My two P2K Pennsy E8s came with the pilot hatches on and that useless coupler behind it. I read that a special long coupler is required for pulling operation. I popped off the hatches of the loco that would be nosed to the baggage car (Athearn) of the passenger consist and removed the factory pseudo coupler. I lined up a Kadee #5 to see if it would reach the baggage coupler and discovered the E8 coupler box has two positions. I installed the #5 and its spring on the outer peg, but the hose was hitting the pilot frame, so I bent the hose up flatter and likewise the #5 on the baggage car. The hookup works and looks great!
Being this is a passenger set, that baggage car with its modified coupler will always be dedicated to that position, hooked up to the modified E8A rear-facing nose.
Hope this helps all of you who want to convert a Proto E8 with a #5.
Rob
Thanks Rob:
Good to know. I have a P2K E7 AB set. I believe E7s and E8s have the same nose profile. I want to get a second E7 so I can run an ABA set.
EDIT: I just checked the Kadee chart and apparently there is an earlier version and a later version of the P2K E8s. The later version is the same as the E7. Do you happen to know which version E8 you have?
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!