Alco 2-6-0 Mogul w/Sound & DCC - Santa Fe #9448

As was my review on IRC59061S, SP AC-8, 4185, this is a re-release of this model which I already own so the review is in advance of the new release. I've noted that some of the engines in the Sound Value product line have a drawback in common by not having the sound synced up, specifically an SP GS-4 and CP 60, a 4-4-0. The sound is way to advanced for the visual of the drivers, side rods, cranks and eccentrics on these engines but are less obvious at lower speeds due to the tall drivers. Not on this little tea pot that is assigned to a milk run train. This is a beautiful engine on nearly every level including being eye candy. It has very small drivers for a mogul and on this locomotive they match almost perfectly synchronized between sound and wheel motion. The quality of the sound overall is terrific. Like all other Bachmann engines I have it runs effortlessly with great slow speed operation. Paint is a semi-gloss with a graphite fire-box and smoke-box, and the builder's plate is sharp and readable under high magnification. Lots of separately applied details; ladder grabs on back of cab, grabs on the front and rear of the tender, handrail along the length of the boiler and cutting levers on the front pilot and grabs on the front of the smoke-box and all appear to be to scale, front headlight and back up light with correct cab windows (no lattice work) and the tender tucks in under the cab roof perfectly making for a gangway of proper width. Under the fireman's window the detail is excellent too. There is modeled the injector, damper control and brake cylinder with linkage and there are brake shoes seen between the drivers. The air pump is in the right place and the after cooler piping is dead on, on both sides. Molded piping for the sand dome is excellent, with an exhaust pipe from the dynamo. There is molded back-head detail and the cab would definitely accommodate any detailing one wants to add, such as seat boxes, air brake stand, throttle etc. It is a small loco so being very light I wanted to test it to find out what it would handle, so I coupled it up to seven freight cars with a total weight of 899g (right around two pounds) and it walked 'em right out. I wouldn't have guessed that. The only change I made was to swap out the couplers in favor of some Kadee whisker type, short shank, with scale head and that was a piece of cake and also added to the prototype look. The tender has the proper coal bunker with realistic coal in it. So what is the problem? The engine number. 9448 never existed on any Santa Fe engines. The only class even close to the number was the 9445-46 class (originally 2445-46 ex-Frisco) engines with only two in the class, built by Rhode Island in 1891 and scrapped in 1947. The Santa Fe wasn't slopping over with Alco moguls, as there were only 11 in three different classes from Alco-Cooke and Alco-Pittsburg, built in 1906 and 1907, all acquired from other railroads (two ex-Arkansas Valley and nine ex-Kansas City Mexico & Orient.) This is truly an excellent little mogul and if you are going to get a Bachmann Sound Value engine, this IS the one you want in whatever road name. Happy modeling...