AHM 5144 CB&Q USRA 0-6-0 Switcher HO Scale

The locomotives made in Italy by Rivarossi, under their own brand name and for AHM, were, in many cases, offered in two series each with different levels of detail. The entry level 5144, 45 and 46 Series, like this lovely little MRRHQ Collectible HO Scale AHM5144 CB&Q USRA 0-6-0 Switcher, arrived with mounting holes for a rear tender ladder and backup light fixture while lacking both. With plastic trucks and wheels it was also lacking any provision for supplying track power to a backup light. The locomotive boiler, due to a heavy boiler weight that is internally bonded to the plastic boiler/cab assembly, has, oddly, unusable mounting holes for handrail stanchions with the handrails themselves secured to the boiler only at both ends of the internal weight.

This all being said, in typical MRRHQ fashion, we decided not to leave well enough alone. With upgraded tender trucks/pickups, our own directional tender light, tender ladder and, for good measure, a genuine Rivarossi 2-Piece Brass Bell to replace the stock molded plastic one, this this now-not-so-entry-level loco is a very special one indeed. Magnifico!

FEATURES:

• C-9 Mint Condition with Excellent Original Box.
• MRRHQ Locomotive Works restored, serviced, tested and certified.
• No indication of run time.
• Operating Headlamp.
• Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom Directional Tender Backup Light.
• Upgraded with genuine Rivarossi 2-piece brass and plastic Bell.
• One-piece boiler/cab and tender of pressure-cast high impact plastic.
• Castings are sharp and clean and include highly detailed boiler fronts, smoke stacks, valves, pipes and rivet heads.
• Powerful can motor.
• All metal gears assembled on knurled axles.
• Hex-head screws for spacer-assembled side rods.
• Heavy cast metal locomotive and tender frames.
• Upgraded with working Rear Kadee all-metal Knuckle Coupler.
• Optional Upgrades Available:
  • TCS T1 Standard DCC Decoder Installed.
  • TCS T1KA Standard DCC Decoder w/Keep Alive Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101 Digital DCC/Sound Decoder Installed.
• Manufactured for AHM by Rivarossi in 1968.