Happy Friday. Y'all.
Running late this morning. Feel much better, getting a good night's sleep really does help.
David: The only Baldwin Shark mass produced in cast metal or plastic in HO was the freight version. The most recent examples are those produced by Bachmann and BLI. Both are models of the later RF16 model.
There was also an RF15 version, with 1500 HP. The only BP20 (2000 HP passenger version) produced was in Brass. Someone also produced Resin shells meant to go over Proto 2000 PA frames. Rumor has it that BLI is planning a passenger version.
When I said that they were not suited for main line operation, it concerned reliability. They were not as reliable as other power, so when the PRR reduced E-W long haul passenger service in 1957 - 1958 in response to the recessions that occurred during those years, the Baldwins were surplus. Since they still had considerable time on their equipment trust, they were Banished (reassigned) to the NY&LB, enabling the PRR to replace it's remaining steam passenger power.
As with all Baldwin built diesel power, when they were at 100%, they out performed anyone else' diesel power. However, they had numerous design flaws that caused reliability issues for which there were no solution.
A modern equivalent, would be Amtrak's HHP8 which were introduced in 2002, and were retired in 2014, due to insurmountable reliability issues.
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