Retro Review HO Athearn Mt-4 4-8-2 SP

In this retro review, Dan takes a look at an Athearn Genesis HO scale Southern Pacific Mt-4 4-8-2 Mountain locomotive he purchased in 2016.

A retro review is a product review of a model that is not a recent release, and may be out of production. Examples can often be found on the used market.

Some retro review models may be modified.

SP's Mt-4 locomotives were built in the 1920s. The engine represented by the review model, 4352, was one of 5 Mt-4 locomotives painted in Daylight colors. It pulled the San Joaquin Daylight over SP's famed Tehachapi Pass.

After World War II the "Lines" was dropped and SP started painting "Southern Pacific" on steam locomotive tenders. As it's painted, this model best represents the appearance of 4352 in the late 1940s to early 1950s time period.

In later years, many of SP's Mt-4s were painted black and ended their careers pulling commute trains up and down the San Francisco peninsula.

Most of the engines were scrapped in the late 1950s. Unfortunately none were preserved.

As usual, Dan evaluates the model's packaging, prototype accuracy, paint & detail, and how well it operates and conforms to applicable standards.

There's also a RIP Track segment where Dan talks about some of the issues found with the model, and shows how to change the factory couplers to Kadee 158s.

If you're a fan of Southern Pacific, or steam in general, be sure to check out this retro review!