What's your favorite E?

[SP4449]

To 4884bigboy, the mars light is just a blinking light. There are two filaments in a single bulb that alternate. I have the P2K E6 in UP City of SF paint. I plan to pull the electronics and use the circuit as a ditch light controller and replace the mars with a more realistic one such as I have seen done by Minatronics.

BTW my vote is for E6 in City of San Francisco paint.

[passengerfan]

Remember traveling behind an E-5 between Billings and Lincoln in otherwise all heavyweight train. That E- unit was the only thing to rave about for that trip as the cars were already showing their age and the CB&Q was already wanting to get rid of this train. The crew at one point told me it was unusual to find an E-5 on the point as the usual power was a post war E7.
About the Santa Fe 1A and 1B they were delivered with B-B trucks and the railroad added a third axle so they were A-A-1 and 1-A-A the only units I think ever had this arrangement. This was after they had the raised Bulldog nose installed by Topeka shops. I always thought they were the result of two E1A units in a head on and Santa Fe just painted them warbonnet colors rather than repair the damage. In any event they certainly were ugly but an important part of E-unit development.

[CBQ_Guy]

E5. Has the best looking nose, IMO.

[johncolley]

The E-7 was the first with the vertical style nose as used on all later versions and F's. All the previous versions had the 60 degree slope nose. Also, in 47 and 48 it was used on the Empire Builder. Noticeably overloaded in the Rocky and Cascade mountains as the consists grew, it was taken off the builder and used on other flatter run trains in 49 on. Still my favorite!

[trolleyboy]

I voted for the E8 they were the only canadian ones to be had. When the three of them 1800,01,02 were around in the classic maroonn and Grey they were a thing of beauty.They became Fugly once VIA painted them blue and yellow unfortunatly that is the only paint job I witnessed them in. I was tempted to vote for th E6 though because I've always liked the slanted nose.E units are generally a classey machine. Rob

[GN-Rick]

A good book to see the different E-unit types is "The Second Diesel Spotter's
Guide" by Jerry Pinkepank. It is out of print but you probably can find one on
Amazon. There is a current update called something like 'Classic Diesels'or something like that. It is purchased at your LHS or through Kalmbach.

[jlcjrbal]

Hey guys where is the bestplace top see photos of the E's . I am still trying to get an understanding of the different types SO any direction ou can send me for this would be wonderful.. Joseph

[GN-Rick]

I voted for E7A, naturally, because that is the E that the Great Northern ran.
VERY close second is the Burlington's E5s. I agree with all you like-
minded guys that the slanted nose, combined with the stainless carbody
is spectacularly striking.

[Anonymous]

E9's rule!!

you just cant beat those Union Pacific executive E9's. definately a thing of beauty.

[SP9811]

SP E9 6051

[espeefoamer]

I voted for the E9,since E8s and E9s are virtually all I ever saw.I saw RI E7s once,in Chicago.I also saw the B&O EA at the B&O museum,and the SCL E3
when it was parked at Denver Union Station.I grew up alongside the LA&SL main line so I saw the City trains behind E8/9s all the time[:)].

[AntonioFP45]

JrBernier, 4884BigBoy,

Thanks! Nice thing about those tough old 567 diesels is that they're still around, as well as a number of E8s and the UPE9s. (though I think I had read that one or more of the UP E9s were repowered with the 645 series diesel)

Amos N' Andy? I had forgotten that this is what these units were called. Indeed, important to the development of the diesel, but good goobly! Compared to the graceful Steamers, these two shovel faced puppies looked like they had a run in with The Hulk!

[Anonymous]

I take it by the Santa Fe Montrosity you mean the EMC Amos n' Andy. Ugly little guys, but important in the development of the diesel.

[jrbernier]

I love all of the E series - the paint schemes are great!

AntonioFP45 - the E9 has 2 567C-12 prime movers. All E's have a pair of 12 cylinder engines buried in them.

Jim Bernier

[twhite]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Probably telling my age, but I voted for that butt-ugly E-2 with the bubble nose that CNW/UP/SP used on their early "City of San Francisco" trains. Not a diesel fan at all, except for PA's, but damn, that E-2 was one INDIVIDUAL looking Beastie!
Tom

Yeah Twhite! I just remembered that I have a picture of that locomotive in front of the COSAF! But I don't think it's ugly. I thought it had a sort of "Classy" look to it.

Now, you have to agree that the E-2 looks WAY BETTER than that Ugly Montrosity [:0]with the pushed in face that Santa Fe used on one of the early "Chief Series" trains. That thing's face, IMHO, could frighten a pack of Pit Bull dogs![(-D]

[:D][;)]

Antonio--Yes, probably the same photo I've got, taken in the Truckee River Canyon around 1938 or so--believe it or not, I wasn't born yet! But you're right about that Santa Fe thingy--Hell, I thought it WAS a Pit-Bull!
Tom [(-D][(-D]

[jimrice4449]

The Burlington's E-5 combine the exquisitly sloped nose of all of the pre-WWII psgr units and with the custom stainless steel trim to match the accompanying train make an integrated astheticall cohesive whole.

[cspmo]

QUOTE: YOU FORGOT THE GRANDEST AND GEATEST E OF THEM ALL! WHERE"S THE E-5? Silver Streak E's are the best E's. Can't beat that stainless steel carbody.

[#ditto]

[Anonymous]

The E8's. Conrail 4020, 4021, and 4022 to be exact.

[RMax1]

The UP E9's are beautiful. I voted for the E9 because the UP's are the only ones I have been on a train pulled by. I like all the E's and have 8 Proto 2000 E's. If I have my way I'll be getting more of them if I can.

RMax1

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Probably telling my age, but I voted for that butt-ugly E-2 with the bubble nose that CNW/UP/SP used on their early "City of San Francisco" trains. Not a diesel fan at all, except for PA's, but damn, that E-2 was one INDIVIDUAL looking Beastie!
Tom

Yeah Twhite! I just remembered that I have a picture of that locomotive in front of the COSAF! But I don't think it's ugly. I thought it had a sort of "Classy" look to it.

Now, you have to agree that the E-2 looks WAY BETTER than that Ugly Montrosity [:0]with the pushed in face that Santa Fe used on one of the early "Chief Series" trains. That thing's face, IMHO, could frighten a pack of Pit Bull dogs![(-D]

[:D][;)]

[twhite]

Probably telling my age, but I voted for that butt-ugly E-2 with the bubble nose that CNW/UP/SP used on their early "City of San Francisco" trains. Not a diesel fan at all, except for PA's, but damn, that E-2 was one INDIVIDUAL looking Beastie!
Tom

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

I have been considering getting a P2K A-B-A set of UP E8/9s to run behind my UP 844. One thing I'm wondering about is the MARS light, does it do a figure-8 or does it just blink?

BigBoy,

The Mars light on the P2K E unit doesn't wobble in a figure 8 pattern. Instead, the two tiny lights blink in a "vertical" pattern. The effect is "decent" but not a true Mars.

I'm not sure but one or two companies make very impressive Mars kits. Rather expensive. My friend put one in his Westside GS-4. The effect is impressive! The light literally looks like it's wobbling in a figure 8. I believe one of the companies is Richmond Controls Check out the website: www.richmondcontrols.com

Cheers![:D]

[Anonymous]

I like the E7, It just looks good

[j1love]

The E-7 rocks!! But it really is a hard choice.....how can you go wrong with any E unit?

[Anonymous]

Hard choices, but I had to go with the E6. Love that sloping nose!

[Cox 47]

The best......Illinois Central !!!! A classic design and the best paint

[Anonymous]

Did we forget the B&O EA units? Thats why I voted for other.

[Anonymous]

I have been considering getting a P2K A-B-A set of UP E8/9s to run behind my UP 844. One thing I'm wondering about is the MARS light, does it do a figure-8 or does it just blink?

[AntonioFP45]

Forgot to mention that, IMHO, LifeLike has done an "outstanding job" on their E units! IMHO, due to the heavy weight, these are LifeLike's best running and quietest locomotives! I plan on getting more.

I did send them an e-mail suggesting that they consider producing the large number board versions of the E-7. [C):-)]