EP60 loco

[Anonymous]

Does anyone remembers who made an HO model EP60 some time ago. Why did they stop making them. Does anyone have one

[Anonymous]

Is that the Amtrak 6-axle overhead electric loco? If so, Bachmann offered one in HO and N scales, body finished in chrome silver. I've been vaguely thinking about getting one for a while now as a project - depending on what the drive's like? They seem fairly common on eBay if you keep an eye open.

[ksax73]

The poor performance of the prototype probably paralleled the interests of modelers. The Bachmann model didn't run that well and I think many modelers were turned off by it and stayed away. American GK did a run and it ran much better but they went belly up. I think that they did the run of the E60 around that time and that's why you hardly hear about it. I didn't realize there was another run of this loco until last year. I didn't even believe it until my friend showed me his.

That is just speculation. They probably weren't selling that well when they came out with them. Bachmann's job on the E60 was not that great either, so I'm sure the hard core modelers that would've invested in it were turned off by the quality of the design.

[ndbprr]

The American Gk Ep 60 and EF60 used an Atheran drive and are superior to the Bachman. The Bachman cab is nice but the pantograph is plastic. An Atheran U boat mechanism is almost a drop in. You only need to make dimpled strips and glue them to the inside for the driveto work.

[ndbprr]

I knew EP60 didn't look right. Guess fixing up one house to sell and one to move into has finally made my brain as tired as my body. NDBPRR

[Anonymous]

Walthers made on about 10 years ago too.

[AntonioFP45]

I remember the American GK unit from the late 1970s.

The passenger double-ended unit is the E60CP. Freight unit E60CF. Were very attractive and used an Athearn six axle U-Boat. The units were "Very Noisy" but nothing that components available today could not cure. I've seen several Amtrak E60CPs for sale at train shows here in Florida. Average price: $60.

American GK also offered the E60Cp in the New Haven "McGinnis" paint scheme (orange, red, black, and white) even though the prototype NH was gone when the prototype E60 was put on the market in 1974.

A friend of mine bought a GK unit around 1977. He still has it, tweaked up the drive and has hopped her up for DCC operation.

Inspite of the prototype problems, the E60 hauled Amtrak trains thru the 1990s. I rode behind them while riding the Amtrak Silver Meteor and Silver Star. At one point on a 1983 trip I remember looking out the window and seeing the scenery blurring by. I asked, and the conductor told me were rolling at 110 mph! Not bad.

American GK E60s also show up on Ebay from time to time. I would definitely recommend the American GK unit over the Bachmann.

BTW: Inspite of the problems, railfans liked the E60, though it was no match for a GG1.

[wairoa]

I just won on e-bay a couple of weeks ago. I have not seen it yet as I will not be home for a couple of weeks. I ended up with the Bachman version. I figured it was not the best but I have wanted the '60 for a long time so I got it anyway. I am sure it will require some work just like my Class 58 does.

[Supermicha]

The last E60´s were withdrawn from active Amtrak service in early 2003. They pulled Florida bound long distance trains between New York and Washington till there end. 2 were preserved, all other scrapped...