OK, I complained about the windshield. To offset that I wanted to tell about something I checked out tonight.
It's been alleged that the body is too narrow. Because I didn't have the prototype measurements available, I decided to use the body of a 3rd Rail E7 (which should have the same basic measurements as an E8) and compare it to the Lionel E8. I used some calipers and the width on both bodies is the same.
Therefore Lionel E8's have the same width as a 3rd Rail E7 and if the E7 is correct, than the Lionel E8 measures what it should.
I guess some made the assumption that the body was too narrow because the pilot was too wide for the body. It turns out that the problem is the pilot, not the body.
That's a pretty big deal. The windshield is easily dealt with, the body would throw off the whole engine.
