I have 2 KTM GP35s, Mine both have brass built up gearboxes. I got the first one and it needed a mate so I sought a second that had the same gearboxes. I think they are probably Max Grey imports, but may be USH. later ones have diecast gearboxes.
Mine are excellent runners. the drives are very well built and once run in a little are very smooth. I like them a lot.
As mentioned above mine are early ones and they ran a little slow for my taste when I got them. I replaced the motors with Pittman motors like the ones in weaver single motor drives. There was nothing wrong with the original motors, just too slow for my taste. Max Grey locos have a reputation for this.
AS for NJCB, I have an S1 Alco Switcher and I had an RS1. Both of these has All Nation drives. For a period when these were imported, NJ was importing the shells and installing All Nation drives. Those drives are rock solid. The shells were pretty well built and decently detailed. NJ imported the S1-S4 series, RS1, RS3, and Baldwin freight sharks and put all nation drives in them, that I know of.
I cannot say about the E8 AB. I don't remember seeing these. I have seen some large passenger diesel imports with motors on each truck like 3 rail locos. I don't car for these. Also, I had an NJCB Gas-Electric, and it ran OK, but it had many cold solder joints. It was painted and hard to repair without messing up the paint. It seemed every time I ran it, some detail part fell off. I have parted ways with it.
