Broadway Limited 6896 HO ATSF E1 A-unit, #6L, Pre-1946 Version Signal Red Warbonnet Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC

The E1 was an early passenger-train diesel locomotive sporting 1800 HP, with an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement, manufactured by Electro-Motive Corporation of La Grange, Illinois.  They were built during 1937 and 1938 for the ATSF Railway for a new generation of diesel-powered streamlined trains.  Eight cab-equipped lead A-units and three cabless booster B-units were built.  The initial three locomotives were AB pairs built to haul the Santa Fe's Super Chief diesel streamliners, while the others were built as single A-units to haul shorter trains.  The locomotives were diesel-electrics with two 900 hp (670kW) Winton 201-A engines each, with each engine driving its own generator to power the traction motors.  The E1 was the second model in a long line of passenger diesels of similar design known as EMD E-units.  All Winton 201A-engined Santa Fe passenger units, including the E1s, were extensively rebuilt into the 80-class E8M engines in 1952-53.   These were similar to production E8 models, but reduced to 2000 hp so as not to burn out the early traction (axle) motors (which were reused). 

The EA/EB and E1 featured nearly identical and innovative styling showing the influence of the EMC's new buyer General Motors.  While they had much mechanically in common with previous experimental EMC locomotives, GM understood the importance of looking new and exciting, not merely being technically innovative.  This basic "slant nose" style was continued in the subsequent E3, E4, E5, and E6 models, while a more "bulldog nose" style was tried in the E2 and a style somewhere in between was used in the E7, E8, and E9, as well as the freight diesel cab units.  It could fairly be said that the overall styling influenced passenger locomotives around the world. 

At more or less the same time, EMC built the EMC EA/EB locomotives for the B&O Railroad.   These hauled the Royal Blue, the Capitol Limited, and the National Limited, in addition to others.  B&O #52 was sold to Alton in 1940, and became a GM&O locomotive in 1947.  These EA/EB locomotives were quite similar in appearance to the ATSF E1 models.  In this production, Broadway Limited will offer two detail arrangements of the ATSF E1 (pre-1946 and post-war), and we are offering three ATSF paint schemes: a 1940 version with the as-delivered red-orange color in place of the traditional red, a pre-1946 version with the traditional red, and a post-war version.   We are also offering models of the ATSF E1s painted for the B&O Railroad and a single unit painted as GM&O #100A.