Proto 2K - HO E6, E7 owners. Would appreciate your feedback and critiques on your unit.

[AntonioFP45]

I was at Happy Hobo Trains recently and after staring at a P2K E6 A & B set in the ACL scheme, I went ahead and did it! I pulled out a $20 bill and told Kevin "Here, take this before I change my mind! I'm putting er' on layaway! Total price is $84, which I'm told is pretty decent for an LHS.

Sounds corny, but in the past I've had the habit of procrastinating on limited run models. Of course you can guess what would happen. I see a locomotive I really like. It sits on the store's shelf for 3 months, I finally come in to get it and I'm told "Uh-Oh, Tony! It just left at warp speed! The customer was excited!!" Of course, I have to restrain myself from yelling at the "Yahoo in the mirror!! " [B)][%-)] (Any of you all experience this?)

The Proto E units are attractive with crisp details. However, a fancy box ,while nice means little to me. This will be my first P2K, but I sure would like to hear from owners of these locomotives. From my understanding the chassis on the E6 and E7 models is the same. Have you guys & gals had any problems as far as noise, light functions, performance, top speed?

Appreciate your comments. [:D][:)][8D][:p]

Thank you, kindly!

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking, I have had look luck with both the P1K & P2K series, such as the F3s,E7s, PAs, GP9 & 30 all come with a limited or life warranty.

The E6 has been on dealer shelves for some time.

The KD coupler for this unit is a 26 for the pilot and #23 for the end. There is a swing bracket, #455 for closer coupling.
www.kadee.com/htmbord/page68.htm
www.kadee.com/htmbord/page71.htm

[orsonroy]

My P2K E-6A is probably the nicest diesel I've ever owned. It's HEAVY, and will pull a string of 15 Rivarossi and Bachmann heavyweights on it's own with no problems. It's got a big motor and flywheels on it, so be prepared for LOTS of stopping space when you go from full tilt to a dead stop. Mine coasts for something like 12 feet! All in all, it's a very nice engine. If I were modeling a line that had more passenger service, I'd buy several.

[Anonymous]

I own 8 Proto 2000 E units, 7 8/9's and one 7. All are excellent in quality and perfomance. There is a difference between the new E units and the old ones. The new are setup for easy DCC and have a different mars light. Both are quiet and run great at all speeds. I would still like to have a couple moreof these units in UP.

RMax

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RMaxfield
[ I would still like to have a couple moreof these units in UP.

RMax

Me too, but I'm maxed out with my double F3 A-B sets

[tomwatkins]

I think there are excellent. I've got 2 sets, 1 Southern A and B, and a pair of L&N A units. So far I've only test run them extensively. I've still got to install the decoders and speakers, but I really like them.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[AntonioFP45]

OrsonRoy, TomWatkins, Locomotive3, RMaxfield,

My gratitude for helping me decide to purchase P2K locomotives. I was rather unsure but with your good input and my recent experience with a Proto 1000 RDC, I feel glad that I put this E-Unit on layaway. Hopefully I'll bring it home in a few weeks![:D][8D][8)][:)]

Thanks again, and May God Bless!

[Anonymous]

MR did a July 99 review. Should you want a copy, e-mail me your postal mailing address.

In those days, the MSP was $110.00 for the A & $50.00 for the B and at Trainworld $90.00 + ship.

The A tips the scale at 23.8 oz and between the weight and flywheel as pointed out, it's a
coaster when shutting down at high speeds(My E7 is the same)

It will operate on 18" but will look better on 22" per MR.
If you are 22" and wi***o maintain a close coupling between A & B, then perhaps that swing bracket is worthy of consideration or ask one of the previous respondents.
Couplers are mounted in pivotong draft -gear boxes which greatly reduce the chance of derailments on tight curves per MR.

[Anonymous]

Two more suggestions;
Since the loco may have been in the box for the last five years, give it a good performance test
before you leave the LHS.
Also, since the crew is painted black, pick up a couples of water base light colors, such as
a blue/white. They will show up a lot better once the shell is on.

[AntonioFP45]

Thanks Locomotive3!

Five years! Time does fly! Great advice. Happy Hobo Trains has a neat folded dog bone layout out that's about 25 ft. long. The "bone" section is only a foot wide while one of the beautifully scenicked curved sections is about a 4x6. Kevin always has two trains running. If you ever visit Tampa, you have to stop in! [4:-)][tup]

Before I pickup the A&B set, I'll have Kevin run them for several days pulling a long (20 car) freight train to break them in and look for any defects. [;)]

I've got a good assortment of water based (acrylic) paints, including flesh and neutral colors. I might get my wife to detail the crew for me as her hands are very steady.

Since my space is limited, I'll be using "22 radius on the "shelf layout" that's going to run completely around my Hobby Room. The coupler information is very helpful. [C):-)][tup]

I really like the fact that these E-units are heavy. I really enjoy seeing momentum action as I will push my passenger trains to 80 scale m.p.h. Proto really did it right! I even nicknamed my Proto RDC "The Brick" as it feels heavier than my Athearn FP45. Guess these E-units will be "The Blocks"!

Guys, from your input it looks like I won't be dissappointed. My next Proto 2000 unit will be an E7, my all time favorite E-unit. Are they available in "Undecorated"?[:D]

Thanks for your valueable input!

[Anonymous]

My E7s F L Y. and not too far behind are my PAs.

You don't have to get picky on the crew since you can't see details thru the windshield
just as long as they are bright, also an orange will show up. Not prototypical but you
need a bright color to appreciate the figures.

Happy railroading.

[genelbradleyjr]

Hi, your posting got my attention as I am a BIG E-unit fan. (F's also) In the 60's I used to watch the L&N Hummingbird fly past my grandma's house doing at least 100 mph!!!!!!!
They used all sorts of combinations, 2-e6's, 2-e7's, 2-e7's and 1 e6 etc etc. Like you I procrastinated, and getting my first proto e unint was always a "one day thing". Plus my LHS only had limited numbers of them and even fewer different road names. The my heart sank when I found out that they were a limited prodction run from LL. (Geeeez![banghead] Anyway there was a wonderful article in MR about how to find the models and the roadnames you want. Well I am now the proud owner of 2 E8's, 2 E7's, and 2 E6's ll courtesy of ebay to which I have become addicted, but like all good addictions I just decided how much I was going to spend on my hobby and so be it. What I have observed are as follows. The all run excellent!!!!! unbelievable slow speed, they coast for a long distance, they trak perfectly around the 22" curves........they will track the 18" r but if the track is not perfectly smooth, they my climb the rail as would any 6 axle deisel. The MARS light on two of the work like a real one (strong beam, and waves slowly back and forth across the track. When I run them at night it loks real. The other foru need a little TLC, probably bumped in transit. (see my other post regarding MARS LIGHT question)
VERY IMPORTANT.!!!! IF YOU SEE ONE YOU LIKE ON EBAY STICK TO ONE NEW IN BOX OR IF SELLER ASSEMBLED TO TAKE PICTURE, EMAIL HIM/HER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE WILLING TO SHIP IT AS ORIGINALLY PKG'D (I.E. THE SHELL SEPARATE FROM THE MECHANISM AND WITH THE BRACES SUPPORTING THE MECHANISM AND PROTECTING THE COUPLERS. THESE UNITS DO NOT SHIP WELL ASSEMBLED.
Now I see LL is having another production run. go figure!!!!! I love my e-units!!!!!!!! I'll have one from BLI one day [:D]

[AntonioFP45]

GenelBradleyJr

Wow! Seeing E-units at Metroliner speeds; Impressive! I wonder if anyone has ever produced videos showing passenger trains hauled by E's, flying by.

Appreciate the tips regarding E-Bay. I wondered why these units are boxed with the shell off. A good friend of mine is going to teach me how to shop on E-Bay as I'm concerned about being "ripped off". He's had great success with it and has purchased 4 locomotives and 2 Walther's passenger cars on E-Bay. Has saved quite a bit of money![;)]

Some modelers have stated that the P2Ks are equal in quality to the Athearn Genesis series. I don't know, but it sounds like Proto "edged out" Athearn in the weight and "goodies" areas. (Though I did read that Athearn EMD 2 axle truck side frames are better detailed. I'm looking forward to the running the units.)

Very "cool of you" to share your thoughts and experience. If you do happen to know of videos showing E-units at speed, please post it.[:D][8D][:)][8)]

God Bless and Thank you!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

GenelBradleyJr

[b]

I'm concerned about being "ripped off".



Very "cool of you" to share your thoughts and experience. If you do happen to know of videos showing E-units at speed, please post it.[:D][8D][:)][8)]

God Bless and Thank you!

Me too.
If I do business away from my LHS, I do it thru Trainworld. Never a problem.

I have a bunch of loco videos. One is the UPs elegant E9s now on sale
for $5.00 at www.pentrex.com. I will scan the rest and get back to you.

It's more scenic than high speed.

MAY 1st ADDENDUM

What I have is "Feather River Canyon E-9s thru the Sierra Nevadas. UPs sleek A-B-A set of E-9s
by www.pentrex.com 45 minutes, color stero and narration.

[lupo]

I have an E7 coSF and an E6 ABB coLA, with neat sharp name lettering on the side,
an E9 and I love'm all: nice detailing, working doors
very good value for money

[genelbradleyjr]

hey Antonio, I left something out. One time during one of those 100+mph runs I promise it was going so fast that, check this out, My guess is they did not turn the train (coaches) or the engines around, but rather the engines ran back to the other end of the train to proceed in the other direction. Anyway the train was headed west and the REA express car (express reefer with passenger trucks) was at the end of the train vs being in between the last engine and the baggage car. The train went through this crossing sooooo fast that the rear truck of this express car flew up in the air at least a foot and came right back down on the rails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was about 12 yrs. old at the time and all I could say was @**!!!!!!![censored][censored]
question 4 u, does your unit have an operating MARS light and if so how does it work?

[Anonymous]

there pretty i have a E6 A/B but only the a is powered and it's not powerful enough to pul a passenger train up a 2.5% grade

[rambo1]

For me anything made by proto 2000 are the best......

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNWfan5525

there pretty i have a E6 A/B but only the a is powered and it's not powerful enough to pul a passenger train up a 2.5% grade

That's odd. The loco weighs in at 23.8 oz and has a draw bar pull of 5.6 oz.

Perhaps you have a lot of wheel drag. If so, consider & review the merits of Intermountains.

I had to upgrade my budds. Worst drag I ever had.. Maybe a spot of oil on the axle end?

I would be surprised that it's just the engine.

What cleaner are you using on the wheels and grade? These are all contributory factors.

[AntonioFP45]

GenelBradelyJr,

Hey guy! I put the unit on layaway 1 week ago. When I pick it up, this will be my first Proto 2000 unit. I don't know for sure but I believe it does come with the "Mars Light" feature. Since it's an ACL unit, it will have dual lights on the nose. I'm not an electronics expert but I believe that the this feature works through a printed circuit board that the locomotive comes with. As I stated before I will be converting it to DCC and Sound.

CNW mentions pulling ability. In my case, if a passenger locomotive can pull a 7 car train at 85 scale mph on level track then it's good to go. From what I've read the Proto 2000 series locomotives have smooth, strong pulling power, but I'll see for myself once I finish paying this one off.

My next P2K will be an E7. My hope is that I can get it undecorated as I want it in SCL colors.

Thanks everyone for your input! Stay safe![:D][8D][:)][tup]

[Anonymous]

According to the July 99 review Mars lights are included on the model to match the
prototype that had them.

At 12.0 volts the loco topped out at 88.3 scale MPH

I can mail you a copy of the review if you want one. F R E E

[AntonioFP45]

Guys, you've been very helpful.

While I was at Happy Hobo Trains recently, it suddenly "Dawned on me" that Proto is no longer producing the HO E7 (Yes, my brain gears aren't meshing well!) . Undecorated units are not available. I checked with Kevin and he has 3 Florida East Coast units left in stock. I'm going to quickly pay of the ACL E6 that I currently have on layaway to get at least one of those E7s.

The orange and yellow is nothing that a bath in 91% alcohol couldn't handle! When finished it will be SCL black and yellow with the number being in the "500" series, as were all SCL E-units.

Thanks again, Amigos![8D][:D][;)][8)]

[genelbradleyjr]

I lost this trying to reply the first time, hopefully I can re-create it.
FEC unit are PLEEENTYFUL on ebay, I'll send you some pics.
Also they have SCL in grey w/ red striping and an occassional lime green w/ red striping. Those colors must have run north of us. I've seen them in books but never live. I remember the ACJ and the SCL in black w/yellow stripes.
I have the same need . I model the L&N. and I remember some of their F and E units were solid blue with minimal striping like Bangoor&Aristook. I was gonna pick up one of those (I think stewart hobbies put them out) and decal it for L&N. p.s. what color is your ACL?

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Genelbradleyjr

The P2K E6 that I have on is in the black & yellow (BumbleBee) paint scheme. Thanks for the heads up about Ebay. While I strive to save money, I'm going to go ahead and get at least one P2k E7 from my LHS (Happy Hobo Trains) as he gives great service so I would like to give him my support. I'll likely buy more P2Ks on E-bay in the future.

[genelbradleyjr]

To AntonioFP45
LIFE-LIKE ~ FLORIDA EAST COAST E7A/B LOCO SET $59.99
NO BIDDING!!!!!!!!! BUY NOW PRICE SEE LINK BELOW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19135&item=3193035872&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

[AntonioFP45]

GenelBradley,

Wow! I'm very greatful. Thanks! I'm very seriously considering it!