Jim and Jerry
Thanks to both of you for posting photos of the Sunset models of the K2a and K3. Together they are a good illustration of a good fast freight and passenger locomotive and a mountain with mikado like running gear.
The K2s were USRA heavies. Like the other USRA locomotives, they were well designed for their intended service. With 69' drivers and the main rod on the second axle they were well balanced for high speeds by the standards of the day. They were fast enough to hold down passenger assignments into the 40s and 50s and merit streamlining to look like a J.
The K3s, even though the N&W built them later, were something of a throwback to some of the pre-USRA designs with 63" drivers and a longer and heavier main rods connected to the third axle. As I understand it, they had a reputation for being hard on track due to poor balancing for high speeds and that the N&W was happy to sell them when other roads were power short during WWII.
