For fifty years, the American, or Eight -Wheeler, enjoyed widespread popularity as the predominant locomotive on the North American continent.  The swivel four-wheel lead truck made the 4-4-0 well-suited to the steep grads, tight curvature and primitive roadbed of railroads in the mid-nineteenth century.  By 1900, construction of new 4-4-0's had almost ceased, but not before a grand total of more than 25,000 had been built by manufacturers such as Rogers, Baldwin, Cooke and Mason.

Our miniature steam powered American is a very authentic scale model and a fine performer. Several hundred of these engines have been built over the years and a visit to any of the live steam tracks in North America or Europe will usually find one of these beautiful locomotive in operations as the center of attention.  The American will pull from four to six adults yet is small and easy to handle.  All of the detail items are either bronze or brass.  The stack and tender may be fabricated from sheet brass or the LE Castings used.  The cab and running board are aluminum castings with the detail molded into them.