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Bowser - HO - Steam Loco Kits
PRR K-4 Pacific 4-6-2



History:  The K-4 has come to be known as "America's most famous Pacific". The first K-4 engine developed was locomotive 1737, produced in Juniata Shops in May of 1914; it's original design remained basically unchanged. This model was so popular it was mass-produced in 1917, and would be copied 424 times in the next 18 years. The first K-4s produced utilized the common boiler design. They came equipped with screw reverses, were superheated, and hand fired. They came with 80" drivers, used 205 pounds of pressure, weighed 308,890 pounds, held 7,000 gallons water, and carried 12 1/2 tons of coal.

The last engines were built in 1928. Motive power chief J.T. Wallis and his assistants, Alfred Gibbs and Axel Vogt, would be the first men to evolve the K-4. In 1919 a small group of engines were built containing power reverses and Street underfeed stokers. These stokers were deemed unreliable, and removed until the mid- 1930's, when the revolution of the K-4s began. At this time, the K-4s were fitted with dependable standard stokers. This move was considered to be the largest single operational improvement of the K-4. Stokers greatly increased the performance of the K-4 engine.

Originally the K-4 was designed to haul 11 cars and could achieve an average speed of 60-75 miles an hour. With the implementation of the stokers, engines could now pull up to 16 or more cars, still achieving high rates of speed. A test train even reached a maximum speed of 92 miles an hour in 1938! They were also fitted with larger tenders, known as Kiesel tenders, (sometimes referred to as Baldwin tenders) named after its developer W.F. Kiesel, Jr. Superheaters were also introduced, and would come to be known as the best overall improvement made to the K-4, as its efficiency was increased by 20% after their installation. The superheaters collected the engine's steam in a series of boiler tubes, and then re-routed and dried the steam.

By 1956, only 72 K-4 locomotives were left in existence. Only 20 were in use, all of which were located in New Jersey. The Pennsylvania Railroad preserved some of the K-4 engines. The K-4 was one of the most successful and widely recognized locomotives ever developed.

The Deluxe Kit Includes:  The locomotive and tender complete kit, a painted engineer and fireman, and all of the "Super Detail Kit" parts. In addition, the boiler & tender body have been pre-drilled to enable installation of all the "Super Detail Kit" parts and the valve gear has been assembled.  Please note that some holes may need to reamed to fit the posts on some parts.

Complete Kit and Accessories:  The locomotive and tender complete kit has all of the parts to build a working model. You may wish to add your own details or purchase our "Super Detail Kit". In addition we have a painted engineer and fireman, a smoke unit kit and assemblies available as optional equipment to compliment your kit-building needs.

Part #DescriptionPrice
1-525   K-4 Pacific 4-6-2, Deluxe Kit * n.a.
1-100500   PRR K-4 Pacific Kit With High Side Tender * n.a.
1-100510   K-4 Super Detail Kit (Discontinued, Use 100515) * n.a.
1-100513  Assembled K-4 Piping * n.a.
1-100515  K-4 Super Detail Kit (Included in Deluxe Kit) * n.a.
1-500505   Assembled Valve Gear (for: K-4, G-5) * n.a.
1-91000  Engineer & Fireman Painted (for: K-4, L-1, I-1) * n.a.
1-100512   Engineer & Fireman with Back Plate (for: K-4, L-1, I-1) * n.a.
1-100514  Operating Headlight * n.a.
1-100516  Smoke Unit (for: K-4, L-1, I-1, E-6, H-9) * n.a.

Kit Components and Replacement Parts:  The following parts are listed in order to identify parts in your kit or to replace parts that have been lost, damaged or simply worn out.  This is not a complete list of all of the individual parts available for this model - please call Bowser with your specific requirements if you cannot find the parts you need.  You may also use our on-line catalog to find parts by description.  Please note that part numbers with a price of "Call Us" may be part of an assembly and may not be available as a separate purchase item.

Part #DescriptionPrice
1-100501  Side Rod Kit, K-4, K5001 (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100502  Boiler, Frame, Drivers, Tender, Trucks (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100503  Miscellaneous Kit, K-4, K4-5003 (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100504  Lead Truck Kit K-4 (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100505  Valve Gear Kit, K-4, K5005 (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100506  Castings Kit, K-4, K5006 (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100507  Trailing Truck Kit, K-4, K5007 (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100508   Frame, Driver, Cylinders, K-4, K5008 (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100511   Cab Back Plate * n.a.
1-100517   Small Parts, Deluxe Kit * n.a.
1-100519   PRR K-4 Pacific Mechanism Kit (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100520  K-4 Instructions (included in Kit) [also a 1.1Mb PDF] * n.a.
1-100521   K-4 Locomotive Only (included in K-4 Kit) * n.a.
1-100522   Instructions, K-4 Super Detail Kit (incl with Deluxe & SD Kit) * n.a.


  Prototype 
  Specifications
  Model
  Specifications
  Cylinders 27" x 28"
  Firebox size 79-7/8" x 126"
  Steam pressure 205 lbs.
  Starting tractive force 44,460 lbs.
  Weight of engine in working order 308,890 lbs.
  Weight of engine on pony truck 53,640
  Weight of engine on trailing truck 53,420
  Weight of tender, loaded 198,400 lbs.
  Weight of tender, empty 82,300 lbs.
  Length with Tender 11-7/16"
  Height 2-1/8"
  Weight 2 lb. 7 oz
  Minimum Radius 18"
  Recommended Radius 22"
  Power DC-71 Motor
  Drivers 80" with RP-25 flanges
  Color Brunswick Green

Kit Packets - Photos of individual parts
(click on any image to enlarge)
Side Rod Kit Miscellaneous Kit Lead Truck Bag Valve Gear Parts Castings Parts
Boiler Detail Parts Trailing Truck Parts           

Photos of Superdetailed Locomotive and Tender model built by Tony Wasilewski
Front-Right Boiler-Side-Right Boiler-Side-Left Side-Right Side-Left
Tender-Rear-Left Tender-Side-Right Tender-Side-Left Boiler-Top Collage

Prototype Locomotive and Tender Photos
Front #1 Front #2 Front-Side-Right Front-Side-Left Collage

Parts List:  List of parts included in Bowser's K-4 Super Detail Kit (see parts list above)