Three Lionel F3 Questions

1. That's for the later dummy A unit. The horn got moved to the dummy at some point.

2.  Later production.

3. Dunno

@GeoPeg posted:

Question 2: which series of the F3 had a light socket that was part of the die-cast frame, not a separate add-on socket?

1954-up starting with the 2245.

Thanks @ADCX Rob I thought it was the earlier F3's, but I was simply guessing. Appreciate your response!

George

@RoyBoy posted:

1. That's for the later dummy A unit. The horn got moved to the dummy at some point.

2.  Later production.

3. Dunno

Thank you @RoyBoy, that makes sense, and explains much of what I have been seeing on da Bay! Now I'm debating whether or not I think I can cut and e-unit slot into an old dummy frame or just forget about an e-unit and add TMCC. The downsides to cutting the slot will be be 1) it probably won't look anywhere as neat as the slot Lionel made, and 2) it's no longer "original", not that I care much about that - either way, it's no longer "original"  

The downside to TMCC is I'm not sure that the LCRU can stand up to the current drawn by those two horizontal motors.

Thanks again for your help.

George

You can convert a dummy frame to a powered frame by knocking out the plug for the battery, drill and tap the holes for the battery cover.  The outline for the e-unit lever is there and the metal is quite thin, so it’s easy to knock out and clean up with a file.  May have to drill and tap some holes for the horn, etc.  I’ve done 3-4 over the last 25 years.

@GeoPeg posted:

...debating whether or not I think I can cut and e-unit slot into an old dummy frame...

You can mount/hide a hidden slide switch to perform the same function, that would make a really clean looking diesel.