The layout looks good too! Can you post some pics of it?
As far as the prototype, the good news is that there are a “Slew” of E8s still in existence. They didn’t meet the fate of the E7 (of which there is only one left).
A museum in Tennesse had three E8s. Two of them were painted in the gorgeous New York Central gray, “Lightning Striper” paint scheme. Unfortunately, they were a maintenance headache for the museum since E units have two 567 series diesels under the carbody. The museum sold them sometime in 2003 or 2004. Hopefully the new owners are taking care of them and we’ll see them in more photos.
There are also several E8s that were painted silver and red with the name “Roger Corman” on their sides. I don’t have a clue as to who he is.
The northeastern states are known “E8” hunting grounds as there have been fan trips in this regions where E8s in various paint schemes have been used. There is one in Erie Lackawanna colors and there are those two gorgeous Pennsylvania “Tuscan Red” units also (the Pennsy units are owned by Bennet Levin).
Somewhere In Wisconsin there is an E8 that’s in the yellow “UP style” MIlwaukee Road scheme.
Why don’t you go over next door to the TRAINS FORUM and post a question asking about the remaining existing E8s and E9s as to where they are, who owns them, etc.,. Some of the guys that post there do a good job of keeping up with the status of classic locomotives.
I have a Set that I bought Used in NYC Lightning Stripes that are just great running and looking units. I bought them because I liked them, and the price was really right!
I’ve not run them in awhile because I’m awaiting decoders to be installed in both.
I really enjoy the Body detail of these Proto 2000 units. The opening doors are a hoot!
I run 4 CB&Q-ish passenger trains on my N Scale layout, all pulled by the same E8. I’m planning to get one or two more or maybe a couple F units for the smaller (non named) trains.
I’ve been looking for an ABA set of those GORGEOUS HO P2K UP E8/9s! Those beauties would look outright fabulous pulling a UP streamliner consist or ruinning behind my HO UP 844.
The Bunter Ridge runs an A-B-A consist for fast freight along the route. Even though it is an Alco shop, they love them and would run more if the Director of Equipment Acquisitions (me) could find a couple of more Kato units with freight pilots. Ultimately, maybe an A-B-A and an A-A consist, particulary if the FA/FB2s are retired because replacing the wheels to something a little more “code 55 friendly” becomes a problem.