Hello, I’ m presently planing an HO scale “Transition era” freight only installation, I would need your advice on the EMD FP9 diesel locomotive.
I am very tempted by the “Rapido Trains” FP9A. (any comments?)
Was it in service for passenger only or was it also for freight?
If it wasn’t in service for freight could you recommend me any Diesel loco (CN or CP) for the Transition era.
Thank you.
Serge
FP9s (and FP7s) were purchased for passenger trains. These locomotives were extra-cost to a standard F7 or F9 and thus if the railroad used it on freight it was throwing away the value of that extra cost, because an FP7 or FP9 hauled no additional freight compared to an F7 or F9 – maybe a little less because it had to haul extra weight around. However, as passenger service declined and railroads found they had more locomotives designated for passenger trains than passenger trains to haul, many FP7s and FP9s that had remaining economic life were repurposed to freight service. (I ran FP7s in freight service at one time). Eventually some had their steam generator equipment removed and ballast substituted (or not), and some had their above-frame water tanks ballasted with concrete (or not) and some had their below-frame water tank converted to fuel (or not). Presumably you could say that you were modeling right on the cusp of the decline of passenger service and your FP9s were some days needed in passenger service and others not, and used in freight instead.
RWM
The FP9 was primarily a passenger locomotive. Since both the CNR and CPR dieselised so late (there was steam still in service at least until 1960), the “transition-era” embraced a wide range of locos.
For freight service, F3, F7, GP7,GP9, SW1200RS, FA-1, FA-2, RS-2, RS-3, RS-10, RS-18, RS-23, CPA-16-4, H-16-44, H-24-66, DRS-4-4-1000, and possibly others would be appropriate.
While I’m not modelling within the diesel era, there are good-quality models of most of the listed locos readily available, and in appropriate CN or CP colours, too.
Wayne
The FP-7 and FP-9 were basically F-7 and F-9 freight diesels that were extended several feet to allow the inclusion of a steam generator so that the engines could either be used by themselves on local passenger trains, or to make more steam available on longer passenger trains going thru very cold climates (Northern Pacific, Canadian Pacific etc.) Generally they were geared for passenger speed operations but could haul freight too. For example after the Soo Line dropped passenger service, their FP’s and passenger GP’s spent many years hauling freight.
By the way it’s “EMD”…Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. [:)]
The FP7/9 was extended 4’(just ahead of the power plant) to make room for additional boiler water tanks. The S/G is in the rear and a ‘normal’ F7 or F9 can have a S/G as well. The problem with the shorter F in passenger service is the small capacity for boiler water(about 200 gallons in the S/G, and another 600 gallons in a ‘hatch tank’ if the unit was not equipped with dynamic brakes. The AT&SF had 1200 gallon boiler water tanks where the S/G equipment was, and had pumping equipment to move the boiler water from the A units to the B units that had the S/G’s. A FP7/9 can have up to about 1350 gallons of boiler water and Dynamic Brakes.
Jim
Thanks everyone for the infos, they are greatly appreciated, I will put them in my “Model Railroader” notebook.
Serge
Chicago & Northwestern had 4 FP9’s as well and they used them in freight service.