F3s For Fridays

Hello, F3 fans!  Nice videos, Arnold!

Last Friday we talked about “the postwar trains that got away”.  MELGAR lamented about his 2207W set headed up by a Santa Fe F3 A-B-A combo, which reminded me I still have the 1952 2191W set which contained my 2343 Santa Fe F3 diesels.  I also realized I probably haven’t run this train as a set in 70 years, because I preferred to run the F3s with larger rolling stock.  It seems strange Lionel would offer O scale engines with O27 size cars; it must have been a cost consideration.

In addition to the F3s, the set contained a 6656 stock car, a 6456 Lehigh Valley hopper, a 6462 NYC gondola and a 6457 caboose.  You may notice I painted the caboose sometime in my misspent youth and I added brake wheels to the gondola.  The 1952 catalog I researched for this post shows pictures of the gondola with brake wheels, but none of the three examples of these cars I own came with the brake wheels.

While looking through the catalog I saw a fascinating page touting Lionel’s “masterpieces of engineering skill”.  It contained photos and descriptions of various components, including a “stripped down (F3) chassis”.  It occurred to me some of you may have never seen this chassis before, so I’m including a photo and video.  I think you’ll agree it is a “masterpiece”!

John

Thanks to Arnold for starting this thread!!

   Here are my F units for this fine Friday ... B&O and Reading.  B&O by Williams ... Reading is a hybrid model consisting of a K line shelll and MTH Proto 3 electronics.   The short video shows the B&O F units in action.

Boston & Maine #4228 is part of my MTH Premier ABA diesel set that includes B&M A-unit #4227 and a B-unit. The two A-units (20-2126) were priced at $485 and delivered in 1996 with Proto Sound. The powered unit is #4227. #4228 is unpowered. I removed only #4228 from my train cabinet for photos.

The real #4228 was built by EMD in October 1948. Its last service was in 1972.

MELGAR

Here is another favorite set. This is the RK version of the Texas Special ABA set which usually pulls a full 8 car set of Premier passenger cars. Sorry I have no video of that handy. MTH did a nice job on these for the price.

This pic is a comparison with the original PW 2245 set out in front. They look pretty good together, albeit the 70  year old white paint is not as bright as the RK’s!

Still they are all pretty sharp. Ya gotta love F units!

MELGAR, you need to run the B&M and Santa Fe F3s in your cabinet!

John

All excellent posts so far. Hopefully, we can continue rolling down the line.

@MELGAR posted:

Boston & Maine #4228 is part of my MTH Premier ABA diesel set that includes B&M A-unit #4227 and a B-unit. The two A-units (20-2126) were priced at $485 and delivered in 1996 with Proto Sound. The powered unit is #4227. #4228 is unpowered. I removed only #4228 from my train cabinet for photos.

The real #4228 was built by EMD in October 1948. Its last service was in 1972.

MELGAR

MELGAR; really like the B & M’s. Nice pics. I especially like the trestlework it is sitting on. Can you tell us a bit about it; did you build it? Custom built? Its the perfect size for a medium or even large layout. Wish I had done something like that!

@Steam Crazy posted:

Hello, F3 fans!  Nice videos, Arnold!

Last Friday we talked about “the postwar trains that got away”.  MELGAR lamented about his 2207W set headed up by a Santa Fe F3 A-B-A combo, which reminded me I still have the 1952 2191W set which contained my 2343 Santa Fe F3 diesels.  I also realized I probably haven’t run this train as a set in 70 years, because I preferred to run the F3s with larger rolling stock.  It seems strange Lionel would offer O scale engines with O27 size cars; it must have been a cost consideration.

In addition to the F3s, the set contained a 6656 stock car, a 6456 Lehigh Valley hopper, a 6462 NYC gondola and a 6457 caboose.  You may notice I painted the caboose sometime in my misspent youth and I added brake wheels to the gondola.  The 1952 catalog I researched for this post shows pictures of the gondola with brake wheels, but none of the three examples of these cars I own came with the brake wheels.

While looking through the catalog I saw a fascinating page touting Lionel’s “masterpieces of engineering skill”.  It contained photos and descriptions of various components, including a “stripped down (F3) chassis”.  It occurred to me some of you may have never seen this chassis before, so I’m including a photo and video.  I think you’ll agree it is a “masterpiece”!

John

@Steam Crazy,

Very nice, John.

The chassis design and layout of the two motors and e-unit is very neat. Now, you've got me thinking about looking for a 2207W set like I used to have. I can hardly imagine what it would cost today.

MELGAR

Well lot's of Santa Fe's this morning so I thought I would get in on the action.  OBTW @Steam Crazy thanks for the pictures of the "inside" of your dual motor pw loco, I admit I had not seen that view before.  Pictured below is my Lionel Alco FA Santa Fe A-B-A # 212.  The set came originally as a AA only and the B unit was produced 1 or 2 years later and I believe its number is 218.

.

Best Wishes, Hope you have a great weekend.

Don

Santa Fe F3 getting the call for service while the PA idles for the day...

@Rod Stewart posted:

MELGAR; really like the B & M’s. Nice pics. I especially like the trestlework it is sitting on. Can you tell us a bit about it; did you build it? Custom built? Its the perfect size for a medium or even large layout. Wish I had done something like that!

Rod,

I designed and built the trestle the from scratch - 24 inches in length from basswood. I had originally planned for a two-span girder bridge when I designed the layout but decided on the trestle when it came to construction because it looked more dramatic... The 24-inch truss bridge at the rear of the layout is also scratch-built from basswood. Second photo shows the fixture that I used to make the trestle bents. Third photo shows B&M #4228 atop the trestle.

MELGAR

Boston & Maine EMD E7 #3805.

Mel, my 2191W set, received Christmas 1955, was $70.00 in the 1952 catalog.  I also got a ZW transformer ($27.95) with the set.  Even though it came from a local discount retailer (has anyone heard of "Spag's"?), it must have been a sacrifice for my parents, because they didn't have a lot of money.  If they were alive, I'm sure they'd be glad to know their son still appreciates it.

John

Williams New Haven A B A

Williams Wabash AA

It occurred to me my original post would have been enhanced with some photos from the 1952 Lionel catalog.  The 1952 cover has to be one of Lionel’s best; who wouldn’t want a Lionel train after seeing that cover?

John

Alco hood units waiting for an assignment......

Peter

On my wish list! In fact, I am looking at one on the Bay right now. BUT I also just purchased a sewing machine there and need to slow down on the spending. I will mull it over for the next 24 hours. This online shopping is dangerous stuff!

Mikki

Williams NH AA F-3, with Williams Aluminum NH Passenger Set

Ray

The hard-working crew of the Great Northeastern Railway's engine service facility gives the "go ahead" to the B&O, A-B-A, F-3's to proceed to pick up its next train and move on down the line.

A custom painted A-B set of F3s with F7 grilles, making them imitation F7s.

It’s the wee hours of Friday and time, once again, for F3s for Fridays.

The video below shows my smooth conventional running Williams Penn Central F3 powered A unit (2 motors) and non-powered B unit hauling oil and coal plus Penn Central caboose through My Little Town:

That powered Williams F3 with 2 motos is a great puller,

I would love to see your F3/F3 look a likes that you would like to share today. When you do, please follow the Forum Terms of Service and post only photos/videos you have taken or those in which you have obtained the written permission of the owner to post.

Arnold

Good morning, F3Fri fans!  I was fast asleep when Arnold opened the throttle, but I’m ready to pour on the coal now!

The star of the show, again, is my 2343 Lionel Santa Fe F3 A-B-A combo.  In the first film, the Steam Crazy Lines official photographer, Kamra Lenz, captured the F3s starting a heavy passenger train.  Just listen to the sound of real power!

In the second two films, Mr. Lenz is shooting the F3s, hauling the Chief, on the Nowheresville (Nowheresville?  A friend, frustrated by the fact I haven’t named the Main St scene on my layout, gave it that name) Straight.  The first film was shot atop the signal bridge on the Straight, the second on the end with the train going away.

John

My F-series diesel for this Friday, February 21, 2025, is New Haven Railroad EMD FL9 #2043. The model was made by Sunset/3^rdRail in 2013 and is the only O gauge model of an FL9 that has been built to date.

The New Haven Railroad was the only buyer of new FL9s from the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. The design was developed specifically for the New Haven because it needed a dual-mode diesel-electric locomotive that could operate throughout the system and also into Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan on 600-Volt Direct Current from an electrified third-rail. The FL9 was the longest F-series locomotive. It carried a steam generator for passenger service and rode on a 3-axle rear A1A truck due to axle-load limitations on the Park Avenue Viaduct. The middle axle was unpowered and served to distribute the weight onto three axles instead of two.

Thirty FL9s entered service on the New Haven Railroad in 1956 and another thirty were delivered in 1960. All sixty had a Hancock air whistle mounted on the upper part of the windshield whose melodic sound is reproduced by the model.

FL9s continued to run in Connecticut during the Metro-North era and hauled commuter cars like those pictured behind my model on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

Hi All, wow Friday already. My submission this week is the handsome F3 ABA set in the short video below. The set is a 1999 Premier DAP set, which I originally added a while back. She has just been converted to PS-2 electronics. It was running great but shortly after this video sadly the trailing A unit slave board went on the fritz. So we are now waiting for parts to get her rolling again. All in a days work I guess, ho-hum.

This too shall pass, as a wise man once said!

Well good morning covered wagon fans !  My offering today, like MELGAR's comes from the New Haven.  It is the Marx, New Haven E-7 A unit, pulling a small passenger train. She only offers a single motor and no features but she pulls her share and still runs fine many years after being new.

Best wishes, hope you have a great weekend

Don

I guess this counts?  A K-line F3b that had all the electronics removed and was "dummified".  Okay, more accurately stated, made non powered.  Photographed on my modular layout which is currently and sadly stored for lack of a place to set it up.

A pair of F-3's about ready to pull some famous brands out of the brewery for the trip south...

How about a variation on @MELGAR and @Don McErlean’s New Haven theme… here is a Lionel NH C-Liner from a couple of years ago.

This pic is very timely since Metro North is readying a new NH scheme heritage engine!!!

https://www.trains.com/trn/new...it-honors-new-haven/

EDIT: you probably need Facebook to view this, but MN posted some beautiful photos of the new scheme on their official page…

https://m.facebook.com/story.p...p;id=100064359837027

You'll never know what you may find in a thrift store!

@Tom Morris posted:

You'll never know what you may find in a thrift store!

Score!!

These are Lionel scale B&O F3s, no. 14565. One thing that's unique about them (and kudos to Lionel for adding this) is that the number boards on the front center ( in the door) are actually illuminated. A cool effect. Mine aren't out currently, but here are some shots posted by forum members D&H 65 and c.sam from several years ago.

My latest purchase is the elusive very nice condition Lionel 2240 F3 Wabash A-B. Did the usual basic maintenance, resoldered wires, replaced the pivoting stud for the front truck, cleaned, greased and oiled .   

Oops, been so busy with my law cases lately, almost forgot about starting up this thread this morning.

This one’s from my archives, and let’s pretend it’s the mid 1950s and we are passengers on this NY Central F3 driven passenger train rolling through an upstate NY town;

Arnold

Happy F3 Friday!  Arnold, I was wondering where you were, but I guess we can forgive you for concentrating on your work!

A trip to the archives is in order for me, too.  Maine Central F3 no. 671 is a postwar Lionel model.  I picked up the custom painted shell at a NETCA show and bought a chassis from my favorite postwar repairman.  I need to pay a visit to my friend soon, because no. 671 currently refuses to move!

John

Well here is one I haven’t put in before. Its a K-Line TMCC GN A-A pair from the early 2000’s, not sure exactly when. There is also a separate sale B unit that goes with it that you sometimes see for sale on ebay. Alas I don’t own one. She’s pulling the morning passenger train (RK Empire Builder) up the big hill this morning and doing a fine job.

Amtrak #102 was an EMD F7 Phase 1 locomotive. My model was made by Atlas O (30134002) in 2015 at MSRP $499.95 with TMCC and runs on O-36.

This locomotive was Northern Pacific 6509A prior to becoming Amtrak #102 in 1972. Photographs online show it at the head end of Amtrak Train 9, the North Coast Hiawatha, at Three Forks, Montana, heading west to Seattle on July 31, 1973. It was built in November 1949 and retired in October 1975.

MELGAR

Wow, there’s a lot  of beautiful F units made by many manufacturers, both in the presence and sad to say in the past. Happy F 3 Friday everyone.

Wonderful F3s for Fridays today thanks to all of your outstanding replies, photos and videos this morning.

Here is my brief weekly reminder to completely comply with the Forum Terms of Service, as required by our Forum Head Coach, Alan Arnold. Only post photos and videos you have taken or those in which you have the written permission of the owner to post.

Arnold

Just finished shoveling snow  and I'll have to go along with Arnold and John and post an archive front end video until I get back to the layout.

Here are K-line Santa Fe F3s that I replaced the shovel pilots with fixed freight-style pilots.  Santa Fe used these on both their freight and passenger trains.  Also upgraded with Kadees and diaphragms.  While they aren't in the same class as csam's MTH F7s with the stainless steel panels, the K-lines are nice low cost scale F3s. Their main defect is the squinty eye windshields.  I may take a file to them someday . . .

Bob

@NJCJOE posted:

Joe is that set 6-21759 from 2000? very nice indeed. And love the trestlework; how many hours did you put into that?

@Rod Stewart posted:

Joe is that set 6-21759 from 2000? very nice indeed. And love the trestlework; how many hours did you put into that?

Yes, that set is from 2000. The trestle was actually built by a friend of mine.  You can read more here.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/154...8#175427630686922358

A pair of K-line F-3's reporting for duty to haul the coal train...

MTH Premiere Texas Special ABBA at the club layout some years ago.  They have a 'special' memory as I purchased them from Marty Fitzhenry

@NJCJOE posted:

Yes, that set is from 2000. The trestle was actually built by a friend of mine.  You can read more here.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/154...8#175427630686922358

Everybody needs friends like Steve and Owen!

Here is the Lionel # 8351 Alco FA in Santa Fe freight colors pulling a short freight train.  This is an Lionel MPC engine dating from 1973-1975.  She is simple but on my relatively flat and short layout she does fine, pulling a respectable freight train anywhere I wish.  

A side view of the same Alco FA

Happy Friday, Best Wishes

Don

@Rod Stewart posted:

Everybody needs friends like Steve and Owen!

Amen to that!

Two classic Lionel F3s from the post-war era.  NYC and Santa Fe still look great.  Santa Fe is a 2343 and the NYC a 2344.

F2

Snow is cleaned up ......now back on the layout for real on the last day of February 2025

MTH Premier F7 locomotion front coming at you.             Be safe , get ready for March.

Some scribblings of Jimmy Don McCradden in his old scrap book...

Autumn 1964...

Don't happen very oftin, but this mornin' down at the small engine service area at Ozarka wuz one of them engines the KC&G boys call a "Covered Wagon".

I've always liked 'em, them Covered Wagons. They shore sound great when they's pullin' hard on Buck Mountain.

When I git a chance to hop in Ol' Faithful (Ol' Faithful is my trusty ol' 1950 Chevy pickup) an' do a little bit of watchin' the KC&G here in my region... I'm always mighty pleased to see Covered Wagons on the head end. Yesiree, it sounds awful good to hear 'em pullin' their guts out comin' through Sweetgum as they's headed fer Buck Holler.

Anyways, I found out from Ol' Jess Hargar (he's the Engine Shop Foreman at Ozarka) that #321 had some sort of "ground relay" thing goin' on that wuz causin' it to drop power. Jess found an' fixed the issue, so now ol' #321 can git picked up by one of them other trains and be on its way agin.

Anyways, I wuzs able to take my little Kodak Brownie an' snap a color pic of #321 as it sat there a' purrin' on one of the service tracks. Here's the pic...

About the photo...

Shot early in February shortly after finishing up F7A #321 and getting it into service. The model is an HO scale Stewart/Kato that I've modified slightly, then had DCC/Sound added, and eventually applied paint/decals/weathering. It's sometimes like pulling hens teeth to get another unit finished! I also finished a GP7 alongside the #321, but this thread isn't about Geeps!

All fer now!

Andre

Good morning. It’s now the wee hours of Friday morning so it’s time for F3s for Fridays. This is where we discuss and post photos and videos of our F3 or F3 look  a like diesels.

i will start us off with an F3 look a like, specifically E6 diesels. Below are photos from my archives showing MTH PS3 Illinois Central  E6 units with matching MTH custom painted Illinois Central passenger cars:

Yes, that Illinois Central passenger train is also known as the City of New Orleans and the subject of what I regard as the best train song of all time: City of New Orleans.

Now, let’s see what you’ve got to show us this morning. When you do, please follow the Forum Terms of Service including posting only photos and videos you’ve taken, or those in which the owner has given you written permission to post. Arnold

From the archives (Nov 2012)…….a Williams ALCO PA ABA set with streamlined passenger cars on our club layout….

Have a great and safe week, everyone.

Peter

Metro-North #412 is a K-Line model (K2544-0412) of an EMD F-unit diesel delivered in 2000 at MSRP $309.95. Photos and video show the model with two Metro-North 21-inch commuter coaches (by Atlas O) on my 12'-by-8' layout. Cars of this type ran in Connecticut as did Metro-North #413, which was painted in the same livery as seen here on #412.

MELGAR

Good morning, F3 folks!  Like Peter, I’ve chosen to show Williams Alcos today, but I have a Canadian Pacific FA and FB, not PAs.

Alco FAs were primarily designed to haul freight, but some were equipped with steam generators so they could pull passenger trains. My FA-FB duo is hauling the “Canadian”, a passenger set also by Williams.

This passenger set is the first I’ve bought with silhouettes in the windows, not clear windows with interior seating.  I wasn’t sure I’d be happy with it, but I bought it because 1) CP cars are scarce, 2) it was inexpensive and 3) it reminded me of the beautiful 1957 Lionel CP F3 set.  I used to own two cars from that set but sold them, not wanting to pay the high prevailing price for that classic.

It turned out to be a good purchase.  I’m enjoying the classic “feel” of this set and I think it looks great with my FA-FB.  I hope you do too!

John

A Weaver first generation FA-1 A&B units along with another first generation Weaver RS-3 all in New Haven livery head a revenue freight through Meriden Connecticut on the NYNH&H section of my layout. The lead unit in Hunter Green was a custom paint job.

The above post is missing this video, I have always claimed I'm glad I never had to make a living in the IT field.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mg2q3paJEEQuXLdG7

K-line F3s notching up to make up time for the El Capitan.

Bob
(Stillmeadow Crossing Modular Layout)

The F-3 Fridays roll around quickly these days...here are three F-3's at the Charles Street Yard (and two PA's...have a great day!

New Haven F3s A-B

Here they are on a post next door.
https://ogrforum.com/topic/733...1#192886122839194441

Here is a short video clip of the MTH DAP CP F3 A-A set upgraded to PS2 of two weeks ago. I put the new slave board in the trailing unit and all is well once again. Seven hours on them so far with no issues.

The cars are Weaver 70 tonners custom run by Andy Petersen in the 1990’s

Thanks Arnold for notching out the throttle to get us going for this fine Friday!  

Here's a close up trackside video of my Williams F3's pulling a time freight ... you must first wait for the GG1s to roll by then the Fs appear.  

Have always liked the Warbonnet diesels having had numerous examples over the years. Only last year was I able to acquire a full ABBA set of the plated F units that are so beautiful (thank you Mr Jones). MTH Premiere here.

Beautiful Sam! MTH did such a fine job on their Premier F3 and F7 diesels.

@c.sam posted:

Have always liked the Warbonnet diesels having had numerous examples over the years. Only last year was I able to acquire a full ABBA set of the plated F units that are so beautiful (thank you Mr Jones). MTH Premiere here.

The plating on your set really pops, Sam - beautiful. Like you, I have always liked the warbonnet scheme, so much so that, when I got my first (and only!!!) full time job out of college, I wandered 3 blocks down Park Avenue South to Madison Hardware and picked up an ABA set… unfortunately unplated!!! The 2383 AA pair was produced between 1958 and 1966. The 2243C B unit was produced between 1950 and 1955 (I wanted the black trucks to match the A units). Other than the nose decals, they remain in pretty good shape for being at least 60 years old!!! I wish I held up as well

Marx brought out its M10000 diesel in the late 1930's , however about that time Marx shifted its attention to steam locomotives and diesels took a very definite secondary role.  Marx toy makers felt that steam locomotives with their moving rods, whistle, steam just made for better play things than diesels which had no real moving parts.  This continued for a considerable period until about 1950, when it is speculated Marx observed the great success that Lionel was having with the red bonnet Santa Fe and so in that time period Marx set out to create an F-3 selecting the famous Santa Fe livery for their locomotive.  They designed and brought out a fully 1/4 " scale, tinplate F-3 which they sold from 1950 to 1974.  Interestingly when this locomotive was sold separately (i.e. not in a set) it came with a die cast knuckle adapter that allowed it to pull Lionel cars.  So here is the Marx, tinplate, fully lithographed #21 Santa Fe  F-3 diesel.  This is the only "large" F-3 loco that Marx ever made, they designed a Rock Island loco but it was never produced.  They made a number of plastic E-7 locos which were somewhat smaller and not quite to scale.

Best Wishes, Don

Good morning and welcome back to F3s for Fridays. This is where we discuss and post photos and videos of F3 and F3 look a like locomotives, and do so in full compliance with the Forum Terms of services. With that in mind please remember to post only photos and videos you have taken or those in which you have the written permission of the owner to post.

I will start us off with this F3 look a like, MTH PS3 New Haven PA diesel A B units that have 4 motors:

Here they are in action, hauling MTH New Haven passenger cars through town:

And, here they are passing by Yankee stadium:

Now, let’s see your F3 and F3 look a likes.

Arnold

Another great start Arnold!

It's 1955, Here are my PRR Sharks by Williams hauling food and beer for opening day. The trucks will be waiting at the terminal to carry the goods to Ebbets Field. They will be back in October for game 7  when the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the NY Yankees 2-0  in game 7 of the World Series. Correction the Yankees were beat on their home turf.

Happy Eff Three Friday, folks!  And thanks, Arnold, for getting the covered wagons rolling.

The F3’s close cousin, the “E”, was primarily designed for passenger service, but it could haul  freight if needed.  Here’s a pair of PRR E8’s assigned to a train of empty ore cars headed to an ore dock.  The crew of these diesels will look forward to getting back to hauling one of PRR’s glamorous passenger trains!

John

Maine Central F3 #686 is an MTH Premier model (20-21458-1). Shown on my 10’-by-5’ layout.

MELGAR

Thanks Arnold for getting us off to a good start for this fine Friday of F3s and similar locomotives!   Here are my Williams B&O F3 AA units.

Here's an F-3 ready for duty, while the PA stands by...another good start for F3 Fridays...

Here is the Lionel Alco A unit from the Chesapeake & Ohio from 1960.  This simple Alco FA was only offered as an A unit but she at least has a cab light.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Don

E8s today........

Have a great day!

Peter

My offering this week is this fictitious but pretty RK Harley Davidson set from 2008. It has a B unit too not shown in this picture. Love the color scheme, fictitious or not!

Guys...we are getting alerts about off topic posts here.  Upon review, please make sure that you are posting about F3 units and their look a likes.  PCC cars and off topic discussion has been edited.  Thanks for your keeping on topic.

Good morning and welcome back to F3s for Fridays. This is where we discuss, and post photos and videos of F3 and F3 look a like locomotives. When we do, we want to make sure that we post only those photos and videos we have taken, or those in which we’ve obtained the written permission of the owner to post, and that we are in compliance with the Forum Terms of Service.

My video below shows the iconic Lionel Postwar set of NY Central F3 A-B-A units hauling modern Lionel NY Central Pullman green Madison heavyweight passenger cars through town:

Now let’s see what you have to share today. Arnold

Hello F3 fans and F3 look alike fans!  Last Friday I posted some glamorous PRR E8 passenger diesels hauling some less-than-glamorous freight.  This week we’ll see that practice isn’t limited to PRR if the Steam Crazy Lines Superintendent of Motive Power is short of freight units (and lacks passenger cars to match the power).

A beautiful Texas Special F3 A-B combo has been assigned to a drab coal drag.  It’s rather like a “rose among thorns”, isn’t it?

John

Here is a set of LIONEL 2383 F3s AA hauling freight on the club layout.

New Haven #792 was a Fairbanks-Morse engine acquired by the New Haven Railroad in 1952. The model was made by Lionel with tooling that originated from MTH.

MELGAR

I posted this image on the Front End Friday thread and realized it could belong here:

= walt

A pair of K-Line F-3's hauling the "Super Chief"...

A pair of ALCO FAs bring the giraffes back to the Bronx Zoo…..

Peter

Here is a 2008 MTH Santa Fe F3 warbonnet ABA set pulling a consist of PFE reefers today. A keen observer may notice something a tad different about these diesels!

Thanks Arnold for getting us going today!   Here are two different trains pulled by two different types of carbody diesels ( not F3s ).  Baldwin R16 ( Shark ) AA demonstrators pulling a Reading commuter trains and ALCO FA1 A-B units pulling a mixed Western Maryland freight train.  the FAs are Williams and the Sharks are Williams by Bachman.

In retrospect the EMD's F series carbody design really inspired every locomotive manufacture ( during the first generation of diesel production ) of the next decade plus to come out with their own carbody locomotive.  

Here's  AA F3's 2343's pulling custom  striped 2500 series cars

I'm going through old snap shots here's and EMD that I caught in NH CT 25-30 years ago.

And here is MTH's Premier version of this handsome beast:

Here is the Marx #6000 SP F-3.  AA units, all tinplate, circa 1952-1954

Best Wishes, Don

@Rod Stewart posted:

Here is a 2008 MTH Santa Fe F3 warbonnet ABA set pulling a consist of PFE reefers today. A keen observer may notice something a tad different about these diesels!

You are taxing my eye to brain neurons and rods on a late Saturday Rod.

Well.... compaired to my ABA F units your B has smoke , mine does regular non smoking dummy running.

If my eyes are not too badly damaged I seem to notice what looks like a cover on the end of the diaphragms on the A units.

I hope some " keen observer "    chimes in to help out .

@Dallas Joseph posted:

You are taxing my eye to brain neurons and rods on a late Saturday Rod.

Well.... compaired to my ABA F units your B has smoke , mine does regular non smoking dummy running.

If my eyes are not too badly damaged I seem to notice what looks like a cover on the end of the diaphragms on the A units.

I hope some " keen observer "    chimes in to help out .

Dallas you nailed it; all 3 units are making smoke! Just added that recently. Good thing I took the winter cover off my train room exhaust fan yesterday. That should keep the peace upstairs! Haha. I don't think there is any cover on the diaphragms, but one or two might still have the white foam insert.

@Rod Stewart posted:

Dallas you nailed it; all 3 units are making smoke! Just added that recently. Good thing I took the winter cover off my train room exhaust fan yesterday. That should keep the peace upstairs! Haha. I don't think there is any cover on the diaphragms, but one or two might still have the white foam insert.

WHEW  😓........thanks for the quick reply Rod  .    I'll be able to sleep well tonight now 😴 .

Nice looking layout and all that motive power with that smoke sir.

@Putnam Division posted:

A pair of ALCO FAs bring the giraffes back to the Bronx Zoo…..

Peter

Peter, I hope those giraffes are trained to know when to duck!!

@Rod Stewart posted:

Peter, I hope those giraffes are trained to know when to duck!!

Yes...all have taken a "low bridge awareness course".    

Peter

Good morning and welcome back to F3s for Fridays. This is where we celebrate our F3 and F3 look a like locomotives.

In honor of Opening Day for the Major League Baseball season yesterday, I will start us off with 2 videos showing scale size Williams NY Central F3s hauling scale size boxcars around Yankee Stadium including a Department 56 Yankee Stadium facade. When playing these videos, turn up the volume so you can hear the rail sounds coming from the Lionel orange NY Central boxcar:

Now, let’s see what you have to share today. Arnold

Here’s a video from my archives showing a freight train lead by the same Williams NY Central F3s, but this time circling the Polo Grounds:

Arnold

An old picture, circa 2002, showing my F3 New Haven set in the yard on my 1993-2003 layout.

Have a great and safe week, everyone!

Peter

Good morning, cab unit fans!  Arnold, I wish I had Fenway Park on my layout to run trains around; I don’t, so I’ll show a train heading out of Boston instead.

That train is the B&M “Minuteman”, headed North to Portland, ME.  It’s headed up by B&M’s only EMD E8, no. 3821.  The train today is made up of a heavyweight baggage car, a combine, three coaches, a dining car and a solarium car.  That is a typical consist for the Boston-Portland run.

John

Thanks Arnold for getting us rolling for this fine Friday!   Here are three of the four types of F units of the Free State Junction Railway.