Can multiple powered K-line E8/9 units be run separately?

I'm pretty sure that you'll find the second unit only has motors and has a vampire connection to the primary unit's motor drive board.  K-Line also had A-B-A units that were all powered, and they worked the same way.

If you want another powered unit, you'll have to add electronics (and sound).

The second unit may have a motor driver board but share the signal from the single radio board. With two motors in each engine a single motor driver may a bit close to the edge driving all 4.

if this is the case then adding a second radio board would allow independent operation of each engine.

Pete

Since K-Line did the six motored A-B-A version with a single DCDR, and they probably did the same thing with the A-A units.

I have the E8 PRR A-A set here, and it indeed only has a single motor driver, the second A unit has a pair of motors.  It does have a smoke unit, lighting, and the EC, but no motor driver.

This is a place where K-Line used to cut corners.  Also, there really isn't a standard slave motor driver provision with TMCC like there is with PS/2 stuff.

If thats the case then investing in an ERR DC Commander would allow independent operation and performance should be similar to K-Line's DCDR.

Pete

So a driver board from Electric RR Co. in the extra unit and we're good to go?

It would allow independent operation, but you'll have to have a sound system if you want the second unit to have sound.

How are the two A-units coupled?  Do they each have a working coupler or a dummy?  Or do they have  a drawbar?  Hopefully the fist, but you could live with the dummy couplers.

Jan

The A units have a dummy coupler between the A units and a manually opened coupler on the front.

The only downside I've seen with the K-Line ABA or AA sets is that the lead A unit is the only unit that picks up power for the motors. The Slave A and B units pick up power for the lights and rotating roof fans.

The rear of each A unit has a dummy non-operating coupler.  To run them individually, you'd have to consider replacing that with an electrocoupler as well.

Hello:

I presently own 2 sets of the K-Line E-8's A-A sets.  One is NYC and the other Rock Island.  Both sets possess Lionel RailSounds.  I believe that K-line set them up to run as a Master / Slave combo.  Both units are powered with twin motors.  The "Master" unit can run by itself but I don't think the Slave unit is capable of independent running.  The are connected by an cable that allows the Master unit to control the Slave unit.  The cable is hidden within the diaphragms each unit has.  It's been a while since either set has been run so I'm not 100% sure what the slave unit is capable of on its own.  I will say that the K-Line E-8's are beautifully detailed diesels with spinning roof fans, opening doors, crew figures, and a host of other details that really sets them apart from similar diesels of the period.  No smoke units but I don't really mind.  I too was looking for just one A unit to pull my K-Line Golden State passenger cars.  However, finding just one A unit is near impossible since the manufacturers always market them with the extra A or A & B units.  Also finding them in Rock Island colors isn't easy either.  But, I managed to win an EBay auction recently for the Rock Island E-8 A-A's with RailSounds, in the boxes with instructions for $255 plus shipping.  They had never been run.  Definitely worth the wait. 

The slave can do nothing alone, all it is is a couple of motors and some lighting.  All the control comes from the master.