HO Used Athearn DCC Milwaukee Road Baldwin S12 Switcher Diesel Locomotive #914

Description

Used HO scale Athearn DCC Equipped Milwaukee Road Baldwin S12 Switcher Diesel Locomotive MILW #914

Manufacturer: Believed to be Athearn
MFG’s Item #: (Unknown, but similar to model ATH3705)
Original Retail Price (MSRP):  (Unknown)
Roadname: Milwaukee Road
Actual Condition: Okay: Used, upgraded with a DCC light and motor function decoder, upgraded with Kadee Sprung Metal Knuckle Couplers, Stored in a substitute Tailormade box.
Extra Info: Pre-drilled holes for handrails but no handrails are present.  Open-air windows (no window film), Directional lighting.

This Milwaukee Road Baldwin S-12 Switcher Diesel locomotive is believed to originally be made by Athearn as one of their Ready-to-Roll Blue Box items.  However, that statement hasn’t been officially confirmed.  My guess is that the 914 road number on this model indicates that it was probably custom painted by a company that bought the 3705 road number 912 model from Athearn or one of their undecorated models.  Perhaps it was painted by Bev-Bel or Bowser.  Again, those statements are unconfirmed as I was unable to locate an original box or other properly listed model with the 914 road number.

This model is a consigned item that is as it was received except that I brush-cleaned it because it was received very dusty and I cleaned the wheels for better power pickup during testing.  A video has been taken to show you well it runs and some of its features.  It currently has a Digitrax Light and Motor function DCC decoder in it and has been equipped with Kadee #5 sprung metal knuckle couplers.  None of the add-on detail accessory parts are present such as horn or handrails as they were not received with the item.  It has sintered metal wheels, 8-wheel power pick-up and 8-wheel drive.  It has directional lighting too.  I didn’t pay attention to the type of lighting inside the locomotive but based on how bright the lighting is in the video, the lighting is probably produced by LEDs.  That is also a guess and not a confirmed statement.

Please review the pictures and the video so that you can make a judgement call on your own regarding what you are buying.  This item is not returnable for any reason once purchased, so it is as I have stated and as picture and videoed.  It works.  It is a little noisy and squeaking while running and probably needs lubrication.  It has slow speed movement and would be good in the as a road switcher performing yard work just like its prototype.

The prototype Baldwin S-12 was a 1,200-horsepower diesel-electric switcher produced by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH) between 1951 and 1956.  Known for excellent “lugging” power, these 4-axle (B-B) locomotives were utilized by various railroads, including the Milwaukee Road for heavy yard switching duty.

Prototype Key Details:

• Engine: Power by a 6-cylinder turbocharged 606A diesel prime mover.
• Usage:  Used for industrial switching and yard work, with 451 units built in total.
• Milwaukee Road Context:  The Baldwin S12 was a part of the dieselization efforts on railroads like the Milwaukee Road during the 1950s.
• Performance: While strong, these locomotives were sometimes considered temperamental, a common trait for early Baldwin diesels.

It is believed that the Digitrax decoder installed is an N or Z scale DCC dual mode controller of speed, direction, and lighting.  I only tested it using DCC, but it is believed that it operates in both DC and DCC mode on model railroad layouts.  It has the following features as well:

• Bright front and rear directional headlights
• Milwaukee Black and Orange (or “Simplified”) freight paint scheme
• All-wheel power-pickup and All-wheel drive
• Sintered iron metal wheels
• Performs best on 18″ radius curves or greater

I made a custom box to store this HO scale Athearn DCC Milwaukee Road Baldwin S12 Diesel Locomotive in.  It is a tight fit as I shortened the width of this particular box 1/16″ by accident.  Be careful when pulling the model out of the box.

 

 

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