PCM E8 are out

Altoona1223 Jan 9, 2014

  1. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I just realized we were talking about PCM and not KATO. Sorry.;)
     
  2. ferrisworld

    ferrisworld TrainBoard Member

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    When I went to my LTS this past weekend they had all the Es. I've been wanting a Santa Fe E1, but I settled on the E6. It was tough to do looking at the stainless grills on the E8s, but those shovel noses are growing on me. I was a little low on cash, but I just had to go for it. The sound just sealed the deal.

    The only thing is now I think they sit a little high and I want to lower the shell so the pilot is closer to the rail and what not.

    I've been doing that to my IM F7s as described elsewhere in other threads here, but I'm not sure how it could be done on these easily.
     
  3. sandro schaer

    sandro schaer TrainBoard Member

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    i have 3 of the first release e9 with sound.

    sound : definitely the best you can get in n-scale !
    shells : very nice
    drive : not as good as kato. but after a few hours run-in time they run as smooth as an atlas.
    pulling power : average.
    electrical contact : never had any issues
    jewel case : way too big. would hold almost 3 engines.


    guess that's what you can expect from the new e8.
     
  4. rogergperkins

    rogergperkins TrainBoard Member

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    rrjim1, your post is very informative. I am now beginning to believe my two new undecorated E8A units need to be returned for replacement.
    All five of the previous E units I purchased have exceeded by expectations in regards to sound and running out of the box.
    I have done a lot of adjustments to CVs on these new undecorated E8As and they still are not as I expected.
     
  5. rogergperkins

    rogergperkins TrainBoard Member

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    I sent an e-mail to the customer service department about 3 of the 7 locomotives I have purchased "from them."
    I received a reply.
    So I am in dialog with them. More to follow.
     
  6. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Right, but does it have the newer (additional) wheelback wiper scheme (ala the E6)?

    [​IMG]

    I'm assuming it does, but you know what they say about assumptions :)

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  7. BikerDad

    BikerDad E-Mail Bounces

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    Sandro, when you say "average", do you "average for a diesel", or "average for a monster 6 axle Covered Wagon with lotsa weight", i.e. do they pull like Kato E units, or just "average"?

    I ask because I just recently acquired the UP CoLA E7 set, and would prefer to NOT need an additional unit to pull the CoLA. It's only one powered E unit, and the dummy B, to pull 10-11? Kato passenger cars.
     
  8. davefoxx

    davefoxx New Member

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    John,

    I bought an E7A this week, so I can respond to your three questions with my experience:

    1) Yes, there's a traction tire on each wheel of the rear axle. I probably differ from most, but I wish they weren't there. I'm sure that the rubber in those tires will dry out or wear out one day, necessitating replacement. I really don't want to deal with that, and, since the E unit is heavy, I don't think it needs the tires. Maybe when it comes time to deal with a tire issue, I'll just swap out the entire wheelset with a set that has no traction tires, which certainly wouldn't hurt the electrical pickup.

    2) I haven't experienced any problem with a minimum radius under 12 1/2". In fact, my E7 doesn't have any problem through a spot on my layout where it's approximately an 11" radius.

    3) I have no problem with the electrical pickup, but I cleaned the track before I ran the locomotive for the first time. I also have powered frogs on the turnouts on my layout, so there is no large gaps that the locomotive must travel. That said, my E7 runs great.
     
  9. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    E 6's

    I have three E6's from the first run. They run well and sound good. They are not great pullers, only weigh 3.7oz./106 grams, not a lot for an engine of this size and volume. The electronics do take their toll on weight, but well worth it IMHO. There is one traction tire on the rearmost axle. One of my engines, when overloaded and under strain with brass cars, starts slipping/skipping a gear in the rear truck where the TT is. The other truck just spins. I learned not to overload them and an AB powered set pulls 12 Kato cars up a 2% grade on my Cajon Pass layout with no problem, and looks and sounds great doing it....

    While the decoder is capable of fabulous range of sounds, I think there maybe room for improvement in the speaker/reproduction department. I have the a similar decoder married to a better speaker/baffle combo, and the sound is much "throatier", deeper. I need to experiment. Still, it's good as it comes.

    Somewhere I read that these locos ride too high. Mine measures 1.045 above rail, spot on for the prototype 13'-11". The pilot may ride a bit higher then the prototype to accommodate imperfect trackwork. Overall, I'm very happy with these iconic units. See photo below, with no modifications.
    Fun stuff,
    Orto K.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. rrjim1

    rrjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    These are the first B.L. models I have purchased. I haven't taken mine apart yet, but by just looking I don't see any inside contact, just the outside one.
     
  11. JoeW

    JoeW TrainBoard Supporter

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    Otto
    That is a great photo that requires this question, Is it just me or is the stainless steel finish on those E's more remarkable than most. And those are from the first run? Thanks for mentioning how it handles the 2% grade.
     
  12. atsf_arizona

    atsf_arizona TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi, davefoxx,

    Thx for the comments and thoughts.

    I agree with you, on my BLI E6's and PA1s, I prefer to replace the traction tire rear wheelset with a normal wheelset (I have to call the BLI Parts department and request / order that wheelset).

    I agree, the BLI locos are heavy enough and don't need the traction tire for my flat no-grades layout, anyway. But the additional wheelset picking up power, as well as making sure the rear truck and the other two axles on that
    rear truck also pickup power, are a much more important tradeoff for me: http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/bli_n_pa1_wheelset_replace

    The real problem I think with the traction tire, is that if you have 2 or more powered BLI traction-tire equipped locos MU'd together, and they aren't exactly perfectly speed matched in every single speed step (which is
    likely to be the case).... then when the speeds of the two locos are mis-matched even slightly, the traction tire causes very unsightly bucking, and even possibility of cracking a gear (had that happen to me). That's a big problem IMHO.

    If the rear traction-tire wheelset is replaced with a normal wheelset, then all that happens when speed is mis-matched is a little bit of wheelspin and slipping, which is no problem at all, and there's *no* cracked gears. Plus
    as my webpage describes, the electrical pickup is improved.

    My webpage: http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/bli_n_pa1_wheelset_replace discusses my opinions on this topic a little more, as well as has pictures how you would go about
    replacing the traction-tire wheelset with a normal wheelset.

    Just my 2 cents worth. I also agree with what others have said, when operating properly, these Paragon2 BLI diesels have the best factory diesel sound available so far. (we'll see what happens when the Atlas S-2 with Loksound comes out soon).
     
  13. SP&S #750

    SP&S #750 TrainBoard Member

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    Wait your guy's BLI E7's are heavy? Mine feels like a featherweight compared to my Kato F7A, I've looked inside the loco there's not much there weight wise... maybe I need to re check I may be wrong.
     
  14. sandro schaer

    sandro schaer TrainBoard Member

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    average in the range of an average 6 axle diesel. probably about 20-30% less than what a kato e8/9 pullts.
     
  15. rogergperkins

    rogergperkins TrainBoard Member

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    As soon as BLI sends me a return goods authorization number, I will be sending my two new E8A locomotives to them for replacement. They fall far short of my expectations based on five other E units: two E6A, two E7A and one E6B in terms of operation out of the box. I will assume I got two "lemons."
     
  16. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    E6's

    Thanks Joe. Yea, the stainless finish is great, although the roofs of the B units from the first run had thick paint... See attached. And yes they run well, you need to come over and try them out, I'm getting close to finishing the last piece of mainline.....

    Regards, Otto K.
     

    Attached Files:

  17. CBQ Fan

    CBQ Fan TrainBoard Member

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    How do they run in standard DC?
     
  18. rrjim1

    rrjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    I just received a pair of non traction tired axles, the ones I received must be for the above truck. The locos I have have a different design more like what the Atlas and Kato locos are using. Pointed axle ends, narrower gears.
     
  19. rrjim1

    rrjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    Just to let anyone that's interested, BLI did upgrade the trucks on there E units to Atlas/Kato type.

    On 1/28/2014 12:10 PM, JAMES WALTERS wrote:
    > Looks like there was a complete truck change without anyone telling
    > you. The new style has pointed axle ends and narrower gears like a Atlas and Kato loco.

    Email from BLI.

    You are absolutely right, that's exactly what happened and I apologize.
    We just got the new E units in here in the service bay and we are
    waiting on the spare parts shipment for them. I just hadn't had to take
    one apart yet. I will send out a set of the new style pointed-tipped
    drivers as soon as we get them in here, along with a headlight lens.

    Sincerely,
    BLI Service Department
     
  20. CBQ Fan

    CBQ Fan TrainBoard Member

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    I got two CB&Q units. I am mixed on them. I run dc. I like the sound and they run well. But the way they are set up I would not want to run them with any other engines. So you almost have to buy a pair of powered units.
     

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