Key Model Imports E5 detailed study

Erik, Were these "Mirrors" or "wind deflectors" (or both)?  I recall having a hard time finding out when I was researching the E7.

No offense Erik, I simply didn't know, never did get an answer during the E7 research.

LOL!  Hey, at least folks are reading your posts, I'm sure I'm on a lot of "ignore lists"

Thank you Erik, for both the write up and your research that led to such a beautiful and high fidelity model.

Seriously! You're getting upset because the man asked a legitimate question?

The simple answer is:

They are wind deflectors with mirrors. What's so hard about that?

I like the black striped one best. The red striped one looks unfinished.

Erik, keep em coming.

Regards,

Ron H

Erik,

Super fine pictures and excellent research.  Thanks and please keep it up.  Judging from the number of hits your posts get, I gotta believe the silent majority really enjoys them along with those that take the time to post.   

Your post kindled fond memories of the E5 on the point of the of the Texas Zephyr coming through my very small home town at the time of Vernon Texas in the 1940's on the FW&D/C&S line between Ft Worth and Denver.  People would come down to the station and sit on the hoods of their cars and watch the Texas Zephyr streak by. Maybe she even stopped now and then.  Can't remember.  

I put a penny on the track once.  Couldn't afford a nickel as my allowance was 25 cents a week.  9 cents for a Saturday movie, 5 cents for milk duds and a whole dime to last the rest of the week!  Big money.

Hi Erik,

I have an off topic question I would like to ask you but I don't see an email in your profile.  Is there a way to reach you?  I'll eventually see you at a show around town, or at Caboose Hobbies, so I can ask you when I next I see you if nothing else.

Secondly, just a heads up the link in your profile for the Colorado O Scalers is missing an "O".

Thanks,

Jim

I put a penny on the track once.

Bill, my mom was Welsh.  When I was young she gave me a couple of those old, huge English pennies and I put one on the track.  The thing seemed big as a pancake after the train ran over it!

It is exquisite. I love seeing this stuff. I'll probably never see such an item in person so thanks for posting it.

Erik,

The part about diaphrams is interesting and timely for me.

Just the other day I was looking at some of my equipment -- most at about the Sunset level of detail -- and thinking about the look of a passenger train on my layout.   

Nothing new here but I reaffirmed what I already knew.  Of all the compromises on my models -- the biggest is the diaphragm design and -- of course  it's companion -- the distance between engines and cars.   (To meet my 64 in min radii)

So, it's reassuring to see that even at the upper level you and Key struggled with diaphrams.  That said, the ones in the pictures are excellent.    

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE DRAWINGS, ERIK! You should be proud!

Man, if I could afford a Key engine I would put it on a table, I would look at it and I would eat a peach! Beautiful!!!!!

Erik - Love your posts and love the research work you did for these fine models, as I am a pleased owner of a Key E5 A/B set.  I am also with Big Jim in agreement that the black stripe looks best, as it mates up beautifully with the stainless steel. I grew up in suburban Burlington territory and remember when all the E's began showing up with Chinese Red stripes. This occured more or less simultaneously with the introduction of the Chinese Red SD-24's in May 1959.

         Myself and my railfan buddies were steam-crazed maniacs in those days, so virtually ignored all the first generation diesels. But not the E5's! We deemed them "honorary steam locomotives". An absolute high water mark in industrial design.

         Please keep your posts coming! Your banner popping up is an automatic click for me!

Many persons feel that the PA's were the most beautiful diesel ever.  For me it was the E5.  It's a treat to see these pictures.

Here's some additional info on the E5's that ran in my neck of the woods -- pulling the Texas Zephyr.

The Texas Zephyr was a named passenger train operated by the Colorado and Southern Railway and the Fort Worth and Denver Railway (both subsidiaries of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad). The train was designated number 1 southbound, and number 2 northbound.

Inaugurated on August 22, 1940, the streamlined train ran from Denver, Colorado to Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, replacing the heavyweight Colorado Special. At Dallas, the Texas Zephyr connected with the Sam Houston Zephyr and Texas Rocket, both operating on the jointly owned Burlington-Rock Island Railroad for through service to Houston.

Initially, the train was equipped with Budd-built streamlined stainless steel chair cars and an observation dining-lounge car. Sleeping cars were, however, rebuilt streamlined heavyweight cars. The train was pulled between Denver and Fort Worth by pairs of General Motors Electro-Motive Division stainless steel E5 diesels. To allow adequate time for servicing the diesel locomotives in Fort Worth, a FW&D 550 class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive shuttled the train between Fort Worth and Dallas. It was later replaced by sister E5 diesel locomotives purchased by C&S from parent CB&Q.

In 1957, the re-equipping of the 1936 Denver Zephyr made those trainsets available, and they were assigned to the Texas Zephyr. Though older than the original Texas Zephyr equipment, they offered more luxurious amenities. These consists ran on the Texas Zephyr until February 1965, when they were retired and the original equipment restored to the train, albeit with Pullman pool streamlined cars or sleeping cars from the parent CB&Q.

As a result of it losing its U.S. Mail contract, the Fort Worth & Denver abandoned all passenger service in 1967, the Texas Zephyr making its last run on September 11 of that year.

(RIP E5's and Zephyrs.  That was a great era.  Sucks big time that they're gone).

A thin black line around the red stripes might make them pop - any Photoshop artistes open to a little project???