Any Experience with K-Line E8/E9 Diesels?

Sam, They run as well or better than anyone else's E8s. I don’t believe any came with cruise and most if not all are powered by a single Lionel DCDR, even the three unit versions. No smoke units but rather have rotating roof fans.

These UP engine are all powered driven by a single ERR Cruise M.

Pete

Those are really nice Pete,  thanks for the response. Is that Railsounds?

@c.sam posted:

Those are really Pete,  thanks for the response. Is that Railsounds?

Yes, thats RS4. Not all E8s came with TMCC, some are conventional but this one did have TMCC. All three cost me far less than half of a single Lionel E8.

Did I mention I am big K-Line fan???

Pete

@Norton posted:

Yes, thats RS4. Not all E8s came with TMCC, some are conventional but this one did have TMCC. All three cost me far less than half of a single Lionel E8.

Did I mention I am big K-Line fan???

Pete

I'm definitely well on my way to becoming a K-line fan! Great looking E8's by the way

K-line made a gorgeous set of green NYC E8s.  Always wanted one never had the layout for Es

These are great engines. They pull a ton and smoke well. My SP version didn’t have the rotating smoke fans but did have smoke units. Some engines also have cool details like removable snow covers or train phone antennas on the roof.

They run pretty well without cruise but adding a Cruise M is the way to go. K-Line did offer a PRR E8 with K-line cruise back in late 2004 / early 2005 (K-28802) but I think that was the only road name.

I regret selling my units!

I still have a set of PRR single stripe units somewhere.  They are among the last of the PRR 3 rail locomotives I still have.  Great runners when I used to operate them.  I put a GGD sample B unit E7 shell on one of them for a while, but put the factory cab back on it.  Challenge is, I don't know what I did with the pilot

K-line did well with these.  I liked them much better than my Weaver ones.  Some photos out of the way-way-wayback machine on my second attempt at an O layout at my previous home.  I never did get good photos of these units. 

Found better photos from 2017 when I got my Sunset E8.

C.SAM there are on that auction site that seem reasonably priced.

Weaver also did E8's.   There is/was lots of room, to install flywheel motors, and do TMCC/EOB upgrades.  With a little finesse, you could add some cab detail.   Equipped with blind/flange-less center drivers, they worked O54 without trouble. 

I bought an E8 AA powered set in Pennsy from Trainz at TCA York in 2022.  They also had a Weaver set so I got to compare them.  The K-line E8s were better detailed, had TMCC (vs conventional for Weaver), and were less expensive ($360).  They look, sound, and run great. Here is the link to the Legacy K-line listing.

Bob

Funny this thread come up. I just finished clear coating this PRR pair. I removed every add on part and used laquer at 45PSI. I am not usually a fan of glossy trains but the MTH Bennet Levin versions of these E-9's look really good.  I figured since I have 3 sets of these I would gloss over one pair. I will keep one pair completely as is from K-line. This set you see in the pic got clear coated and LED headlights added. My 3rd set will be a combo set. One unit will be glossed over and the other unit in the pair will be weathered. My NYC Jade green units will stay as delivered from K-line. I really like the K-line E8/9's. Im always looking for more at the right price. Does anyone know where I could find traction tires? I will likely use MTH tires close to the correct diameter but noticed that MTH tires dont seem to be as wide as the K-line's. Anyone have a recommendation about the MTH part # I would need?