Grand Central Express FT Diesel

No. Internal combustion engines were not allowed in GCT.

ah ok..so its just a lionel marketing thing then...

Hot Water wrote: No. Internal combustion engines were not allowed in GCT.

Of course, the dual-mode FL9's did on 3rd rail power.

Also, the NYC had only 4 FT AB sets (or 2 ABBA sets...)and they were freight units.

Rusty

FL9's were allowed in GTC PROVIDED the diesel prime movers were shut down, and they were in pure electric, that is, third rail mode.  The "no smoke" rule from steam AND siesel is a result of a NYC orinance.

Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiK4qGM6ibU

That's an ex-New Haven FL9 painted New York Central, not an FT.

There's only two FT's still in existence, one's St. Louis, the other in Mexico (last I heard...)

Rusty

Do any of the DM30's run into GCT in 3rd rail mode?

Ah, I missed that...so I guess these FTs that Lionel advertises had no electric capability and never ever saw Grand Central?

FL9's were allowed in GTC PROVIDED the diesel prime movers were shut down, and they were in pure electric, that is, third rail mode.  The "no smoke" rule from steam AND siesel is a result of a NYC orinance.

Shut down my left foot! those prime movers were on abeit in idle mode. I can't tell you how many times at the Park Ave entrance exit those FL9's came blasting out with smoke!

That would be correct.

Rusty

Not yet, as the connection to the LIRR hasn't been completed.

Stuart

I guess no one makes a FL9?

Sunset/3rd Rail just made an FL9. Check their website.

COOL! Going there now!

ARGH! No 3-rail NYC or Metro North, only 2-rail!

I just cannot win....

Add one more an FTB is at Spencer NC ex Southern. Both St Louis FT A unit and Spencer Bunit are in Demo colors.

To be completely correct, Rusty is right, concerning FTA type units, i.e. one in Mexico and the GM former demonstrator "A" unit at the Saint Louis Museum. The FTB unit you referred to, was a former Southern RWy FTB, that was rebuilt into a steam heating car. It eventually became the property of the Roanoke Transportation Museum.

When EMD decided to hold a 50th Anniversary Celebration & Open House, to commemorate the original FT #103 5400HP set (1939 to 1989), permission was received from both the Saint Louis Museum and the Roanoke Museum, to "loan" both pieces to EMD for the big bash. Both the original FTA #103, and that "steam heater car" B unit required VERY EXTENSIVE cosmetic work, in order to make them presentable for that September 1989 event. 

Here's the 103 and friend on that great day:

Rusty

First, during the 1960's when was working in Manhattan near Park Av. I would often hear FL9's in the Park Av. tunnel and then see the diesel exhaust coming up though the street grates on the island separating the north and south bound sides of Park Av. If these locomotives were not properly maintained which the New Haven Railroad at that time was known for many of the FL9s did operate using their diesel engines all the way into Grand Central Terminal. The engineer did not want to take a chance and shut down the diesel engine only to find that the 3rd rail electrical equipment was not working.

I own one of only 10 FL9s that Sunset Models/3rd Rail made for 3 rail track. They also made 10 for 2 rail O gauge track.

There is a Southern FT B unit at the Museum of Transport in St. Louis. I believe it is also one of the rebuilt steam generator units. I think it is a 900XX number.

It is in sad shape bodywise.

I will try and see what number it is on the way home tonight .

Dan 

From the Museum web site, Dan

http://transportmuseumassociat...ail_motive_power.htm

Southern #960603
EMD/1943
Orig. D; Model FTB
Converted to steam heater car
B-B

That is the same ex Southern FT B that was mentioned before. Its presence in StLouis is part of the trade deal for Roanoke showing the Y-Class engine from StL in Roanoke for some time. The swap happened during the Streamliners at Spencer Event. When things went home they ended up in new places for a time.

I don't think they are the same unit

That unit has resided at the MOT-STL for many-many years. Maybe it came as part of the EMD 50 year anniversary event?  It seems it has been there forever as it resides next to the fence along the UP mainline near the back of the property.

The Roanoke FT B unit is the one that is currently painted EMD green and was at Spencer mated to the FT A 103.  

Dan

I think there is a lot of confusion, at least on my part, as to the two FT B units. Dan

 This is SOU 960604 (ex heater SOU 54) from Loco Photos.com

http://www.locophotos.com/Phot...s.php?PhotoID=102707

The caption states year 2008 it was in Duluth, GA museum.  I believe this is the one painted in EMD green/yellow and paired with the EMD 103 at Spencer recently.

Photo of SOU 960603, (HC53) at St. Louis year 2013 which is how it looks now!

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=3739979

The Diesel Shop, Preserved F Units list: shows 4 FT's

http://www.thedieselshop.us/SurvivorsEmdFs.HTML

Looks like the list shows 5 total - One A in St. Louis as an EMD Demo, One A in Mexico in Sonora-Baja California paint, one B in St. Louis, one B at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and one B unit at the Southeastern Railway Museum

I can attest to FL-9's and U-Boats idling while at the bumper posts of GCT.
This would have been in the bad old days of Penn Central-Conrail. 

(I was not a daily rider, but only once or twice a month.)

I took it that they did it because the alternative was no train.

A link showing the Mexican FT in action (it sounds like their FT was rebuilt with a later F unit's prime mover):  http://wx4.org/to/foam/mexico/s-bc/f/units.html

The B unit might still be intact at Benjamin Hill in Mexico as well...

Sounded like a regular old 16-567 prime mover to me. How would a "later F unit's prime mover" sound differently anyway?

Should have worded that differently (the word sounds is the problematic choice) - let's reword this a bit: from what I've read, the original prime mover of the FT was replaced with a prime mover from one of SBCs later F units.  

One of the videos shows the entire SBC FT A unit leading a train; a portion of their FT B unit is also visible right behind the A.  Unfortunately, there's no date noted for when it was shot.