I picked up a E8 DCC loco at a recent train swap for $40. I can’t figure out if its a Life-Like loco or a Proto 2000 (made by Life-Like?). From reading the loco quality ranking thread it appears the two brands have a wide quality variance. It says “Life-Like, made in China” underneath (but so does my Proto 1000 F3).
Is it LL or Proto? Was this a decent deal or a LL clunker? Is it worth picking up another one like this if I come accross another one?
It appears identical to the P2K E8/9’s in my Walthers catalog but the roadname is no longer made. It has good detail with four working, hinged doors. I’m very happy with the loco and it runs great, eases to start and stops, pulls well, but then again all I have to compare against are my Bachmann Diesels. It was a DC unit upgraded with DCC (no sound), and has a Mars light.
Proto 2000 was made by Life-Like, but you don’t have to worry about getting the two confused, believe me. The proto 2000’s look very good and run very well and last for years with proper maintenance. A Life-Like standard line locomotive isn’t deserving of the name locomotive. Paper weight or trash can filler maybe, but not locomotive. They’re problematic at best, have detail that’s twice as bad as Athearn BB and don’t run worth *. A Tyco from the late 70’s runs better.
Walther’s bought out Life-Like and assumed the product line. I wouldn’t be surprised if they drop the standard line stuff. Walther’s Trainline selection is much better quality.
Judging by the stuff you described it sounds like a Proto 2000. Proto 2000s were infinitely better than the train set quality locos of the regular Life-Like name. Walthers bought up Life-Like last year so who knows the new P-2000s may be running Walthers’ motors. I wouldn’t know I don’t own any Proto 2000 locos. Their freight cars on the other hand are some of the best.
I have one the new P2K E8’s and it runs silent. The only noise I can hear is the click=clack when it hits the rail joints. I own 4 P2K locomotives and intend on getting more.
At this point, the Nazis, dinosaurs, Zulus, giant squid, Amazon Women, Rodents Of Unusual Size or Spartans burst on to the scene and much mayhem ensues.
On my layout, though, P2K engines silently cry out for sound decoders. I run them in consists with sound engines, because they run well and are efficient pullers.
(Wow, that bleeped word was the short name for the National Socialist Party of Germany in the 1930’s. Surprised they took that one out.)
I really wanted the particular road name and the fact that it had the DCC already installed convinced me to give it a try. Its much nicer than the $30 Bachmanns I got new off eBay. I’m just trying to decide now if I should try to add more of the same for additional power, or switch road names and save my pennies for something with sound.
soomeone mentioned issues with e8 nose contours… elaborate? any known issues with the P2k E6’s? I just bought the “city of los angeles” at the latest train show and love it, but have a couple of minor minor glitches so far.
Walthers just had a glut of these they just blew out this month.
In the DCC Ready department, I think they were selling them for $49.00 new in the Box so if yours was used, you may feel a little ripped on that one. With DCC and Sound installed those units went for $109.95 each and that was a heck of a deal. I have a set of the original run E8 and they are a little harder to put DCC in due to the wiring, ie… no connector. The new ones also changed the way the couplers are mounted and make the shell easier to come off.
All in all for this size Loco, they have a nice physical presence on a layout.
Yes and No. I didn’t find much at tonights swap so I broke down and got a new P2K E8 w/ DCC and sound. I’m assuming my first E8 is one of the “older shells” your referring to because it has the more extensive DCC upgrade. The “older shell” has four hinged doors that open on its sides which open in side slots made in the old chasis. The “newer shells” don’t have the side hinged doors and thus don’t have this slot space open in its chasis (possibly to add weight due to the space taken by the speakers?). Also the hinged doors have a door frame inside the older shell that prevents the older shell from going over the new chasis. That being said, it does appear the shells are shaped virtually identical otherwise and would go on If I were to force it or with slight modifications (removing the inside door frames?). The front nose piece (cowcatcher?) also seems slightly changed but would likely work with slight modifications (possibly simply glueing it to the main shell?).
Does anyone know if the newer E8s without Sound/DCC still have the hinged side doors?
Would an E7 shell fit on the E8 chasis? Does anyone know the part number for an E7 body?