MOVED: More F unit photos in color--updated 1/20

That Conrail unit is NOT an "F" unit, but an "E" unit. Note the door in the center of the carbody and the two different cooling systems on the roof.

In my haste to include Conrail, I did make a mistake; thanks, Hot Water, for pointing it out.  That photo will be moved to the appropriate E unit thread. 

Edit:  I should have noticed, also, the different number boards, the vastly different roofs, absence of portholes, and, if I looked real close, the A-1-A trucks and 20' difference in length.

A couple more great Googly-mooglies:

Rusty

Bob, (CNJ3676), thanks for the CR photo and background info.

Rusty, you are a world class googler.  The CP F units could be what LIONEL used for the PW 2373 AA's; and, three different SF freight paint schemes must have kept the paint shop busy.

I have Champ O scale decals (which are becoming more scarce), to repaint some shells for the CP so the photo above will be a big help.  For example, I did not know that the CP put the loco number at the rear/side of the units.  Ditto placement and color of handrails/grab rails, etc.

Glad I'm not modeling Santa Fe.  I wouldn't have room for all the paint variations they used over the years.  On the other hand, all of those different paint schemes would provide plenty of projects.

More photos are in the pipeline, and the thread title will be edited to reflect the additions.

Nice thread....love the pictures of one of my favorite locomotives...

Alan

The F 3's are some of the best looking locomotives ever made! They will always be the top Diesel in my book. I love the photos! Thanks for postine.

Those AM Rail units were only painted like that for a movie filmed in Calgary. There never was an AM Rail Railroad.

Yep. "Silver Streak" staring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Funny movie with a big finish. Surprised no one has done a pair like that for laughs and grins.

Larry and Matt, I had no idea about "AM ROAD" and "Silver Streak."  Thanks.

Maint, you're welcome.  They're hands down my favorite locomotive, steam or diesel.   

There's just something special about them "F units".

Richhie

Thanks, Bob (CNJ 3676) for the additional photos, especially of the D&RGW F units.  Stark contrast to the units in the first photo in this thread and the unceremonious stenciled "PC" on the nose and sides in Bob's photos.

Here we have some more F unit photos:

A couple from my personal F-files:

Rusty

Love the pictures!!

Thanks,

Alan

You're right about that. I find it ironic that the streamlined carbody design is at the early part of the diesel era (thank you Raymond Loewy and others for Art Deco streamlining). It's ironic that the new commuter and passenger diesel locomotives are "going retro" to the carbody design. Too bad they didn't capture the character of the E and F-units.

Thanks, again, Rusty for the additional photos--probably wouldn't see that particular F unit without your posting.

As for the moving of this thread to Real Trains, it can hardly be argued that this thread isn't about real trains.  It started in Hi-Rail to provide Hi-Railers with prototypes of the models from LIONEL, MTH, and others for them to compare; hopefully stimulating manufacturers to improve their prototype features.  Also, it was in Hi-Rail for those who take F units from LIONEL (as I do), MTH, or others, and repaint/re-letter or otherwise modify the as-delivered toys to make railroads the vendors have yet to produce, or to add details the vendors didn't include. 

So, if you want to see this thread once it goes off the first page of the Homepage, you'll need to go to Real Trains.

Back in 1989, EMD celebrated the 50th anniversary of the FT model which was the first in the long and successful run of F units.  The star of the show was FT 103.  For a great photo of FT103, click on the link below:

http://flbtrain.smugmug.com/Ra...h-Birthday/i-ts7Hsgk

On a personal note, I took virtually the same photo that day, I remember because I included the GM water tower in the shot, and many others which I have yet to find since putting the train stuff away 10 years ago.  But I'm still looking.

here are some more F units i shot over the years.

 the Reading units are at Steamtown in Scranton Pa.  2014

 The  NYC 2013 & NH 2006 are at Danbury Ct. 2013

 The CNJ 57b was shot in Jim Thorpe Pa. approx 1986/87

  The BAR 56 shot in 1986( Whippany NJ) is now DL&W 663

 the DL&W 663 at steamtown 2011

So many cool shots.  If any of you are on Facebook, and would like to explore more locos like this, Richard Jahn of the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society created a group to share them.  Here is the Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/289931544498985/

Bob, Kevin, and Tim, thanks for the replies--they really add to this thread.

GM produced a large calendar for the 1989 Anniversary event with a builder photo for each month in the livery of a different railroad.  I need to scan and post those photos.

Remarkable that a 70 year old FT had such a long service life, and nice to see it's being preserved in working condition.

I was not aware that ANY FT model is "in working condition", anyplace in the world.

The SBC 2203 is in the collection of the National Museum of Mexican Railroads at Puebla. The museum reportedly still starts it up periodically and performs the necessary maintenance to keep the unit operational. The 2203 was re-engined some years back. There is some dispute as to what type of prime mover was used as a replacement during the rebuilding. Some accounts have stated they used a 567 but a friend of mine visited Mexico and actually got to ride a train behind the 2203. The employees told him they used a 645 from a GP38 so I'm going with what they said and assume it has a 645 now.

Bob         

Wonder what they did about the original belt driven cooling fans for the prime mover cooling system. If they installed a 2000HP 16-645E, they must have done SOMETHING to up-grade the radiators & cooling system.

I'm going to try to get a hold of my friend and see what else he can tell me about the 2203. He rode the cab and was back in the engine room as well. I have video of it but it's been a while since I've watched it. I'll have to look at it again and see what else I can pick up from it. The locomotive looked to be in exceptional condition inside and out.

Bob 

"C&O" F7A 6016 at the Potomac Eagle Scenic railroad in October of last year. The engine began life as Clinchfield F3A 800. Rebuilt into an F7A, it served Seaboard and CSX before going to the Potomac Eagle.  

I tip my hat to the late Reading RR, for the good care it gave its locomotives.  I have never seen even one photo of a shabby or neglected-looking Reading locomotive.

Of interest to all the Locomotive Engineers on the Forum, the Alaska RR FP7's were equipped with Number 6 air brake equipment,  To the best of my knowledge, all other postwar cab and booster diesels from EMD, Alco-GE, F-M and Baldwin, were equipped with 24-RL air brake schedule.  There were a few exceptions in that some of the small number of units built after 1958 had 26-L air brake schedule.  Pre-war cab and booster diesels normally had No. 8-EL air brake schedule.

After seeing the Alaska unit's unorthodox air brake equipment in a video, I called their General Road Foreman of Engines and confirmed it.  He told me that the F7's and FP7's had been ordered equipped that way for ease of multiple unit operation with the Alco-GE RS1 units (including the ones with after-market car bodies), which all had 14-EL brake valves.

A couple still around today, at Steamtown, Scranton, PA.  Bangor and Aroostook F3's became Jersey Central, which became Lackawanna.   Don't know the heritage of the Reading F7's

Terrific photos, Swafford.  Thanks for posting.

Mike CT,

The Reading Units are original Reading units.

Very interesting and informative, Bob.  Thanks for posting.

Now we're railroading!

Both left and right side hot water cab heaters roaring at full speed.

This locomotive is now at the NCTM in Spencer. It was part of their Streamliner event, and will reportedly be repainted back as Clinchfield 200 in the gray and yellow scheme. Will have to wait until the N&W 611 work is completed.

Click Mike's Photo to Enlarge.