Electro-Motive Corporation was the predecessor to Electro-Motive Corporation Division which was formed when General Motors purchased EMC. The E1, along with the EA & EB locomotives for Baltimore & Ohio and the E2 locomotives of the Union Pacific, Chicago & Northwestern & Southern Pacific formed a group of early diesel electric passenger locomotives built by EMC that established the basic concepts of the highly successful EMD E Series. In the steam era, each railroad generally had their own passenger locomotive design. These early E units set the stage for later standardization as they were largely identical. They also reflected the new GM inspired style that included sleek and modern appearance.

The E1 produced 1,800 horsepower with an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. They were built in 1937 and 1938 to power Santa Fe's new streamline equipment passenger operations. A units, B units and A-B sets were built depending on the intended use. The diesel engines of the time were still limited in horsepower and were not strong enough to pull large trains. To overcome this, the E1's had a pair of 900 horsepower Winton 201-A engines. Basically, each engine powered the traction motors of one of the trucks.

In the early 1950's, all Winton 201A-engined Santa Fe passenger units were rebuilt into E8M units. These were similar to  E8 units, but only 2000 horsepower due to the use of the existing traction motors and trucks of the E1's.

This release includes A units, B units and A-B sets in a variety of schemes and road names. All come factory equipped with DCC w/Sound.

Features:

• Paragon3 sound & operation system featuring Rolling Thunder with authentic sounds and prototypical operation in both dc and dcc environments
• Factory installed engineer & fireman figures
• Powered A & B units are smoke unit equipped for synchronized smoke output, B uints  in A-B sets are unpowered
  
• Locomotive Composition: ABS body with die cast chassis
• Couplers: (2) operating Kadee or compatible
• Compatible tracks: code 70, 83, 100 rail
• Minimum operating radius: 18 in or greater