Got a hot deal on Lifelike KCS emd 8/9 mint, great looking, lots of detail (doors open) runs like a top, I have no info on this engine, what year were they made? the quality seems very good and runs like a dream, just what type of quality are these locos, where would they fit in a quality comparison? the only thing missing are the front coupler doors(easy to make) Are these locos still made???
It’s probably a Proto 2000 (aka P2K). Some of the best running and detailed engines and freight cars are made by that company.
Every single one of my BN engines is a P2K. (I don’t count the athearn dummy)
I have fourteen Proto 2000 locos, of those, eight are E units. Two E7 A’s, Five E6 A’s and one E6 B. They’re good strong pullers, are easy to convert to DCC and run like nobody’s business. Whenever the LHS has a sale on them I snatch up at least one.
Do you mean the model or the real locomotive? E8s were built from 1949-1953, E9s were build from 1954-1963.
Yes, Wather’s will soon run a batch in Milwalkee colors to go with the Hiawatha and in NYC colors to go with the 20th Century next year. I am certain they will make other paint schemes at the same time they do those runs.