Modeling a mid 70's Amtrak E unit

[squirrelhunter]

I'm looking for some suggestions for modeling a mid 70's Amtrak E unit. I've included some proto photos below of the E units Amtrak had running around Central Texas in 1970's. They had 8 to 12 based out of the ATSF Cleburne Shops for maintenance and they covered both the Inter-American and the Dallas to Fort Worth Section of the Lone Star. Most of these were ex-UP units, with a few from B&O and SCL/RF&P thrown in.

http://www.railpixs.com/amt/AMT367_InterAmerican_nearTaylorTx_Aug77.jpg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=730759
http://www.railpixs.com/amt2/AMTK426_CleburneTx_June76.jpg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1194524

I've picked up my first Kato E8A that in Phase 1 paint (I plan to have 3 to 4 when I'm done), and the first thing I plan to is replace the pilot with a Showcase Miniatures late E and F unit plow. (These https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/n_scale/n_scale_century_foundry_accessories/525.html )

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to put these on while keeping the Kato coupler box? Or would it be better to ditch the Kato front coupler and just use an appropriate MT replacement?

Thanks!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'd say only do the plow on one of them.

It's a good subject though, consistent theme, but lots of individual character.

[seusscaboose]

the dirtier you make em' the better, and the rougher you make em look, the better.

Amtrak got the fleet of RR's that weren't bent on keeping up good maintenance plans....  these 1st gen's were not well taken care of.. inside or out.  Amtrak basically slapped a coat of paint on them and derated them by half (I know this for a fact to be true up in Detroit with ex-PRR and ex-NYC E units).

I would say it is a safe assumption that the entire E unit fleet was in some disrepair inside and out.  so if you're modelling it, the body can be spotless (new paint job) but the undercarriage and moving parts were not new by any stretch of the imagination.

I hope this helps.

[C855B]

... I would say it is a safe assumption that the entire E unit fleet was in some disrepair inside and out. ...

Not a safe assumption. UP's fleet was kept pristine up to the end, and Amtrak was definitely the beneficiary of the upkeep. The others, however, I can't vouch for.

[eja]

Nice photos.

An operational question regarding the first one.  Two E units seems like a lot of HP for such a short train. Anyone know if it was required for HP or was it add for reliability in case one unit broke down?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

An operational question regarding the first one.  Two E units seems like a lot of HP for such a short train. Anyone know if it was required for HP or was it add for reliability in case one unit broke down?

Probably a HP requirement so that the train could maintain the proper operating speed.

[nickelplate759]

I've noticed that most E units of this era have some or all of their portholes blanked out - but there seems to be little consistency regarding which portholes. I've often wondered why (and still do).

George

[nkalanaga]

Cheaper than replacing the glass, which could be broken by debris from passing trains, or objects thrown by local hoodlums.

[arbomambo]

I'm going to actually try to answer the actual question posed in the opening post...

 The Showcase Miniatures E/F unit plow is fairly new...according to Walter and Debbie's site, it will use some of the existing Kato pilot mounting pad (the photos of the resin plow seem to confirm this)
Not having one in hand, it's difficult to gauge exactly what must be done, but I imagine, that, at the least, most of the existing Kato pilot will have to go.
 The old (and VERY nice) Sunrise Enterprises cast metal pilots were an actual replacement for the pilot of the Kato E and F units, and had their own couple mounting pad cast into the piece. These, for Showcase Miniatures, appear to be different in that respect.
 I would bet that you could , still, remove the entire pilot from the Kato unit, attach the Showcase Miniatures pilot, then build 'down' the existing pad with styrene until the couple height is satisfactory.
 I LOVE Walter and Debbie's products, but I haven't purchased any of these plows because I still have a supply of Sunrise plows (which will finally get used on the new release Kato undec F7s!). After seeing these photos, however, I may have to model one of these unique E units...
 Very different, and seeming to be a blend of UP and SP specific types...snowshields, a la UP, but icicle breakers and plows a la SP.
Bruce

[davefoxx]

Not a safe assumption. UP's fleet was kept pristine up to the end, and Amtrak was definitely the beneficiary of the upkeep. The others, however, I can't vouch for.

I think the RF&P's and the SCL's were pretty solid, too.  The RF&P had ben still using their E units in freight service and was well known for keeping its equipment in great condition.  The SCL's Florida trains weren't doing that bad financially, as compared to other roads in the years prior to the formation of Amtrak, so their E units weren't terrible, either.

DFF

[C855B]

... Very different, and seeming to be a blend of UP and SP specific types...snowshields, a la UP, but icicle breakers and plows a la SP. ...

Bruce, for some reason I'm holding onto the notion that SP was rid of all their E's before '71. IIRC, their passenger fleet at the changeover was SDP45s, Fs and FPs. I think the FPs were sold to Amtrak (explaining icicle breakers), but nothing else I can immediately recall.

[Bob Bufkin]

Checking the roster in Amtrak Power in Color, Vol I, you are right no ex SP E8s.  Majority were ex PC with UP following a close second.

[Doug G.]

Do I see some bits of Armour Yellow peeking through on 367 in the second photo around the door area and above the grilles?

Also, an engineer with a cowboy hat. Only in Texas, I bet.

Doug

[arbomambo]

I'm not saying that these are SP units; just that they exhibit a blend of UP and SP characteristics...icicle breakers, snowplows, and so forth...
i'm not aware that UP ever added these type of plows to their E8 and E9 units (those massive plows on a few of their F3''s notwithstanding).
The blend of rooftop snowshields (UP) and the snowplow and ice breakers (SP) is a little unique AND very cool.
Bruce

[Bob Bufkin]

Do I see some bits of Armour Yellow peeking through on 367 in the second photo around the door area and above the grilles?

Also, an engineer with a cowboy hat. Only in Texas, I bet.

Doug

It is ex UP so probably/