Looking for some info on a K-Line EP-5.

Hi Chris. I have one. When I first got it, I did not have TMCC. It ran poorly. Gary put in a ERR but I never really ran it. Then it got the zinc rot.

The outside third rail pickups will hit the screw heads on Z switch machines. I had to put new countersink flat head screws.

Hi Don. I have seen a few on eBay for not crazy money but I’m think there may be a reason for that. Thanks.

Chris...I've had mine for years....tmcc runs great...best looking EP5 ever...only fault is the horn...not a HANCOCK 4700....no rot yet...(fingers crossed).....third rail shoes WILL hit so be careful....all the best  joe

Loved the two TMCC NH versions that I owned - will probably pick one up (again) in the near future. Mine ran great despite being equipped with K-line cruise. The detail was great - nicely detailer pantographs too.

In my mind the only downside was the blue-white LED. Others have mentioned the pickup shoes - these can be removed with a small screwdriver if they hit your switches.

In terms of zinc rot, some of these are impacted. Zinc rot or not, the pilots are a delicate point. If you look closely at online listings, you'll start spotting some where one or both pilots are broken.

Here’s an old video of mine on a layout. It had really smooth startups under TMCC control.

I have the K line TMCC version has been running great for years. lots of miles on the flower city hi railers layout as well.

I have one that has been two-railed :

I also have a stock one for running on friends' three-rail layouts.

Note that the K-Line EP-5 has been compared very favorably with a brass import (Overland?) as being the better of the two.

This would be a good candidate for 3D parts printing. 

@Alex W posted:

Loved the two TMCC NH versions that I owned - will probably pick one up (again) in the near future. Mine ran great despite being equipped with K-line cruise. The detail was great - nicely detailer pantographs too.

In my mind the only downside was the blue-white LED. Others have mentioned the pickup shoes - these can be removed with a small screwdriver if they hit your switches.

In terms of zinc rot, some of these are impacted. Zinc rot or not, the pilots are a delicate point. If you look closely at online listings, you'll start spotting some where one or both pilots are broken.

Here’s an old video of mine on a layout. It had really smooth startups under TMCC control.

The LED’s I can change easy enough and I only have one switch on one loop to worry about or I can run it on my 5 rail track with no switches. Nice looking cars behind it!

Cris, I had the Great Northern version and never had any issues. I got rid of it when my catenary system, I wish I had kept both.

Here's my EP 5 with a William's pilot replacing the rotted K Line one. The only altercation needed was to drill new holes in proper location. The Williams is almost identical to the K Line one. You can check to see if Bachman stills has the pilots in stock.    Lenny J

@Lenny J posted:

Here's my EP 5 with a William's pilot replacing the rotted K Line one. The only altercation needed was to drill new holes in proper location. The Williams is almost identical to the K Line one. You can check to see if Bachman stills has the pilots in stock.    Lenny J

thanks Lenny.....good to know...joe

It would be good if they had them in stock.

I guess after K-Line went under, no other company bought up the dies/tools needed to build this?

@RadioRon posted:

I guess after K-Line went under, no other company bought up the dies/tools needed to build this?

Lionel reissued this under the K-line by Lionel banner in 2009 - only Milwaukee Road from what I recall. No cruise this time around.

A New Haven reissue with Legacy would be pretty great. Maybe with those sparking pantographs from the Vision Line GG1

My TMCC version runs fine.....some zinc rot issues (bought a conventional one for a song (< $100) and have changed out the truck sides. Had to change out some switch machine screws to clear the 3rd rail feet.....

This video is fron 2015:

Peter

Good info. I have two Williams EP5's so I may check the parts.

Thank you.

@Alex W posted:

Lionel reissued this under the K-line by Lionel banner in 2009 - only Milwaukee Road from what I recall. No cruise this time around.

Easy to drop the ERR CC-M in those to add cruise.

I have the K-Line Milwaukee Road EP-5 (by Lionel). No problems at all. I use it with GRJ's YLB battery (with the lead to attached to the center rail pickup.) 

If you go to the Williams parts site go to the universal parts section not the EP5 section and they show the pilots in stock.