What's old is new... Sometimes in all the worry and bluster of what's going to be the latest and greatest, there's pleasure to be taken in an established product. Established, indeed. The American Models E8 was introduced in 2001 and is still going.
These went bump in the mail today, I ordered them at S-Fest last Friday to accompany the pre-owned UP Budd cars I bought there.
As usual for AM, take them out of the box, put them on the track and go. Good looks. No muss, no fuss...
There was one difference this time around. My past purchase E8's came with the coupler cover inserts installed and a pack of Kadee's placed in the box. This time around, the gang at AM installed Kadee's on the trucks couple arms and placed the inserts in the box, so the couplers swing with the trucks:
I'm not complaining, but it was a little surprise. Well, at least this way I can run them while they're waiting their turn at the workbench where I'll modify the inserts, close the hirail pilot gap and frame mount the couplers as I've done with my other E8's. I'll also move the headlight LED down to the door where it belongs.
I'm going to keep them conventional DC, as most of my roster is conventional.
Oh, yeah... They easily walk away with the seven car Budd set, I guess I'll have to order up a UP dome one of these days.
So, that's about it, a little bragging about my latest purchase.
Rusty