K-Line EP-5 NH

That engine is not a good runner.  I would email you this response but no email in your profile.  If it is on fleabay, good luck.  I hope it is priced right.  The pans on that engine are VERY bad looking.  I just gave one away to my friend Al.  It came in a collection.  The MTH and Williams EP-5 are great runners.

Thanks Marty, that is what I was afraid of, it is priced right. But, Im not going to take a chance. Thanks Steve

I have read that it is the closest to scale of all of them though, and pantographs can be replaced.  Maybe Marty got a lemon?  I don't have one but it seems that it would have the same motors as the K-line F units, which I do have, and mine run just fine.

John, I have had several and have seen many more that people wanted fixed.  I have many K-Line E and F unit engines and they ARE good.  I am speaking from first hand knowledge not something I heard from someone.  You are correct on the motors.  They are the same.  The electronics that run the motors has never been great.  Guys have put ERR in them with great results.  Many have converted them to DCS with great results.  For guys who want a conversion project, these can be picked up for very short money.  I am a huge EP-5 fan and rode behind many years ago.  Anything can be made to run better.  I have two Williams and two MTH EP-5 locomotives.  

 

I am shocked more people have not showed up on this post stating how good theirs runs.  K-Line sold these for very cheap money.  Guys who purchased them found out why.

My engine had metal rot. Third rail pick up shoes hit the screws on the switch machines.

They were a hundred bucks on sale.  I shoulda got one.  The Train Masters were very good runners, and easy to convert.

If you look closely at the video, you can see the EP-5 sputter a little bit......

 

 

Peter

I picked up a mint NH one at least a year ago, the no. 379, which has TMCC and cruise (K-Line's version). I have it set aside to add ERR to it. The K-Line cruise was problematic from what I've heard. Like Marty's comment, I've heard folks have had great results with ERR conversions on these.

 

These are really attractive units, about the best EP-5s I've seen, and look very sharp with the matching K-Line NH aluminum passenger cars, so I think the conversion is certainly worthwhile. 

As Marty said, I would try to find an MTH version.

 

Brad

Are the Williams actual 1:48 length? I have one - it's fine, for what it is - but it has

always looked too short, and I have yet to remember to measure it and check the

prototype length. 

The Williams is too short, has the wrong trucks - the least appealing of the currently made EP-5s in my opinion.  The K-Line EP-5 looks extremely nice, in a whole different league as far as fidelity to scale is concerned compared to the Williams, but it's not the smoothest of runners - mine is a conventional version, perhaps modern electronics might help smooth it out.  I haven't seen the MTH version in person.

Here is a comparison I did a long time ago. Original Lionel, Williams and K-line.

  Mine is 375, conventional with cruise and has spent more time adding prototypical grab rail details than running.  Fingers crossed, although it should really have the full ERR treatment.

 

The Williams looks bloated, much like the GG1's MTH made for Lionel.

 

Bruce

That zinc pest is a real problem.  I had a set of trucks on a K-line heavyweight coach disintegrate.  I sure hope that my F-7's don't start falling apart....and what about the guys who have the steam locos?  This could end being a real bummer.  

I have a K-Line Amtrak F40PH, It has Lionel Cab #1 and I can also run it with MTH / DCS.

     A very reliable engine, No Chaos. Go for it.........

I passed as I do not want to deal with any problems..maybe Lionel will make a Legacy version one day..Now I am going to look at those New Haven PA's Lionel made about 10 years ago.

I had that PA set and it was a winner.  Go for it.

I have had two K-Line NH EP-5s for about 10 years.  Both run great with no problems.  Maybe I got lucky.  It is a great looking engine.

 

As many of you know, the NH ran its EP-5s into Grand Central Terminal using the NYC 3rd rail pickup system.  The pick up shoes were mounted on the trucks.  The K-Line model comes with these pickup shoes in the extended position.  This causes the shoes to hit some switch machines.  The good news is that the shoes can be easily removed from the trucks by taking out a couple of screws.  This solves the problem.

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

Joe, do you run in TMCC or conventional?  They will run not bad in conventional sometimes.  I run live catenary with DCS so the MTH was the way to go for me.  I would love to see pictures of your NH layout when you get a chance to post some.  Having grown up with the NH I am a fan.  My mother worked in the NH Readville shops druing WW2 on steam locomotives.  Her Father ran the wreck crew based out of Readville before passing early in 1931.