The Bachmann Decapod: An Un-biased Review: This Is a review of Bachmann’s new DCC onboard SOUND equipped locomotive By Miles Callan -------------------------------------History----------------------------------------------------- "These locomotives were popular in Europe, particularly in Germany, and in Russia; British use of the type was confined to the period during and after World War II. In the United States, the 2-10-0 was not popular but was a favorite of a small number of railroads, mostly in mountainous terrain.
The 2-10-0’s main advantage was that five out of six of its axles were powered, meaning almost all the weight was available for traction rather than being distributed over pilot and trailing wheels. The long rigid wheelbase , caused problems on tightly curved track, so blind drivers were the norm, either on the central axle, and/or on the second and/or fourth axles. Often lateral motion devices were attached to the leading driven axles." (Quoted from Wikipedia, retrieved March 5th 2007)
Bachmann’s Prototype depicted the locomotive which came to be known as the “Russian Decapod,” which derives it’s name from the 200 orphaned 5’ 0" gauge Czarist Russian locomotives, built in the US by Baldwin and Alco. I believe the Bachmann model depicts the Baldwin prototype, built in 1917. The Russians ordered many more, but 200 were left at the plant in Schenectad