Can anyone direct me to a good book or website that can show me pictures of the differences between the different variations of E and F Unit locomotives? I have a hard enough time distinguising the difference between the newer models much less locos that you don’t see any more.
I am amazed at how you guys can tell one model from another! Especially steam locomotives.
Any info would be greatly appreciated! [:)]
The bible on this is the Diesel Spotter’s Guide, but I think they have a new name for it.
The differences between the models was usually internal, increases in horsepower and such. The visible changes seemed to come along whenever the plant felt they had a new idea; the fans refer to these as “phases”.
Here’s an online source:
http://exotic.railfan.net/E.htm - E units
http://exotic.railfan.net/F.htm - F units
Basically, the E units have a three axle truck (middle axle being unpowered) and are much longer. Also E units have a second door and a second set of grab railings near the middle of the locomotive.
Except for the FT B units are very distinctive in that the rear truck is further forward than on other B units The FT A & B have recesssed fans on the roof The fans on other F units are not recessed.
The external differences between the F3, F7 and F9 (particularly the F7 and F9) are subtle. Many F3’s has external screens on their side, but this and other spotting features such as grill work just below the roof which depended on options the RR bought were often changed during service.
There were also (passenger units) FP7 and FP9 which were longer than F7 and F9
However whether or not the unit has a steam generator is not a spotting feature as reguar F’s were also purchased for passenger service.
There’s a couple of Kalmbach books that might be useful - titles are “F Units: The diesels that did it” and “E Units: EMC’s classic streamliners” - both have basic drawings of the variants of these locos and plenty of prototype photos.
Not real detailed but this page has some interesting info:
www.paintshop.railfan.net might help ya
Good drawings of many variations. I was about to put a link to it when I saw this post. This link works http://paintshop.railfan.net/ [:)]
I think the newest version of this is called:
“Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years” (A guide to diesels built before 1972), Louis A. Marre, Kalmbach Publishing
and the follow on volume for newer locos is:
“Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives”, Greg McDonnell, Kalmbach Publishing.
All diseasels look the same to me. I rely heavily on these two books to help me out.
Regards
Ed
Thanks for the info
I have two N scale units, an HO unit and a picture of an old Rock Island Rocket Fleet on the wall and they are all different.
The HO is definitely an F-7. One of the N scale units appears to be an FA2 and the Rock Island picture is starting to look more like an Alco unit too.
The last one is still a mystery. It is an old Atlas/Rivarossi unit in Santa Fe colors. It has four blower fans on the back of the cab but what really looks odd is the rear trucks.
The front truck has two axles and the rear has three. Is this a real design or was it just something made up by the manufacturer?
It’s based on a real loco - I have one too - N scale and with only the front truck driven, vertically mounted motor using the end of the motor worm gear as the truck pivot, right? Mine’s in UP livery and runs, but not too well. I’m hanging on to it for historical interest, and besides, I like the look of it.
The prototype of this model was a variant of the Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner loco - this was their attempt to break into the cab unit market. Most C-Liners (like the Lifelike Proto models) had 4 axles, the 5 axle version was built to spread the weight of the steam heating boiler more evenly - this is explained pretty well on the back of the HO Proto C-Liner box, and also here: http://exotic.railfan.net/FM.htm
Hope this information is of help - these models seem pretty rare now - mine’s had the cab windows glazed as originally they were filled by the diecast chassis block (I milled this a little to clear space for the glazing).
Wow! That describes it exactly!
Mine still runs too, but it’s a little noisy when it backs up.
I bought this loco off eBay a while back. I have a collection of Maisto diecast trains too and it was mixed in with a batch of them that I bought.
I took it apart, cleaned all the gunk out of the gears and repaired a broken solder joint on the rear truck. Other than that it didn’t require much to get it going.
Any idea what year this model was made?
Based on info in the N Scale Locomotive Encyclopedia, probably 1967.
This is the link to the N Scale locomotive Encycopedia, a great resource. They are in the midst of moving to another server and the search function doesn’t work, but they have info on most N scale locos ever made:
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html
Regards
Ed
Thanks for the info Ed, I was wondering when this was made too. I’ve just dusted mine off and will probably be giving it a clean and service soon - nowhere to run it at the moment, but worth keeping it in working order.
UP and Santa Fe C-liners? I have an HO C-liner shell painted for UP, which I got with a bunch of other train stuff at a garage sale. I always thought it was odd–I didn’t think UP had C-liners.
The Rock Island Rocket may be the EMC TA, a very smooth streamlined passenger cab riding on 4 axles (B-B trucks). Here’s a picture:http://www.railwayclassics.com/images/CRIP02/crip02-ta.jpg
Gary
The paint on the Rock Island picture looks similar to the picture that I have. But the front of my picture isn’t as streamlined as the picture you showed me. The front is more blunt and has a coupler on the front.
It is also depicted with two “B” units and it is pulling boxcars.
if it wasn’t so big, I would put it on the scanner and scan a picture of it. But is is printed on metal and is a few inches too big for the scanner. [:)]
Another variant of the EMD F unit was the FPL-9. This mdel had an electric pick up shoe on the rear truck. I believe this truck had three axles. They were used primarily in the New York area due to the restrictions on steam and diesel locomotives in the tunnels.
Don’t feel bad Wade. I’m still trying to figure it out myself. Thanks for the links guys! (…And the edumacation!) [:)]
Tom
actually you dont have to scan the whole thing; using your theory you wouldnt take a photo either in case you couldnt see the other side…
"-() dave
