F3s For Fridays

Some E units of my colleagues this week….

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Peter

Here are a couple of mine!  

Hello fellow F3 look-a-like fans!  My cab unit for today is the postwar Lionel ALCO FA no. 2032, part of the 1467W train set I received in 1952 for Christmas.  I still have the entire set, albeit with some changes.

The FAs suffered the indignity of some not-so-hot paint jobs in my youth.  The first was a hand painted job in NYC gray, with O scale decals that looked out of place on semi scale engines.  Then it was spray painted in Erie black, with S scale decals that are more appropriately sized.  I think the second job didn’t come out all bad.

The SP caboose in the set also got the “treatment”.  In addition to the boxcar red paint, it received ladders, a smokestack and marker lamps.  The rest of the set remains unscathed.

John

Post war F3 pulling around the bend.

Bob

Here is my old original 2343 set from about 1951, bought by my dad for Xmas that year. I was one happy kid! It is lucky to have survived my childhood, but it did.

Boston & Maine #4257 is an Atlas O model (1606-2) delivered in 2006 at MSRP $479.95.

B&M #4257 was part of an A-B-A consist that derailed in a rock cut at Mascoma Lake, New Hampshire in November 1960 and was later scrapped. The other A-unit - B&M #4267 - was repaired.

MTH recently announced on its website that a Premier model of F-7 #4267 (20-21990-1) is available for pre-order and scheduled for delivery in May 2025. So, it looks like I will be buying another F-series diesel for posting on F3s For Fridays.

My Atlas O model runs well but I had to replace the 3-rail pilot due to zinc pest a few years ago. The model also came with a 2-rail pilot, which I installed, but it now runs only on O-72.

MELGAR

Just curious, what is the difference between an F-3 and an F-7? To me they both look identical, so was there a hp increase? FT’s are pretty easy to distinguish, and later E series are too.

thanks, Rod

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

During a telephone conversation between Melgar and me yesterday afternoon, we dreamed up this topic and agreed that I start it on the Forum, thinking how most of us love the beauty and awesome power of F3s.

At the outset, we want to have an expansive meaning of F3s for this Forum topic so that it includes other diesels in the F series of diesels, such as F7s and others. I chose to have F3s in the title for the topic because Melgar and I believe that the F3 was the most popular in the F series at least in the world of model railroading and perhaps in the world of real trains as well.

One more thing to mention at the outset: always keep in mind to post only photos and videos you have taken or those in which you have obtained the written permission of the owner to post here, and always be in full compliance with the entire Forum Terms of Service.

Now, let the fun begin.

I’m starting us off with the video below showing F3 A and B units that I purchased a few years ago from one of our fine Forum sponsors, JR Junction Trains & Hobbies. Specifically, the video shows MTH PS3 NY Ontario & Western F3 A and B units hauling coal, oil and a caboose. This train is running prototypically slow and smooth on DCS. Listen to the realistic sounds and see the prodigious smoke it generates as it circles the ole ball park:

I bet that for many of you Forumites, when you were kids, the model trains you coveted the most included F3 diesels, and now you have models of them that capture their beauty and power. This is certainly true of me.

So, please share all that beauty and power with your Forum friends right here so we can all appreciate those F3s and all other diesels in the F series.

Arnold

Love this film!  Thank you for sharing.

The Santa Fe F-3 ready for duty early this morning...the PA has the day off....

Another of my more recents favs. These are Legacy CP F-7s from 2010; the 2373/2374 AA set and the separate powered B unit 2375. They are pulling a set of 7 RK 60 foot CP passenger cars; converted to strip led lighting of course!!

These guys have the somewhat problematic Liondrive trucks. But now that we have a 3D printed fix for the failed motor drive spiders, all is well. They have a permanent spot on the layout and see a lot of running.

Rod

Here is an Erie 2032 AA with a mixed bag of cars behind it. Picked this up really cheap, could pass it by as it is a good little runner.

Well here is the Lionel Texas Special Alco #210 from 1958.  A freight version of the Alco cab unit (4 wheel trucks), but on "Lionel Lines" it served a dual purpose and these 4 wheel versions pulled everything.  Here today she is in charge of a short freight although all you can see in the second picture is a hint of a box car.

Here is a close up of the A unit.

Here is a picture of the #210 AA unit.

Happy F-3 Friday everyone!

Ahhhh...  Warbonnets!   and a few other handsome faces.

Great pics Sam and really nice units all! Was that your previous layout? I love the viaduct.

Rod

@RSJB18 posted:

Post war F3 pulling around the bend.

Bob

Uh, no - that is an Alco FA (even if sub-scale). Alco FA's and EMD F3's (and F7's and so on) were different locos from different locomotive builders and did not look much alike. Even in the "toy" end of the hobby needs this much accuracy.

I'm back. Summer and autumn were really busy in terms of museum railway traffic, but now in winter I hope to have time again for O-scale.

Johan

@D500 posted:

Uh, no - that is an Alco FA (even if sub-scale). Alco FA's and EMD F3's (and F7's and so on) were different locos from different locomotive builders and did not look much alike. Even in the "toy" end of the hobby needs this much accuracy.

You are correct.

I wrote the post before the caffeine kicked in this morning.

Johan, it's good to see you back!  I've been looking for you!

John

@Rod Stewart posted:

Great pics Sam and really nice units all! Was that your previous layout? I love the viaduct.

Rod

Thanks Rod,  and yes, that was our first mountain layout in our garage.

24' x 16' in a 'L' configuration. Was a lot of fun and I learned a bunch..  A move in 2013 forced dismantling it.

@Rod Stewart posted:

Another of my more recents favs. These are Legacy CP F-7s from 2010; the 2373/2374 AA set and the separate powered B unit 2375. They are pulling a set of 7 RK 60 foot CP passenger cars; converted to strip led lighting of course!!

These guys have the somewhat problematic Liondrive trucks. But now that we have a 3D printed fix for the failed motor drive spiders, all is well. They have a permanent spot on the layout and see a lot of running.

Ro

Somehow missed this earlier post Rod - those CPs certainly are beautiful.  I can imagine how the 18" cars would look!

@c.sam posted:

Thanks Rod,  and yes, that was our first mountain layout in our garage.

24' x 16' in a 'L' configuration. Was a lot of fun and I learned a bunch..  A move in 2013 forced dismantling it.

Somehow missed this earlier post Rod - those CPs certainly are beautiful.  I can imagine how the 18" cars would look!

Sam; thanks for the kind words. What happened to the viaduct sections, sold, lost, disposed of, ?

I hear you on the 18" cars; still kicking myself. You can't have everything I guess.

Rod

Before leaving the thread for this week I just wanted to add that I see in lots of the pictures and videos that there are still many of us that use good old tried and true 031 hirail track. Yay! Sure there are clips with Gargraves, Atlas, Fastrak and others, but 031 seems to be dominant. Good to see. Hard to beat for being tough, serviceable, and easy to work with. Oh, and F units roll really nicely on it too!

Rod

@Steam Crazy posted:

Johan, it's good to see you back!  I've been looking for you!

John

Thanks John. It's nice to be back. I'm trying to get at least two more modules built in the winter.

Johan

MTH AT&SF HO

It’s Friday, am I right? Of course. And what does that mean? It’s time - drum roll please - for - F3s - did you say F3s? Yes- anything else? F3 look a likes. So, it’s Friday and that means it time for F3s for Fridays.

Anything that remotely looks like an F3 is fine, we are inclusive to the maximum degree here,

I struggle to tell the difference between F3s and F3 look a likes. That’s but one reason we are so inclusive here.

Before we move on, please remember to comply with all of the Forum terms of service. That’s what Coach Arnold wants (not me, but rather the Arnold who does such a great job moderating the Forum, to wit: Alan Arnold.  Post only photos and videos you have taken or those in which you have the written permission of the owner to post.

OK, let’s get started with the movies.

I love the F3 look a like in the video below - I think it’s MTH PS3 New Haven FA (A-A units) hauling MTH New Haven aluminum plated passenger cars around my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium with my illuminated Department 56 Yankee Stadium facade:

I love those MTH New Haven FA units so much that they never leave my layout. They are either parked on my siding # 2 or running on a main line. They look and sound great (no smoke). I’ve been told by those in the know that their prime movers sound very realistic and I love everything about New Haven trains, prototype and model.

Let’s see the F3s and F3 look a likes that you want to share with us today. Arnold

New Haven #0719 is not an EMD F3 but, like the F3 and its predecessor FT, it is a first generation cab unit - also known as a “covered wagon” – that first saw service on the New Haven Railroad in 1941. Both types were critical to the U.S. war effort during World War 2.

#0719 is an Alco DL-109 (New Haven class DER-1). The model was made by MTH Premier (20-2325-1 with 5-volt PS2) and delivered in December 2001 at MSRP $379.95. It has been running on my model railroads for twenty-three years with a BCR.

Ten Alco DL-109 diesel locomotives (#0700 to 0709) were delivered to the New Haven Railroad between December 1941 and April 1942. They were immediately pressed into freight and passenger service on the shoreline between New Haven and Boston heading freight trains at night and passenger trains during the day. Alco received special permission from the War Production Board to continue building DL-109s for the New Haven Railroad and, by the end of World War 2, it owned a fleet of sixty. Each DL-109 had two Alco 539-T six-cylinder turbocharged 1000 horsepower diesel engines. The New Haven’s locomotives were geared for a maximum speed of eighty miles-per-hour for dual-service use.

Photos and video were taken on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

New Haven #0719 is not an EMD F3 but, like the F3 and its predecessor FT, it is a first generation cab unit - also known as a “covered wagon” – that first saw service on the New Haven Railroad in 1941. Both types were critical to the U.S. war effort during World War 2.

#0719 is an Alco DL-109 (New Haven class DER-1). The model was made by MTH Premier (20-2325-1 with 5-volt PS2) and delivered in December 2001 at MSRP $379.95. It has been running on my model railroads for twenty-three years with a BCR.

Ten Alco DL-109 diesel locomotives (#0700 to 0709) were delivered to the New Haven Railroad between December 1941 and April 1942. They were immediately pressed into freight and passenger service on the shoreline between New Haven and Boston heading freight trains at night and passenger trains during the day. Alco received special permission from the War Production Board to continue building DL-109s for the New Haven Railroad and, by the end of World War 2, it owned a fleet of sixty. Each DL-109 had two Alco 539-T six-cylinder turbocharged 1000 horsepower diesel engines. The New Haven’s locomotives were geared for a maximum speed of eighty miles-per-hour for dual-service use.

Photos and video were taken on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

Mel, you are amazing the way you always do the necessary research to include the history of the prototype and model of the trains in the photos and videos you post. That information is fascinating and it’s important that you know how much it is appreciated. Arnold

Arnold and Mel,  you’ve made me envious because I don’t have a NH cab unit!  Now I have another engine to add to my long wish list.

Arnold, your Alcos look like PAs (passenger), because they have six wheel trucks and a longer nose.   Alco FAs ( freight) have four wheel trucks.

I’m going North to ME for my contribution today.  Our friend, Johan, inspired this post last week with a photo of his MEC F3 with a red pickup truck.  Here’s my custom painted postwar Lionel F3 with a red Ford PU.

John

K-line ATSF Warbonnet F7s upgraded with fixed pilots, Kadees, and diaphragms.

Bob

Mel, I certainly like that DL-109!  Arnold is right, I appreciate your research.  
I have a B&O E8/9 to share, but I see I forgot to photograph it.  When I get home, I’ll have to remedy that!

Here is a newly arrived favorite, just in time for Christmas, with 54 miles on the chrono. It’s a Premier ABA PS-2 set from 2008.

A keen eye will note that one of the crew left the rear door open on the trailing A unit by mistake! OK, well actually the set arrived with that door missing. I later found it inside and glued the hinge mechanism back in place. A couple of other minor cosmetic fixes and she is ready for active duty. None the worse for wear and tear.

The set runs and sounds great. And pulls really well too.

Rod

Well here is my input today.  The Lionel #2240 Wabash F-3 AB unit from 1956.

Best Wishes and Happy Holidays

Don

And here is a set of Premier F-7's in Great Northern livery pulling a set of RK 60' passenger cars. Again converted to strip led lighting of course!

Really like this paint scheme a lot. The engines and cars are not a perfect color match, particularly the green. But they are close enough for me!

Rod

@JR Junction Train & Hobby posted:

Love this film!  Thank you for sharing.

JR Junction has my permission to use it for its advertising. Arnold D. Cribari

Here is the E8/9 I mentioned earlier.  It is a Kato N scale unit I use for freight service.  It is pictured on a 2-foot long module I am scenicing when I take a notion to get away from the O Gauge layout.

@Jim S posted:

Three my favorite railway companies in the same picture. Excellent.👏

Johan

These are some photos I took of equipment from the Stourbridge Line (which runs from Honesdale, PA to Hawley, PA.

First is a working EMD FP7 built in 1951 as CP 4040. It was getting ready to push the return trip to Honesdale.

Next is an EMD F7 on the tracks in Honesdale. Originally built for the Bessemer and Lake Erie in 1953. As far as I can tell, it has been cosmetically restored (and done up in the colorful Erie Lackawanna paint scheme), but is not operational, (apparently they are working on it).