Walthers EMD E8 City Train - Number Plates Question

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I just got my set of E8 ABB locos and was curious about how the number plates were configured. The E8A unit is #933, but the decals included in the box for the lighted number plates on the front came in values of 9, 10 and then 101 to 112. I assumed the plates should display #933. Am I supposed to cut the decals apart or was there some other numbering scheme that I should use? If it’s supposed to be 933, then there aren’t enough 3’s to make up two 933 plates.

2

Here’s the info from the Walhers website:

  • Train Number Decals On most roads, the engine’s numberboard identified that locomotive. On the UP however, the lead engine of regularly scheduled trains such as the “City” Streamliners, displayed the train number for positive identification.

Modeling this extra level of detail is easy - PROTO 2000 E8A units feature blank numberboards, and a special set of decals with authentic train numbers to model east- or westbound trains!

City of St. Louis #9-10 City of San Francisco #101-102 City of Los Angeles #103-104 Challenger #107-108 City of Portland #105-106 City of Denver #111-112

3

Prior to 1965 the UP displayed the train number rather than the locomotive number in the indicator boards. That’s whey the added indicator boards to switchers and road switchers that operated locals outside of yard limits. Each train has a distinctive number assigned to it in the timetable. The Walthers decals are correct in listed such numbers as 9 & 10 (City of St.Louis), 101 & 102 ((City of San Francisco), 103 & 104 (City of Los Angeles) and 105 &106 (City of Portland).

One major exception to this rule. To get into the Los Angeles basin, the UP used trackage rights over the Santa Fe through Cajon Pass. When on the ATSF the UP units showed their engine number, per Santa Fe practice.

Gary Binder

4

Thanks Gary for the detailed information!

5

Thanks guys! This had me confused a bit. I thought maybe I got the wrong set of decals or something. I had checked back with the Walthers website prior to posting, but I didn’t find the description on the numbering that you had found.