The Great Northern Railway S2 4-8-4              

GN S2 Locomotives are now in stock

Total production for World wide distribution is 257 units

pictured below the first production model # 2584 in "glacier park colors"

 below the GNS2 pilot models # 2584 in green and # 2575 in black under steam 

# 2575 in black

!  Important 

Black S2's numbered 2575 (in kit form or factory built) will only be available by special pre order which must be received by February 29th 2008.

Notice: We have commissioned a few additional black kits. These are still available on a first come first served base.

The black version GN S2 # 2575 is identical in design and performance to the green version # 2584. Only the engine number and color is different.

The kit contains 875 manufactured components and 950 hardware items such as screws, nuts, pins, o-rings, springs, wires etc. 

The shipping carton pictured is the same for kits and factory assembled locomotives with a slight difference in weight only.

We ship UPS ground / insured . Shipping costs are not included in the sales price of the locomotives and will be quoted on a individual bases. 

 

Errata information and helpful tips for kit assembly. Please read or print out this information before starting your kit. Click thumbnails below.

GNS2 errata1 (437 x 576).jpg (72785 bytes)

GNS2 errata 2 (451 x 574).jpg (73126 bytes)

 GNS2 errata 3 (536 x 690).jpg (71159 bytes)
GNS2 RC install (1068 x 1584).jpg (429374 bytes) GNS2 assembly tips (616 x 640).jpg (137863 bytes) GNS2 errata 4 (550 x 494).jpg (69216 bytes)

 

click thumbnails below for full size view 

IMG_0041.jpg 1.jpg (478186 bytes)

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Meet the two designers of the Great Northern S2 project.

Mr. Hitoshi Miura (on the left) is a veteran designer of 20+ years with Aster Hobby Co. Inc. Many Aster locomotives can be attributed to his skills and expertise. Mr. Ko Shimada (on the right) has joined the Aster company beginning of 2007. He has proved his skills by designing the beautiful GN S2 Vanderbilt tender, a first for him and Aster Hobby Co. 

 

  

   click thumbnails below for full elevation drawing of live size S2 locomotive

S2 side elevation.jpg (1237235 bytes)

GNS2crossect.1-2.jpg (441430 bytes)

 

  (The above pictured S2 locomotive preserved in Havre MT, does not represent the correct Great Northern "Glacier Park" color scheme).

 Introduction

In 1930 Baldwin locomotive works  supplied 14 high speed passenger locomotives to the Great Northern Railway. These fast and massive looking type S2 4-8-4's serviced one of the most remembered names in passenger train travel, "The Empire Builder". 

Originating in Chicago IL, the "Empire Builder" operated on Great Northern track from Minneapolis MS across the great plains and Cascade mountains to Seattle WA. (The name and route remains in use today by AMTRAK.) The S2's where the last steam locomotives  in express passenger service for the Great Northern before Diesels took over.  Engine 2584 (pictured above) is the sole survivor of the series and remains on public display in the remote town of Havre / Montana. 

Aster Hobby Co. Inc. of Japan is now manufacturing the legendary # 2584, decorated in its famous "Glacier Park" paint scheme. Locomotive # 2575, which was the first of the 14  S2's delivered to the Great Northern will be produced in black livery (as eventually all of them ended up when demoted to freight service).  Pictures of the pilot model development in progress will be posted on this web page as they become available. The production release of this exiting new engine is projected for spring 2008. The completed pilot model will be officially introduced at the Diamondhead MS 2008 steam up. We hope you will become one of the proud owners of this milestone US steam locomotive.

The pictures below reveal noticeable modifications applied to the entireS2 fleet during their period of service. Locomotive # 2575 poses as delivered from Baldwin in 1930 while locomotive # 2584 reveals technical changes applied before retirement in the late 1950's. Both Aster models will be built in "as retired appearance".

 

Development pictures of the Aster pilot model. (subject to changes)

All pictures and drawings posted are the property of Aster Hobby Co. Inc. and are copy right protected.

click thumbnails for full size pictures

S2 tender truck frame (586 x 277).jpg.jpg (39167 bytes)

S2 chassis comp..JPG (308094 bytes)

S2 trailing tr.axlebox castings (555 x 401).jpg.jpg (33390 bytes)

S2 pilot and pilotbeam cast..JPG (489973 bytes)

Side_Rods_.jpg (333453 bytes)

S2 cylinder blocks (892 x 550).jpg.jpg (62099 bytes)

S2 Chassis.cyl (1024 x 414).jpg (56840 bytes)

S2 proto boiler.jpg (51827 bytes)

S2 Cylinder components (551 x 295).jpg.jpg (21277 bytes)

S2 airpumps.jpg (602246 bytes)

S2 drivers and tires.jpg (344693 bytes)

S2 Running board R&L.jpg (160707 bytes)

S2 Boiler shell unp. (826 x 402).jpg (43219 bytes)

S2 fire box enclosure.jpg (175752 bytes)

S2 Vandytender UNFassy. (1129 x 664)1.jpg (105059 bytes)

S2 Vandytender UNF,tank,lid (810 x 652).jpg (87988 bytes)

S2 cab unp. (890 x 498).jpg (57608 bytes)

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S2 Tendershellpainted1 (682 x 542).jpg (48474 bytes)

S2 smokebox1.jpg (139958 bytes)

S2 Drivers assembled 1.jpg (43709 bytes)

S2 cab painted1.jpg (150339 bytes)

S2 detail castings.jpg (735801 bytes)

S2 Tender top view painted.jpg (49117 bytes)

S2 Coupled rods complete.jpg (204766 bytes)

S2 Cylinder draincock assy..JPG (93344 bytes)

S2 Chassis,drivers,rods.jpg (118273 bytes)

S2 Chassis cylinder assy.jpg (234746 bytes)

S2 Tender truck compl..JPG (405678 bytes)

S2 Tender RH complete 2..jpg (150772 bytes)

S2 Tender RH complete 1..JPG (121084 bytes)

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S2 Chassis.cyl.wheels.jpg (113444 bytes)

S2 Cabs.lettered.jpg (129562 bytes)

S2 trucks.jpg (59144 bytes)

S2 Boiler casing olive.jpg (76804 bytes)

S2 Boiler part.assy..JPG (111164 bytes)

S2 Cabin with roof.jpg (112041 bytes)

S2 Chassis.boilertest 1.jpg (60966 bytes)