Prototype Information:
The EMD E5 was built as a 2000 horsepower (despite the E in the name of the locomotive series originally referring to an Eighteen hundred horsepower engine specification) locomotive for passenger service specifically for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy. The major difference between the E5 and its other early E-unit brothers was its stainless steel finish and distinctive fluting, specifically chosen to match the CB&Qs corrugated passenger trains such as the California Zephyr, Nebraska Zephyr, and Silver Streak Zephyr.
EMD E5A #9909 Silver Bullet was built specially for service with the Silver Streak Zephyr and was fitted with Skirts on the trucks and a covered cowl to emphasize the sleek, streamlined look of the locomotive and train.
Individual EMD E5A locomotive releases have a variety of different printing patterns on the nose to reflect the general use versions of the CB&Q E5A locomotive, as well as have un-skirted trucks that reflect the locomotive’s later appearance when they would have been used to pull trains such as the California Zephyr.
To call the Silver Streak Zephyr “famous before its time” would be an understatement. This stunning, all-corrugated stainless steel train earned its name from the 1934 film The Silver Streak, which showcased the CB&Q’s iconic stainless steel zephyr. Running between Lincoln, Nebraska, and Kansas City, the train offered short-distance luxury with stops in Omaha and St. Joseph. It was powered by the equally legendary EMD E5A locomotive, “Silver Bullet.” The locomotive was designed with a seamless, streamlined aesthetic, the E5A was custom-built with stainless steel wrapping and ribbed fluting, perfectly matching the Budd-built passenger cars it pulled.
Model Features:
- Equipped with a mix of body and truck mounted KATO magnetic knuckle couplers
- Directional Golden White LED headlights and illuminated preprinted number boards
- Powerful five pole motor with all wheel electrical pickup and blackened wheels
- Drop in DCC compatible with the Train Control Systems K0D8-E Decoder, ESU 58941 LokSound 5 Micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody and Digitrax DN163K0E
N CB&Q EMD E5A & Silver Streak Zephyr 6 Unit Set
View Product
The EMD E5 has a distinctive raised angular radiator grill arrangement on the roof that was specific for that locomotive.
A special feature of the new Kato EMD E5A is that the front coupler cowling can be removed on both the skirted and un-skirted units in order to mount a Kato magnetic knuckle coupler.
This allows modelers to double head these locomotives when pulling longer trains such as the California Zephyr!
Please note that the optional couplers are only included with the single locomotive releases.
Another point of interest is that all E5’s were custom built with stainless steel corrugated sides to match the CB&Qs stainless cars; a feature that gives these locomotives a noticeable shine and makes the matching Silver Streak Zephyr Zephyr so elegant.
