NYC Item# 6-14552 (F3 AA) and 6-14555 (F3 B)

following prototype,most NYC "B" units had no stripe just lettering...

Joe is right!

The early cab units as delivered from EMD, FM and ALCo had the "short" lightning stripe only on the A units, as we see on FM Erie-Builts, ALCO FAs and EMD F3s.  The B units were painted black with just the road name, number and class centered on the car body sides.  Lionel's versions are correct for those road numbers as delivered.  The earlier EMD FTA and F2A units had the whisker stripes on the nose, but the B units were painted the same as the F3s.

Only photos could tell you which ones were first painted in the full lightning stripe.  As an aside, all the units were painted in full lightning stripes at some point, including the FTs.

Thanks!

- Mario

PS- paint schemes along the timeline… left to right are an Atlas F2, Lionel F3 and Lionel F7 in whisker, short and long lightning stripes respectively.

Atlas FM w/ Lionel F7B:

Rockstars,

There's also another 'B' to add to your three units.  I added it to mine.  It's product no. 6-24517, and is powered:

Unfortunately it has no stripe either.

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Rockstars,

There's also another 'B' to add to your three units.  I added it to mine.  It's product no. 6-24517, and is powered:

 

Unfortunately it has no stripe either.

Mike

Yes, I use the non-powered F3B #2404 with my Atlas F2, as the Atlas NYC B units were incorrect for the NYC, as the NYC had screens all the way across the top, like Lionel's.  So this is NYC #1604 / #2404.  I need to add sound to the 2404; I have a breakdown B unit that I'll be using for that, eventually.

I also use the Lionel powered B unit with powered As (I purchased a second AA set) so I have an ABA set, all powered and both A units with sound (different F unit sounds so they come in and out of concert). This is NYC #1607 / #2405 / #1607.  So, yeah... stump pullers.  The Lionel F7B is also powered.

Thanks!

- Mario