I would love to see an affordable one (AKA not brass)
I know it was not considered the biggest, the fastest, or most powerful, and was in pretty much restricted to the B&O
From everything I’ve been reading, it was the panicle of reliable steam engines and served the B&O faitfully without 1 ever requiring a major overhaul.
I thought it would be nice to have one on the layout every once in a while even if it’s not correct for my fictional setting.
Depend on what you mean by ‘affordable’. Akane brass EM-1s pop up on the eBay occasionally. They are around $400-500. Pretty good and from what I hear, they can pull the paint off the wall.
If you are patient, and BLI relealizes the selling potential, one with sound may be announced somtime within a few years.
Weren’t EMC’s E-1 a ‘plain Jane’ box cab engine bought by B&O and Santa Fe for testing purposes. The Santa Fe version (2 engine’s) had styling 'Eyebrow’s added and was dubbed 'Amos ‘n Andy’ of radio fame. Burlington’s original ‘shovel nosed’ Zephyr was an even a more stylelized version.
One of Santa Fe’s pr. burned up while running (oil fire), and the ATSF bought the B&O’s one engine, which is probably why you never heard of any maintenance problems.
Amos 'n Andy were done in brass by Hallmark many years ago, the rebuild one was offered as #10, but I am unaware of anyone doing the B&O version. Since it was one-of-a-kind, I doubt there would be enough interest in it to produce a run. Kit bashing a ‘Doodlebug’ might be a more affordable option.
Actual EM-1 - only in brass. If you’ll settle for an EL (2-8-8-0), this was done by RIvarossi. Not entirely accurate but a reasonable facsimile and (later runs at least) excellent runner.