Spanning a career of over 20 years, EP-5 "Jets" were the prize of the New Haven Railroad. While they always ran in the shadow of the Pennsy's GG-1, EP-5's outperformed their electric counterparts in many ways. With its unparalleled acceleration capabilities, EP-5's were able to keep fast, tight schedules between northeast passenger stops. Their electric systems were much more advanced than those of the GG-1 and ultimately became the standard for electric locomotives in the U.S.
Now returning to the M.T.H. Premier line for the first time in ten years, the EP-5 is sure to be a welcome sight on your O gauge layout. Unlike other 3-rail EP-5's, the M.T.H. Premier version features prototypically detailed 6-wheel die-cast trucks. Riding atop the trucks is a metal chassis and an intricately detailed ABS shell. Operating, motorized metal pantographs and other details make this the best O gauge EP-5 ever produced. Inside the engine, you will find two flywheel-equipped motors and the awesome sounds and features of the Proto-Sound 3.0 Digital Sound and Train Control System.
Automatic Pantograph Operation Explained
Users operating the EP-5 in conventional mode will find that by depressing the transformer's direction button to stop the locomotive, the rear pantograph will remain in the up position while the lead pantograph slowly rises up. Once the lead pantograph is in its up position, the rear pantograph will slowly lower into the down position. At this point another press of the direction button will cause the locomotive to reverse making the lead pantograph now the rear pantograph and in the up position.
In command operation two operating modes will be offered; auto and manual. Auto mode will behave similar to conventional mode with the rear pantograph in the up position when moving. The up and down movement of the pantograph will be direction controlled using the DCS Digital Command Control System. In Manual mode, the user will have to raise and lower both pantographs via the DCS System as they wish regardless of directional state.
