Following the success of the EMD E7, the E8 and E9 locomotives gained equal popularity among many Class 1 railroad. The E8 and E9 marked the culmination of the "E-Unit" series of passenger locomotives produced by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in La Grange, Illinois. The E8 was capable of producing 2,250 horsepower, thanks to its two 12-cylinder model 567B engines, each driving a generator to power the two traction motors on one truck. From August 1949 to January 1954, a total of 450 cab versions, or E8As, were manufactured, with 447 for the U.S. and 3 for Canada. Additionally, 46 E8Bs were built exclusively for the U.S. from December 1949 to January 1954.
The E9 followed the success of the E8. These locomotives produced slightly more horsepower than their predecessors, the E8s (2,400 compared to 2,250), and featured a different, flusher-fitting mounting for the headlight glass as the only visible difference. E9s powered American passenger and mail trains from the 1950s through the late 1970s. E9s were frequently seen pulling some of America's most iconic trains, including Union Pacific Railroad's "City" fleet, Burlington's "Zephyr" fleet, and Southern Pacific Railroad's Coast Daylight and Sunset Limited. Between April 1954 and January 1964, 100 cab-equipped A units and 44 cabless booster B units were produced, all for service in the United States.
E9s, along with their E7 and E8 predecessors, traversed the country on lesser-known passenger trains, Chicago's commuter train network, and various mail and express trains. As America's passenger train network diminished due to declining ridership, Union Pacific, Rock Island, and Illinois Central repurposed E9s for freight trains. Burlington Northern and Chicago and Northwestern upgraded their fleets of E9s with Head-end power and EMD 645 power assemblies for commuter operations in the Chicago metropolitan area, a practice that continued into the early 1990s.
Numerous examples of E8s and E9s are preserved across the country. Many are still operational at museums and tourist railroads nationwide. Union Pacific, in particular, maintains a fleet of three E9s, occasionally deploying them for excursion services or for transporting railroad executives across the Union Pacific system.
In this production, we are modeling A and B-units from 8 railroads with prototypically accurate road numbers and paint schemes. We are offering A-B sets with Powered A-units (w/ Paragon4 Sound) and unpowered B-units and also separate single A and B-units (where appropriate) with our full Paragon4 DC/DCC/Sound system. All of our models have road-specific details and lighting.
Road-specific detail options in this production, prototypically accurate for each road name:
- Pilot prototypical per prototype
- Operating Mars Light where prototypical (with decoder installed)
- Large 45-degree number boards were prototypically accurate
- Prototypical horn detail and location on model
- Accurate air intake behind cab side doors
- Prototypical porthole locations
- Dynamic Brake Hatch location per the prototype
- Dual or Single Steam Generator per the prototype
- Cooling fans and exhaust hatch accurate per each prototype
- Rotary Beacon where appropriate
- Accurate position of lift lugs per the prototype
- Accurate headlight positioning per the prototype
- Multiple MU door options on front of model
- Prototypically accurate truck sideframes
- Ladder rest grab irons present were prototypically accurate
- Eyebrow grab irons present were prototypically accurate
- Grab irons above cab side windows were prototypically accurate
- Roof antenna present and correct were prototypically accurate
- Front and Rear lift lug present were accurate
- Nose door number plate present were accurate
- Trainphone antenna present were accurate
- Cab Window wind deflector was accurate
- Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power
Industry-leading Model Features:
- Paragon4 Sound & Control System featuring ROLLING THUNDER
- Integral Dual-Mode Decoder with Back EMF for Superb Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC
- Precision Drive Mechanism Engineered for Heavy Towing and Smooth Slow Speed Operation
- All Wheel Electrical Pick-up
- ABS Body with Die Cast Chassis for Maximum Tractive Effort
- Premium Caliber Painting
- Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes and Road Numbers
- Many Separately Applied Details such as Grab Irons, Horns, and Bell
- Prototypical Light Operation
- Prototypically Accurate Sounds for the EMD E8/E9 Diesel Locomotive
- MicroTrains-compatible Couplers (2)
- Will Operate on Code 55, Code 70 and Code 80 Rail
- Minimum Operating Radius: 9.75 inches
Broadway Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon4: The new benchmark for premium HO sound-equipped locomotives. These DC and DCC-Sound equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon4 sound and control system. Each Paragon4 locomotive comes with BLI's own integral DCC Decoder factory installed. Paragon4 locomotives offer Dual Mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF motor control, improved DC motor control, built-in capacitor pack for more reliable electrical pick-up, industry best on-board sound with Rolling Thunder functionality, Pro Lighting Mode for prototypical light control, Switcher model for precise low speed control, recordable DCC operation for automated playback, and the same excellent detail level as Broadway Limited's Paragon3 Series models.
Paragon4 Sound & Control System Features:
- Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound)
- Built-In extra capacitance to navigate imperfect track
- Pro Lighting Mode offers individual control of all lights on model
- Switcher Mode for precise low speed control
- Record & Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation
- High Resolution Audio
- Quillable Horn for various whistle lengths and patterns
- Choice of 3 selectable Horns
- Alternate Whistle / Horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played
- Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell
- Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys
- Multiple realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command
- Grade Crossing Automatic Signal
- Automatic Forward / Reverse Signal
- Prime Mover sound intensity varies with load
- Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect
- EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings