Ztrains: What's Available In Z Scale?

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Z Scale North American (NA) Locomotives
Z scale design and production featuring North American (NA) locomotives has increased dramatically in just the past few years. Manufacturers such as Micro-Trains, American Z Lines (AZL), Freudenreich Feinwerktechnik (FR) as well as Marklin now produce a wide selection of locomotives that make modeling NA scenes in Z scale a reality. The commitment of these new manufacturers to Z scale can only mean continuing Z scale growth. Here is just a small sampling of what's available:

Casey Jones: 4-6-0

Markin Mikado: 2-8-2

American Z Lines: GS4

Marklin: 4-6-2 Casey Jones
Marklin's Casey Jones limited release locomotive is based on the infamous 4-6-0 Rogers Locomotive Works locomotive, now known simply as the Casey Jones. The original Rogers ten wheeler was built in 1898 and retired from service in 1935.

Marklin: 4-6-2 Pacific
(Not pictured) The 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive was built from approximately 1902 through 1930, with many still being in service until the mid-1950's. In total nearly 7000 of these locomotives were built, making it the predominate passenger steam locomotive of the 20th century.

Marklin: 2-8-2 Mikado
It is estimated that over 10,000 Mikados were eventually built for use in the US, Canada and Mexico, The first being produced in 1909, and the last in approximately 1945. This was primarily a freight locomotive.

American Z Lines: GS4 Coast Daylight
The GS4 was built during what is considered to the Golden Age of Railroading, right after the US depression. Built by the Lima Locomotive Works, she was given her colorful paint scheme to attract rail passengers.




FR: New Haven Switcher


Marklin: GG-1

Freudenreich Feinwerktechnik (FR): EY-3, New Haven Switcher
The EY-3, New Haven switcher was originally built in 1926. This model is beautifully recreated in Z scale by Harald Freudenreich of FR Models. FR's EY-3 has an etched nickel silver body with numerous stainless steel add on parts. The roof details are cast brass and the pantographs are prototypical New Haven style. Harald Freudenreich has also produced a US diesel boxcab with a 4/4 wheel configuration.

Marklin: GG-1, 4-6-6-2
The GG-1 was a Pennsylvania Railroad built locomotive, it's sleek lines designed by famed designer Raymond Lowey. Lowey designed for such diverse clients as Lockheed, Studebaker and Lucky Strike cigarettes! A total of 139 GG-1s were produced in the 1930s and 1940s. The GG-1s remained in service well into the 1980s.

American Z Lines: PA1

Micro-Trains: F7

American Z Lines: SD45

American Z Lines: SD40-2

American Z Lines: C44-9

American Z Lines: PA1
Built by American Locomotive Works Company (ALco), the PA1 was built between 1946 - 1950, and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful diesel locomotives ever built. A unique feature of the prototype is the jet-like whining sound made by it's fuel injected and turbocharged engine. A total of 252 ALco PA1s were built, with most being out of service by the late 1960s.

Micro-Trains: F7
The F7 by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) was first produced in 1947, and approximately 3800 in total were built. The steam-to-diesel transition of the 1930s - 1950s would have seen F7s working side by side with what we now view as the classic steam locomotives. Micro-Trains produces the F7 in many roadnames, as well as several matching "B" units.

American Z Lines: SD45
Built by EMD starting in 1965, more than 1200 of the SD45s were eventually built. The SD45 featured a 20 cylinder engine that produced 3600 horsepower, and was featured on nearly every Class I railroad in the US.

American Z Lines: SD40-2
Built between 1972 - 1988 the EMD SD40-2 is arguably the most popular diesel locomotive ever built, with the majority of them still in active service today. A variation of the SD40-2 is the "Snoot Nose", these units had a longer front nose to house radio control equipment used for remote helper operations in large train consists.

American Z Lines: C44-9
A very popular General Electric design, this unit is often referred to simply as the "Dash 9". 1993 was the first year of production for the prototype model, and today this is one of the most well known locomotives on Class I US railroads.

The locomotives pictured above are just a sampling of what's available in Z scale for North American modelers. All major manufacturers have additional locomotives currently, or soon to be, available:

From Marklin: D&RGW Mogul with tender and passenger cars. EMDs F7 in multiple roadnames.

From AZL: F59PHI in multiple roadnames with Bombardier, Surfliner and California cars. EMD F45. EMD SD40T-2. ALCo E8 diesel. Lima Locomotive Works GS3 in both the Daylight as well as the black paint schemes. The GS3/4 sets are also available with passenger cars in matching paint schemes.

From Micro-Trains: EMD GP35, From Freudenreich Feinwerktechnk: EMD F40