On the Test Track: MTH Premier Line SP Daylight Alco PA

Southern Pacific 6006 pauses at a depot, awaiting orders.

MTH sent us two locomotives in bright spring colors: The nos. 20-20843-1 Alco PA and the 20-20843-3 Alco PB in the famed colors of the Southern Pacific Daylight passenger train. The Coast Daylight provided daily service between San Francisco and Los Angeles from 1922 to 1974.

When the six-axle PA's entered Southern Pacific service and they may have been the most distinctive appearing diesels appearing on the point of the streamliner.

The MTH PA-1 features two can-style motors, smoke unit, classification lights, illuminated number boards, and a flashing MARS light. The locomotive features the ProtoSound 3.0 Digital Command System. The PB is an unpowered dummy unit.

The sound system had that tired metal rattle sound that Alco diesels possessed – like the crankshaft was going to go flying through the side of the locomotive. Neat! The large duo handled our O-48 curves very well, and was was a powerful puller.

See your MTH retailer or go to www.MTHtrains.com for more information.

The A and B units have see-through screens and add-on grab irons and handrails.

The PA and B units round Pepsi curve.

The duo passes the Pepsi switch and the A-unit is over the Morton plant switch.

The A and B units handled the curves with ease.

The A unit is well illuminated for night running, or entering this overpass tunnel.

The top light is a flashing MARS light.

The smoke unit produced a vast amount of vapor!

The PAs are big, brassy, and proud models from an era when larger meant more modern and even more powerful.