Sunset Models 3rd Rail “Golden Standard” Series
Sunset Models 3rd Rail proudly introduces the Wheeling & Lake Erie and Nickel Plate Road 2-6-6-2 articulated locomotives to O Scale as part of our premium Golden Standard Series. These models will be produced in true scale with lifetime-quality, super-detailed brass construction and prototype-specific details for each railroad and configuration.
Compact by articulated-locomotive standards but remarkably powerful, the 2-6-6-2 was ideally suited to the tight curves, steep grades and heavy coal traffic of Appalachia and the industrial Midwest. The articulated front engine allowed these locomotives to negotiate restricted branch lines while delivering considerably more pulling power than conventional locomotives of similar length.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie also developed a strong association with the wheel arrangement, ultimately maintaining one of the largest percentages of articulated power on any railroad east of the Mississippi. Its fleet included both railroad-designed locomotives and the standardized USRA light 2-6-6-2s delivered after World War I.
When the Nickel Plate Road leased the Wheeling & Lake Erie in 1949, several surviving W&LE articulateds entered Nickel Plate service and received NKP road numbers. This final chapter gave the rugged USRA Mallets a place on three classic Eastern steam rosters before their retirement during the 1950s.
Railroads Offered
Wheeling & Lake Erie
Nickel Plate Road
USRA Lettered
Minimum 15 units per railroad required for production
Prototype-specific road numbers, tenders, appliances, lettering and detail variations will be reproduced as appropriate for each version.
Golden Standard Features
True-scale, lifetime-quality brass construction
Super-detailed locomotive and tender
Fully detailed cab backhead with backlit gauges
Operating cab windows and vents
Operating locomotive and tender hatches
Sprung locomotive drivers
Sprung tender trucks
Detailed running gear and valve gear
Road- and era-specific appliances and tender details
Directional lighting and illuminated number boards where appropriate
3 Rail: ERR Cruise Commander/TMCC
2 Rail: ESU LokSound DC/DCC
SoundTraxx Blunami available in both 2 Rail and 3 Rail
Smooth operation and powerful pulling performance
From the coal branches of the Chesapeake & Ohio to the freight lines of the Wheeling & Lake Erie and Nickel Plate Road, these Golden Standard 2-6-6-2s will capture one of the most distinctive and versatile articulated locomotive families of the steam era.
Expected Arrival: Winter 2027
Photos courtesy of Resourced Rails
