EMD E-3, E-6. What's the difference??

[Anonymous]

WHat are the external differences, if any between an E-3 and E-6? Do they both use the EMD 567 engine (read: would they have sounded the same?)

If your wondering "Why do you ask?", I could get a CRI&P Proto 2000 E-6 with DCC and sound a lot cheaper than a BLI E-3, and if I can get by with just re-lettering the E-6 into an E_3, that's exactly what I'll do![:D]

[Anonymous]

NEVERMIND!

I just found out that the locomotive i want a model of, #627, was actually an E-6, but the Rock Island Technical Society's website had it listed as an E-3 in it's Zephyr-Rocket consist. BLI is producing #627, but I'll certainly pay less for a model that I'll just have to re-number than get a BLI model fro $33 more!

[Anonymous]

CJM -

According to my sources (Marre and the RITS diesel roster), I can confirm that #627 was, as you said, an E6A. The Rock Island only had two E3As (625 & 626) vs five E6As, so the E6s were 2.5 X more "visable".

The two RI E3As were the only E units to have a special taper at the rear to match up with the streamline cars - what are the odds that the model maker will do this ?? (slim or none ?)

I agree with your choice of the P2K E6A. P2K's past E6s have been great (I've got one), so the new sound model should be really super !
Especially if they do the detail as well as they did on the new RI GP38-2, which is almost at Atlas Master level !!

I'm waiting for a P2K sound RI E8A, myself - hopefully the next P2K run of these units will have sound, too !!

If so, they can make mine in the red and yellow scheme, as found on the Quad Cities Rocket !!!

[Anonymous]

There are no external differences between the EMD E3/E6.They both used the same primemover. There were some differences in the wiring.
Ch[:-,]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by psngrtrn

There are no external differences between the EMD E3/E6.They both used the same primemover. There were some differences in the wiring.
Ch[:-,]

For the Rock Island, that is incorrect.

As I said before, the E3As had a taper on the rear, the E6As did not.
The photos in Marre's "Rock Island Diesel Locomotives 1930-1980" clearly show this difference.

[Anonymous]

According to the Kalmbach book "E-units, Electro-Motive's classic streamliners" (Which I'd recommend to anyone interested in these locos - it has excellent information on everything from EA to E9) The E3 and E6 (at least, in standard form) were visually identical - I guess the Rock Island examples must have been a special order (as the E4s and E5s were for the SAL and CB&Q respectively).

I've said this before, but I'd really like to see a Proto 1k E3 - an E-unit on a budget. I know BLI have this loco planned, but their prices are above what I (and I suspect many others) can justify spending on a single loco. An E3 priced at the same level as the P1K Erie-Built and DL109 would surely be a good seller.

[Anonymous]

An E1 would be even better, YES?

[Anonymous]

Agreed. An E1 would also be good. I suggested the E3 as there are 8 potential roadnames that it could be painted in, which would allow more variety in the models and therefore more sales - as far as I know only the ATSF bought E1s? The locos may well have had the same length, truck spacing, etc so one chassis could be used under two different shells - or even include the original B&O EAs as well for a third shell on the same chassis. It occurs to me that given the E3 and E6 share a bodyshell design, maybe Lifelike could consider making an E3 as a Proto 1k loco using a simplified (for this read, with fewer added detail parts) version of their Proto 2k E6 tooling?

[Anonymous]

BillB, you need to visit the Midland RWY in Baldwin, KS. They have two RI E units.
Ch

[Anonymous]

I say, BLI, make an E-5 already!