Yesterday, I picked up my 3rd Rail Run 2 CB&Q E5 models at Chicagoland Hobbies.
I am now in CB&Q E5 Silver Heaven !!!
I ordered 3 units and had Chicagoland Hobbies install @gunrunnerjohn 's YLB battery replacement capacitors into each unit.
Here are photos of early Black Stripe version CB&Q #9911A Silver Pilot.
The prototype 1/1 scale Silver Pilot is the only survivor of the 11 E5A units. It is operates in the summer at IRM (Illinois Railway Museum) in Union IL. It is a Phase 1 version E5A, while 3rd Rail's tooling is for the later Phase 2 version E5A. I am fine with any minor discrepancies between the Phase 1 & 2 versions. Although not identical twins, the Phase 1 & 2 versions were very similar fraternal twins.
Above is the side of Silver Pilot with the name plaque.
The above photo shows the black-striped nose with the lower headlight & upper Mars light. Consistent with the early "as delivered" appearance, there are no nose grab irons and no E5 model plates & numbers on the cab sides. The GM EMC-EMD builders plates are on the sides of the nose. The cab includes both engineer & fireman figures.
I plan to add decals of the #9911A & E5 plates to the cab sides on this model.
The above photo shows more of the side of the model. 3rd Rail has included the "as delivered" truck skirts, which are removable. On the prototype 1/1 scale E5s, the CB&Q removed them "for ease of maintenance" by 1950. Accordingly, the prototype Silver Pilot at IRM no longer has its truck skirts.
The above photo shows Harry @Harry's Trains & Tim @TRAINMANTIM test running the Silver Pilot at Chicagoland Hobbies. Harry & Tim are great & helpful guys !!!
I love this model of Silver PILOT !!!
THANK YOU to Chicagoland Hobbies team and to Scott & Shoni Mann & their 3rd Rail team !!!
CB&Q Bill
