A fictional consolidation 2-8-0 with functioning drive rods and pistons.
Thanks to @Avro683Lancaster for getting the timing gear to work

Unfortunately the model is not compatible with the train mod as I made its gauge a little too wide and it tends to run over the guide rails instead of being guided.

The East Carolina Railway did exist but I did not know this when I chose the fictional road name for my fictional locomotive. So I altered the name to be East Carolina Rail Road instead of Railway.

Brief History of the Type

The 2-8-0 in Whyte notation was born from previous 0-8-0 switcher locomotives. The first true consolidation was built for the Lehigh and Mahanoy Railroad in 1866 and had a two wheel pony truck in front of the eight drivers. This borrowed from the earlier 2-6-0 Mogul type.

The type was most commonly found hauling heavy mainline drag freight trains "impressive loads at unimpressive speeds", but as newer more powerful types began to emerge such as the 2-10-0 decapod and 2-8-2 mikado, the consolidation was pushed into switching like the 0-8-0's before it.

The Southern Pacific and Pensilvania operated the largest fleets of consolidations in the US but the type was also very popular in other countries. In total around 23,000 consolidations were built in the USA and an unknown amount in other countries such as Australia, Great Britain and South Africa.

About The Locomotive (fictional)

The East Carolina Railroad was a shortline that ran between Charleston SC and Edenton NC where it interchanged with the PRR. Due to the increasing demand for faster service between ports and the weight of the trains, EastC placed an order for five consolidations in 1922. What Alco delivered was unlike any consolidation before. The loco's numbered 50 to 55 had large drivers and the drive rods connected to the second wheel set. These changes were to increase the speed of the type and they brought the top speed up to 85Mph. However these changes made the loco's less useful for shunting and so when the EastC purchased six ex Frisco USRA light 4-8-2 mountains in 1936, the old consolidations were pushed into early retirement.

Controls

• Throttle: Cutoff and Regulator (controls the speed of the pistons) DON'T Throttle up to quickly, go to 30% first then once the train is moving go to 50% then 100%
• Roll: Steering (clunky but necessary)
• LandingGear: Train Brake (release before going anywhere)
• Brake: Independent Brake (stops pistons)
• VTOL: Water Injection (purely cosmetic)
• Trim: Boiler Pressure (just for fun)
• AG1: Headlight
• AG2: Whistle

Glossy Pictures