ALco FA Photo Thread!

My childhood memory:

Jon  

Edit:  Photo shows PA, not FA.

Those are PA's...

Jon

And here's another PA, not FA, with an EMD F3B unit:

Jon, if I get the PA and FA wrong, it's because I don't know the difference.

EDIT:  Perhaps Laming will amend the thread to include PA's.

That was an Alco PA also, i.e. not an "FA" per the thread title.

Laming, as the originator of the current EMD F and E unit threads, kindly excuse my misguided efforts to support your Alco FA thread by mistakenly posting photos of PA's.  Honestly, an Alco is an Alco to me. 

If you find the above photos objectionable, I'll delete them; just say the word.

Hi Carl!

I'll bet as time goes by, those PA pics will become diluted with the incoming onslaught of FA pics. 

You said:

"Honestly, an Alco is an Alco to me." 

Ah!  This may be a "teachable moment" where I get to dispense from my vast mental storehouse of knowledge.

The major difference between the FA and PA models is very easy to learn: The FA's have FOUR axles, and the PA's have SIX axles. (This means the length of a PA is longer, too.)

I started an FA thread because, well frankly, I don't have very many PA pics... and I like the FA's mo' better! 

Perhaps we'll start a "Alco PA Pics" thread, too? (Me? Someone else?)

 EDIT: Might as well throw in another FA pic while I'm at it!  This time from Cherokee, KS, circa 1962...

Are models permitted?

Here's some Williams FA's that are up for a PS2 conversion

These WM are an AA pair of Weaver units with TMCC and RS

It has been a teachable moment, Laming--thanks.

Would another difference be the number boards?  The FA pics show them at ~45degree angle; the PA photos show them along the side.  Is this a reliable distinction?

One for the Canadians, from http://yourrailwaypictures.com...iesels/index-CP.html

Not really. Early FA/PA's both had the small number boards along the side. As I recall, in the late 1940s FA/PA production runs, ALco started using the larger 45 degree number boards. Some railroads retrofitted their small side number boards with the larger 45 degree ones, too.

I think the PA-1 and 2 version had the side mounted number boards. The later PA-3 had the 45 degree number boards. Another tip off, other than a few roads, Southern for one, were the curved drip rails above the front side window.

Rich

Whoops! Porthole windows are usually another visible key.

Rich

I tactfully covered my bases by not referring to specific model series or "phases", only the basic model designation: FA/PA.  Thus, what I shared above is accurate.  I are smart.

EDIT:

If'n I'm gonna' flap my jaws in this here thread, then reckon' I need to ante up an' keep on postin' them FA's!!  Oakie doakie... here's another FA pic!

Here's a shot of Glenn Ford in the movie "Human Desire":  

This is an ALCo FA.  Note the four-wheel trucks, the lack of portholes, and the straight line of the screening behind the cab.

Now here's an ALCo PA:

See the difference in the trucks?  The portholes, and the swoop in the screen line behind the cab?  But just to make things more confusing, some PA's are seen without the "swoop":

Jon  

FPA-4s  Grand Canyon trip spring 2006. South rim depot.

Wikipedia:  The FPA-4/FPB-4 were visually different due to the additional radiator space that was positioned below the shutters. These Canadian variants were intended and used for high-speed passenger service, and remained in use into the 1990s on Via Rail Canada.

Wikipedia:  Alco PAs   Click on the underline phrase to access links.

Fabricated Electrical Power Car.  Passenger car Air Conditioning is probably a bit more than the FPAs can handle. It probably also does electric heat, instead of the steam generators.  

Xanterra Management purchased the  GC Railroad and the FPAs were the second power to go.  First was steam.  All about most efficient power.  

couldn't resist this beauty even though it's a PA

Rich

Thanks to laming and KOOLjock1 for the Alco FA/PA diesel spotting lessons.