Dear ATSF fans
I haven’t been able to find any evidence (either web, photos or previous threads) that show whether the ATSF ran their F units in anything other than AB lash-ups (ie AB as a basic unit). Did they ever run AA lashups, even on branchlines?
Any insights are greatly appreciated
All the best
Rod
If you scroll down on the below link, you will see F7s in an AA configuration. I have seen Santa Fe’s Fs (photos) operated in about every imaginable configuration.
http://atsfrr.net/resources/funits/f7p3.htm
Edit: BTW, I am definately no expert.[:)][:o)]
Since SF ordered all there F units without drawbars and were the first to specify a coupler at both ends of both A and B units they could be arranged in any combination. I beleve they ordered some early sets in an A-B-B-B sets because of concerns about union work rules involving trains above a certain weight reguired another engine and crew… Only one cab only one crew. Once the rules were solved they ordered additional A units. Before I have come across an excelent site with a history of SF F units by doing a Google search.
Scanning through some books last night I found five photos of paired A units.
From Warbonnets and Bluebonnets by Joe McMillan on p.48 the 260C and 201C are on a southbound local at Heiden, TEXAS.
Same book p. 180 284C and 287C are on a Clovis-Lubbock local.
Same book p. 182 twin Fs led by the 214C are at Spearman, TEXAS.
From Route of the Warbonnets by Joe McMillan on p. 77 is another shot of the paired F9As from above seen at Lariat, TEXAS.
From Santa Fe Trackside with Bill Gibson on p.68 are the 243C and 213C at Topeka, KS with the local from Argentine.
One thing that I forgot to mention in regards to the SF passenger F7s, is that the A units did not have boilers. Therefore, if they needed steam on a train, they needed a B unit.
In the late 60s Topeka outshopped some steam generator cars made from Pullman smooth side baggage cars (they were actually delivered as shells, but that is another story) . This way they could use F45s and anything else that didn’t have steam generators on their passenger trains.
CSmith, some of the ATSF F45 had steamlines installed but, no steam generators. There are several photos of Trains 1/2 w/a FP 45 leading and an F45 trailing. HTH
Ch
Charlie, yes half of the Santa Fe F45s had steam lines for use in a passenger consist. The as delivered numbers would be #1920-1939. These units would have been renumbered to #5920-5939 in 1970. My HO San Francisco Chief has the #5936 in consist with an FP45.
Another interesting lash up. On some occassions when the FP45s were not available they would run an F45 or two with an F7B for steam power. Only the B units have steam generators.
Len
One other thing about SF steam generators. They weren’t a seasonal (winter) requirement as SF was a big fan (along w/ Milw and, to a lesser extent NYC) of steam ejector AC