I seriously doubt Lionel, MTH or any other manufacturer will ever accurately create a model of the 1401 as it appears in the Smithsonian. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the running boards and valve ladders show the modifications made at Spencer Shops during the 1940s. This would require a manufacturer to completely alter their Ps-4 model just for a Southern prototype. The closest you could get is an accurately painted version of the 1401 with red tender deck and green roof.
For those who think dealing with incorrect details is only in O gauge, look at the HO market. Manufacturers use standard plans for steam locomotives for several different road names, especially if based on a USRA design. Athearn Genesis and Broadway are two names that quickly come to mind. They may get the cab roof right, but miss on other Southern specific (or other road name) details.
Although I may not be able to afford many of the latest scale locomotive offerings from Lionel or MTH, I applaud their efforts to listen to the O gauge community and make them as accurate as feasibly possible. This movement toward scale realism has also made it way into the freight and passenger cars, which I can acquire. The more we as a group demonstrate through preorders our approval or disappointment with certain models, the greater chance the manufacturers will build what we want in road name or detail.
Originally Posted by Southern Railway Sean:
I guess my feeling about it the actual product and the catalog picture are two different items. The Catalog picture shows the the picture of the Ps-4 from the 2003 limited edition set with green pilot and driver wheels. The roof was painted green even in the 2005 catalog that was described as being prototypical.
There was nothing in the new catalog saying the roof was going to be painted.
I will say this if Lionel where to release one more Ps-4 I would hope they visit 1401 in Washington D.C. and release that locomotive as the finial run.
