do any rail road companys still use F units? not charter trains or shenic railroads od excursion trains, but for hard laboor like what they where ment for, i know theat B&LE used the same A-B-A of 3 F7’s 'till about 1991. any info?
None that I know of. They were generally not liked by the crews because it was a pain to see behind and around the sides of them due to lack of walks. But I may be wrong.
My best advice is to ask the trains.com forum. I’m sure someone would know there.
Maybe a couple on a shortline, but I’d think you would more likely find a CF7 in service (converted F7’s).
A number of short line RR use reconditioned 1st generation diesels. Here in mid-coast Maine, the Maine Eastern Railroad runs a couple of GP-7s or GP-9s in their freight service. They have a pair of FP-7s they run from late spring to early fall in daily passenger service between Brunswick and Rockland. This probably does not answer your specific question, but is just to let you know there is still some of the old diesels out there.
dont his just break your heart?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=110887
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=80772
I think there is a F unit in Union Bridge Maryland on the Maryland Midland Railroad, but am not certain if it is in service if running at all.
I know they still use them on metro-north in new york or at least until very recently. One used to run (or still does) from Brewster North to Wassaic station on the northern extension of metro-north’s harlem line. It used to have to run in reverse one way because there was no turntable at the other end! LOL! I’ve also seen one or two in use at the croton yards where my dad lives on metro-north’s hudson division.
Here’s a photo of a metro-north F7 from the croton yards from 1996:
Here’s the F unit I was talking about at Brewster North station:
Erie Mining in Minnesota when it runs delivering taconite to the ships.
Those Erie Mining engines still going? Wow that’s bloody amazing.
Last I heard (say three years ago) there were a few somewhere in south Texas I seem to recall, anyone else heard anything about that?
Cheers!
~METRO
Actually they were retired in 2001 when LTV shut down. Most (GP20’s, Baldwins and RS11’s) were sent away. The F9’s were stored but in early 2005 they needed to grab all their stockpile ore, so they reactivated the 4210 and a B unit, and they ran some parts and tac trains. All are for sale now and the Lake Superior Railroad Museum owns the #4211 and a B unit. CN recently used their E units painted IC after Hurricane Katrina.
The Escanaba & Lake Superior (a medium sized shortline in the UP of Michigan and Northeastern Wisconsin) still uses a FP7 that they bought a few years ago. It’s ex Wisconsin and Southern 71A, now E&LS 600. As far as I know it’s used fairly regularly on a branch line up there in local service.
Noah
Norfolk Southern Just bought an A-B-B-A F unit set. In recent years, this year included, the IC has used their E9s in freight service.
Victor
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
Looks like you beat me to it! Does anyone know if these are for freight or passenger service?
Canadian Pacific started using F units a while ago for it’s Royal Canadian Passenger trains.
Gordon
wow, this is more replys than i thought, and teh ry.'s are still using these beastes, that makes me happy
Kansas City Southern has four of them in special service. They may be for special runs, but they get quite a few of those.
Here’s KCS 1 (A&B)
KCS 2 (ABA)
http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/data/562/KCS2-ShreveportLA_06-25-06a.jpg
KCS 3 (?) (AB?)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/robson/738/TEXAS004.jpg
KCS 4 (ABA)
The WSOR uses their E9s in passenger service. A train ran just this weekend. The 10C is equipped with a Head End Power unit, so it stays with the train.
Within the last year, though, they have been used in freight service. They are geared for freight, max speed 70 mph, which sometimes they forget about. I just used the 10C Friday, to double my train together. It’s different to have to look out the side window to see behind you.
From what I have heard, the ELS seems to like the 600. The WSOR engrs seemed to swear at it.
I know an eastern shortline (can’t remember which one) uses an FP7 in daily freight service.
Doyle McCormack (cheif engineer on 4449) owns a Great Northern F9.
Also, BN used to run E units in their chicago commuter operatios, not sure if they still do…
I recall Maryland Midland had switched the Union Bridge Cement faciltiy with a F unit, I would have to work around it’s bulk way back in tanker days.