3rd Rail EL-3A; Three Powered Units?

They're offered as a three unit set because that's how the Virginian ran them.  As well, it's a heck of a lot easier for Scott and 3rd Rail to reach the minimum number of reservations to build selling 3 powered unit sets versus single powered units or one powered unit and two dummies.

They're not for everyone, but judging how the EA / E1 sets sold as well as the demand on this forum for the VGN jackshafts, I'm guessing these get made, and relatively quickly.

As an aside -- as non-aesthetically pleasing as the jackshafts were compared to steam or the diesels that followed them, they were a hugely important technological advancement at the time -- replacing three or more huge articulateds that were choking out their crews with smoke crawling up the 2% grade thru the tunnels west of Roanoke.  Once that section of the railroad electrified, it never went back -- only after the merger did N & W dispose of the big electrics because they merged their routes and the Virginian's.  I'm in for a set because they're a milestone in motive power as well as for roster completeness -- I have a model of literally all of the other Virginian big power except for these.

Are these the locos that used a brine bath as a resistor to accelerate the units?

Hi all Virginian Fans

There was a lot of desire for these units on the forum.  Thanks to Scott Mann for listening.

Lets get the reservations in so Scott can get a minimum to start, and hopefully get some gravy as well.

I know of four sets already reserved since yesterday.

Thanks Scott

Already got my order in

I’m considering a set. Are these brass or ABS plastic? The websight doesn’t say.

@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:

I’m considering a set. Are these brass or ABS plastic? The websight doesn’t say.

They are priced like 3 plastic GP30s - about $2700. I’d think brass would be considerably more - IMHO. Let’s see……

I run 3 powered units frequently with my 3rd Rail locomotives and have run as many as 5 without any issues.  They draw very little power and there is less wear on each of the respective locomotives.  I run on a club layout where there is a long 2.5% grade, and the extra power gives me the ability to easily pull 20 car passenger trains for long periods of time.  When my SD40-2s arrive, I'll be running 4 powered units together. 

Also keep in mind that a portion of the buyers for this model will be 2 railers and non-powered units are not very common in 2 rail.  For the small amount of interest in non-powered units there isn't a lot of savings on the manufacturing side in offering them. 

The ad in the O Gauge Railroading magazine said Sunset Brass for the VGN EL-3 Electrics and the NYC H-10A. So based on that it would be brass.

Scott replied to my email inquiry and said most likely ABS bodies with lots of brass details, just like the EL2B. These will still be incredible! I got my eye on them. There’s too many great GGD sets coming for me to commit to these electrics right now, but I hope to be able to squeeze them in.

ABS renders the rivets a lot better than brass.  Anyone who purchased the MILW EP-3 can attest to that.  Should be an incredible set of locomotives.