As World War II raged, many railroads suffered from motive power shortages as wartime rail traffic reached unprecedented levels. Near the end of the war, even the mighty Union Pacific needed some extra help. The railroad purchased five Y-3 2-8-8-2 Mallet steamers, built in 1919, from the Norfolk & Western. Despite their age, the 2-8-8-2s performed admirably on the Wyoming Division as helpers and freight haulers. The scale-sized Lionel Union Pacific 2-8-8-2 includes many separately applied details, especially on the boiler front, which are true to the prototype. The locomotive features realistic articulation and its RailSounds sound system is specifically designed to replicate the sounds of a compound articulated steam locomotive.
