Anyone have a suggestion about where to get a good E-9 B unit?

Did Weaverever make B units  about 20 years ago?

There are a couple of MTH B units powered/non powered on ebay. Just type in "B unit" and you will find a few. Of course you will have paint it..hope this helps.

Lee,  Weaver did make a line of nice E8s and I believe that the MTH E's are from the same molds. They should be close. Several years ago I tried to match a Williams E7 A unit with a Lionel UP E7/8 and also a MTH E6 B unit and all three were slightly different in height. The Lionel rode too high on it's trucks and was slightly larger overall while the Williams was smaller overall than either. You'll need to actually put a couple of different B units on the same track with your AA's...

 

The Lionel UP B unit I had appeared to be a much duller yellow and had gray trucks compared to yours. 

Hello C. Sam. I have not forgotten about contacting you. I am still overseas and will contact you asap once home.

 

Sorry for side tracking the thread just  bit

 

Are you a "purest," or does it have to be an E9?  On eBay posted today is a Union Pacific MTH Premier E8-B with a buy it now price of $200.00. Did you see it?

 

Vern

Never mind. It's been on ebay since Mar. 26, not posted just today, so you've probably seen it. Looks nice, though.

 

Vern

Thanks Yellowstone Special: I had not seen it, ---I had just not actually looked for an E8B instead of an E9B.  It looks perfect for me.  

 

They estimate delivery next Thursday.  

 

As I understand it, E8 and E9s seldom ran as just AA pairs but nearly always as ABA, so I am really glad to have it.

Small world. That was mine you bought. Packing it up tonight and hope to ship tomorrow. Funny thing, My wifes parents are heading to Chapel Hill from our place in northern va. in the am and thought about sending it along with them but if anything got hosed up with that plan then it would be a mess.

Hope you enjoy it.

Heck with the way the UP mixed power any combination would work really.

 

You said it CWEX.  Growing up in eastern Idaho in the 1950s and 60s, I remember seeing the UP's summer only Yellowstone Special (my displayed name) with mixed power including a GP-7 or 9 on the point with a trailing F3-B.  But it was usually an F3-AB combination.

 

The Butte Special (Salt Lake City to Butte, Montana) could have a GP-9AB combination, an F3-AB combination, an E8-AB combination, or just a single E8, depending on the length of the train. 

 

And these were just branch lines.  I imagine the mainline power mixes could be just as interesting.

Did the E8's and E'9's have B units in their engine consist?  If so, with the present Lionel releases and the new E8's to follow, why don't you send a nice message to Lionel suggesting they make the B units.  The question is, as far as I am concerned, did the B units exist for the railroads that have been released by Lionel.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

 

Hey Tex.  I don't know to whom you are addressing these questions.  But in answering your first question, yes, at least with Union Pacific, their E8s and E9s almost always had a trailing B unit and usually another B or A behind that.  They were usually ABB or ABA combinations on their mailine "Cities" passenger trains, such as the City of St. Louis.  But if it was a shorter consist like the Butte Special, sometimes with only a few passenger cars, a single E8 (2250 hp) would do.  Forum members who are current or former UP employees may know more.

 

I don't know the answer to your last question on whether or not B units existed for the railroads that have been released by Lionel, other than Union Pacific.

Thanks Vern, I pre-ordered the MKT E8 and I will do some research on any possible B units that RR might have had.  In a way, it doesn't matter to me, I think a B unit would be great anyway.  Thanks for your help.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

I looked on the MKT diesel locomotive roster and the railroad purchased 4 EMD E8 "A" units and no "B" units.  That's OK, I would like to see a "B" unit anyway.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

 

Interesting that the Katy purchased only E8-As, but no Bs and I guess several other railroads did the same. Maybe a single A unit with the 2250 hp was all they needed.

The City of Los Angeles train my Mom and brother and I took out to LA in circa 1957 had an ABA combination in front.  I was eight years old and seriously into trains at the time and really impressed with them. They sounded much better than the ABBA F3 combo on the Super Chief, which we had taken the year before. 

Neither did the Burlington. 

 

The only E-unit B's the Q had were the E5's.

 

Rusty

This worked out great.  I ended up buying the non-powered MTH E8B that ibrewtoo had on e-bay.  It is a perfect fit!  The B unit sits at just the right height to match the A units, the portholes and doors look identically made, the armor yellow and gray match so precisely in tone and sheen I just can't see any difference, and the Union Pacific lettering and all is also a perfect match, too. There is a very small difference in the grills that you can see if you concentrate, the diaphragms are very slightly different, and the silver on the B unit's trucks is a tiny bit shinier.  But overall it is a stunningly good match!  And the full, correct A-B-A set looks so good! 7200 HP! Yes!!!!!

 

What could be better than this.  The Lionel is number 949, the MTH E8B is 949B!!!!

Really glad to hear that worked out for you. I was happy to leave you your first positive feedback. So, you also got me thinking that maybe I should keep my other unit. and obtain the AA units. I already have 3 other E8 ABA units, not sure I need a fourth, hahaha. But I did notice these puppies that are missing the b unit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121306809557

 

What is the model number of your Lionels? Are they the newer Legacy ones?

Yes, they are the newest Legacy ones, and really nice.  In particular they do really good smoke from both exhausts on each unit.  A nice heavy flow.  I love it.

Lee,

 

what is the product number of your B unit?  and does it have smoke?

Lee:

I am glad you found a UP B unit.

Many roads bought only A units, NYC for example had no E8 Bs, only E7 Bs

 

E8 and E9 B units are identical on the outside.

 

Lee bought this one:

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/20-20186-3

No smoke.

Garret - I'm glad you found a buyer. If you change your mind on the 2nd B unit, feel free to drop me an email again.

The B unit does not smoke, and given the prodigious output of the Legacy units, it sort of stand out for that.  I have the carcass of a Legacy U30C with a good fan-driven smoke unit and am thinking of installing it and an ERR sound card in this B unit.  It would mean installing center pickups (it has none) or running a tether from an A unit, though.  That is a lot of work, but its on the list of things I might get to . . . 

Lee, are all wheels flanged??

On the Lionel A units, yes.  On the MTH B unit I got, no - the centermost axles have blind drivers.