No one else has yet posted their own experiences regarding this model ( am I the only person here that has one of these?) so here are some final 
thoughts about this engine, if I may.
Body: although I've seen better F unit nose renderings, and in spite of that infamous roof "hump", given the "3 foot rule" this is more than adequate.
I went ahead and re-installed those "drive bands", just to keep this as stock as possible. I think it does effect the slow speed slightly, but over all seems okay. I will probably try to find some sort of more flexible replacements; installed a Kadee #802 on the back and an HO scale #5 up front, so we're good to go.
I often read comments about the noise level of open-frame vs. can motors; sometimes it's true, but I find these older open frame types are often just as quiet as more modern can motors, this example being a case in point. Just my opinion.
Anyway, there you go.
Mark in Oregon
