tims
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by tims on Aug 21, 2012 18:28:24 GMT -8
I have a pair of KATO VIA E8's. These things are about 20 years old now. I took the shell off of one tonight and they have a light board in them. These will be a simple DCC conversion. Wow what a pleasant surprise.
Since I have not seen the newer E's from KATO, are they much different than the ones produced in the early 90's?
Thanks
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Post by secretweapon on Aug 26, 2012 8:54:46 GMT -8
The old E-8's are wondereful. They are strong & quiet.
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Post by umtrrauthor on Aug 26, 2012 13:16:50 GMT -8
I think there may have been some incremental improvements over the years but generally they are pretty much the same.
I have a pair of the NYC E-8s from about the same vintage as the VIA units, and yes, the DCC drop-in board is not only available from Digitrax, it's a relatively easy task.
The boards I bought for them from a dealer were definitely "new old stock" as well-- probably over 10 years old themselves when I picked them up at a show.
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Post by douggosha on Aug 26, 2012 14:05:27 GMT -8
20 years, huh? Gosh, the Kato E8s still seem modern to me.
Doug
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Post by powersteamguy1790 on Sept 20, 2012 11:13:32 GMT -8
All releases of the Kato E-8's are basically the same and there are few noticeable changes. Stay cool and run steam.....  |
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Post by steamguy on Nov 15, 2012 12:47:56 GMT -8
If I remember correctly, the current issue of Kato E8A is their second tooling; the original E8A and B units (Rivarossi;s?) had several different mechanisms retro-fitted over the years by Atlas and ConCor, and the last one pre-1993 and by far the most popular. The mechanism was similar to the ConCor/Kato PA's and although a little noisy they ran smooth and consistent, and very powerful. You can still see these at swap meets, but they can be deceptive, as you have to be able to recognize the retro-fitted Kato mechanism from its earlier and inferior older brothers.
Then in 1993, KatoUSA issued the E8A which is superior in every way, and from the get go it was dcc friendly, and according to Spookshow, it was by chance.
I have several of these jewels, and my first ones which debuted at the NMRA Regional Convention and my home layout on the tour, featured a set of NYC AA's which kept Jim Kelly's attention at my place running trains. He was not fazed by the noise, so neither was I.
I have purchased several sets of the newer Kato E's since, and it seems like the 2nd or 3rd runs featured in quieter running and brighter headlights.
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