MTH E8 ABA with PS1

Lee,

I believe (if memory serves me right) that you only need one for the lead A unit.  The trailing A only has a slave board with no battery and the B unit just has a harness pass-through tether.

Thanks Allan

Just for your own info, Lee, the MTH E-8's were originally designed and built by Weaver.  Ultimately the tooling was bought by MTH, although there were a lot of modifiations and improvements to the original models.  DCS could be added to the units if you so desire.

Paul Fischer

I have the set.  Put a BCR in the lead A unit and your troubles are over.  Give it about 60 seconds to charge and you're ready to go.  I use mine to pull the old K-Line Golden State set and it is one beautiful set.  The reaction from onlookers is always a big WOW!

Thanks Paul and Bruce. Bruce I too have the K-Line golden State set , I've got 8 cars ( a  Pennsy's and a couple of SP's with the rest RI. Do you have the original lighting in the cars ?? or did you upgrade ??

I bought 9 cars in 2011 in original boxes.  3 each SP, PENN & RI at a private auction from a deceased K-Line collector.  I paid $170 for the set out the door.  After I researched the train I remembered that in 1991 I bought a Weaver set of SP Daylight E8 AA units (4 motors) also for $170.  No bells or whistles-nothing but lights.  They ran like scalded dogs, but I basically forgot about them because I ran my Daylight cars with Steam power.  After acquiring the Golden State set I went on a mission to find a matching B unit.  I was told that Weaver had a B unit mold but never made a SP unit.   Later Weaver sold the mold to MTH along with the A molds.  Further research found that MTH had made unpowered B units in 2008.  After one of the longest searches of my train life I found one at Grand Central in Nebraska.  It set me back $210.  So I have more in the unpowered B unit than the engines or the cars.  Funny how these things work out sometimes.  The RI set is still the most attractive IMO.  I'm sure that the Golden State set has never been modified.  

I have the Weaver E8's. They are ABA sets with no connecting wires. Both A units had motors and one A unit was set to start in reverse. I think that Mike and MTH may have worked with Weaver to bring them out originally. Also the 630's and the 625's. A footnote when Weaver issued the E8's they came out as a AA and a year or so later they did a B unit with no motors. The UP set I have the B unit is a shade of yellow different because of the time frame from when the A's were made..........Paul

I have the MTH UP E8'S ABA in proto 1. Bought the boxed set at York a few years back. Found a set of UP smooth sided passenger cars and got 2 of the add-on sets to make it a total 9 cars behind the engine set.

Beautiful set for about $500 for everything and added a BCR in the front A unit. Been good to go ever since. Run them with a cab-1 or 2 through a TPC. Awesome looking train!!

Lee Concannon posted:

I just purchased a MTH 20-2169-1 RI E8 ABA which is New. I know it's 20 years old , the seller said he just ran it and everything works fine. So I researched about the battery's, and decided to get the BCR from J and W. My question is how many battery's are needed for this unit ?? Any tips for a relative beginner on the use of this.

Thanks

Just a comment; I ended up with some RI shells after we finished up at TAS.  They are a sharp paint job.  I think this was a very popular livery.  Wish I could find an Erie shell. 

Lou N

I'm not sure if Weaver or MTH ever did the E-8 in Erie,  But if anyone would know it would be Ben at The NJ Highrailers.

Bruce D Goettel posted:

I'm not sure if Weaver or MTH ever did the E-8 in Erie,  But if anyone would know it would be Ben at The NJ Highrailers.

Thank you for the insight.

Electronics I can do; air brushing, not so much.

Lou N

I also have the MTH set new in the box and the K-line Golden State set. None of it has ever been on the track yet.

I do have a question about these proto 1 sets, though. Does a guy have to run all three units or can I run an A-A or A-B without any problem? I don't know that I would ever do that, but am curious about the possibility.

tripleo posted:

I also have the MTH set new in the box and the K-line Golden State set. None of it has ever been on the track yet.

I do have a question about these proto 1 sets, though. Does a guy have to run all three units or can I run an A-A or A-B without any problem? I don't know that I would ever do that, but am curious about the possibility.

The powered A is independent.  The B is merely an "extension cord" to the slave A.

So you can run A, AA, AB, or ABA.

Lou N

Thanks, Lou

The only other MTH product I have is the Pioneer Zephyr (30- version) so am kind of out in the ozone when it comes to how these things operate.

Because of my operating environment, a public display where someone pushes a button and the train runs for five minutes, I have pretty much stayed to earlier Lionel and Williams motive power to keep things simple and relatively dependable. There are some MTH products, though, that I think would look really nice on that setup but I have been reluctant to put out the dollars and find out they wouldn't work out well.

tripleo posted:

Thanks, Lou

The only other MTH product I have is the Pioneer Zephyr (30- version) so am kind of out in the ozone when it comes to how these things operate.

Because of my operating environment, a public display where someone pushes a button and the train runs for five minutes, I have pretty much stayed to earlier Lionel and Williams motive power to keep things simple and relatively dependable. There are some MTH products, though, that I think would look really nice on that setup but I have been reluctant to put out the dollars and find out they wouldn't work out well.

This forum is a good place for your questions.  I have designed electronics for most of the major manufacturers so I can usually jump in on electrical/electronic stuff.  There are a whole assortment of specialists here to offer up help at any time.

Lou N 

Ted Bertiger posted:

I have the MTH UP E8'S ABA in proto 1. Bought the boxed set at York a few years back. Found a set of UP smooth sided passenger cars and got 2 of the add-on sets to make it a total 9 cars behind the engine set.

Beautiful set for about $500 for everything and added a BCR in the front A unit. Been good to go ever since. Run them with a cab-1 or 2 through a TPC. Awesome looking train!!

Do PS-1 sounds function properly when running through a CAB-1? Mine don't seem to..

I use a cab-1 or cab-2 with a TPC to operate PS1 engines. I believe some of the early PS1 engines do not operate correctly with a powermaster but with a TPC, they perform fine. Don't have issues as I am operating them in conventional mode.

The UP  E8 ABA run fine that way.

Recieved my E8's They are sweet !!