• Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes and Road Numbers
• Many Separately Applied Details such as Grab Irons, Horns, and Bell
• Metal Kadee-compatible Couplers (2)
• Will Operate on Code 70, Code 83, and Code 100 Rail
• Minimum Operating Radius: 18 inches
• List of individually controllable lights in our Sharknose models (note that light options may be limited in Stealth Series models):
• Headlight
• Rear Light
• Numberboard Lights
• Marker Lights