Builder: Henry Mack @mackbricksmodels
Region: Americas
Category entered:
Year entered: 2026
Brand of building bricks used:
LEGO
Since 2026, the Brick Train Awards have accepted models created with other LEGO®-compatible construction brick systems.
About Southern Pacific A-3 3025 by Henry Mack @mackbricksmodels
Here is my model of Southern Pacific 4-4-2 #3025, built in 1904 by the American Locomotive Company as part of the A-3 class. With 81” drivers, these locomotives could reach triple-digit speeds while pulling well-known passenger trains. Some were later rebuilt into A-6s, while heavier trains eventually displaced them with larger locomotives like P-class 4-6-2s and GS 4-8-4s. No. 3025 was retired in 1952 and saved from scrap to become Griffith Park Travel Town’s first locomotive and the only preserved SP 4-4-2.
This model was designed over two years, finally coming together digitally in June 2024. I set a goal of completing it physically by Christmas and was happy to finish ahead of schedule. I modeled 3025 as it appeared when it arrived at the museum, including the red roof, whitewall tires, cylinder plaques, 70-C Vanderbilt tender, and other details.
It is powered by an L motor and rechargeable battery box, with bearings on every axle except the drivers for smooth operation. The locomotive itself was relatively straightforward to build, with no boiler taper and many dimensions fitting the LEGO grid well. The tender was much more challenging, since I had to fit both the battery box and IR receiver into the tiny 70-C footprint. Using several unconventional techniques, I was able to make it both functional and structurally stable.
Decals were designed by me and printed by OkBrickWorks. I used 1/16” white decal striping for the running boards, XXL driving wheels from Big Ben Bricks, and M-size rear wheels, rods, and other parts that I designed and printed myself. The rods were painted metallic silver to match the smokebox front and cylinder accents.