I have owned a pair of red/gray F3A Monon locos for quite awhile, but I have always wanted a pair of black/gold Monon locos. I finally got a black/gold consist of ABA F3 Monon locos. The boxes list these three locos as “freight”, but I don’t care. I am going to use them as passenger train locomotives.
What is the difference between passenger and freight with these locos and can you tell the difference by simply looking at them?
Rich
Both of these are equipped for passenger service due to the steam generator details present on the end of the units on the roof, if they were freight service that panel would be blank.
Rick Jesionowski
Wow!
I had no idea. I have been reluctant to post pics of my Monon passenger trains for fear of being criticized for running passenger trains with freight locos. Thanks so much for that reply, Rich. You have made my day.
Rich
That doesn’t mean that they are accurate for Monon engines in real life. Nit pickers who knows a lot more then me about the Monon may tell you either they did not have f3 engines with boilers or with that paint scheme. in the meantime enjoy them
Why you little spoilsport you. LOL.
Good point about the boilers, but the paint schemes are correct.
Rich
Rich, we must always be reminded of rule #1 in model railroading, “it’s my layout”.
Regards, Chris
I remember a story doing the rounds in South Wales.
A passenger locomotive was not available to take a passenger train up the valley to Merthyr Tydfil. A locomotive normally used on coal trains was dispatched on the passenger train instead.
There was an inquiry as to why. From then on anything available was used.
David
IRL - power is power when you need power to operate a train.
As info B&O purchased a number of F3’s, both A & B units, for passenger service. After being used in passenger service for a number of years they were assigned to the Chicago Division operating between Willard, OH and Chicago in freight service. The maximum grade on that territory 0.3%. While being used in the Chicago Division service they retained their boilers and 98 MPH passenger gearing.
The difference between passenger and freight locomotives is the gear ratio of the traction motors. Externally, it is the presence or absence of a steam generator. Apart from that, there are couplers. Freight locomotives equip type E. Passenger locomotives equip type H or type E + buffer. In the days of the F units, conversions between passenger and freight uses were common, which caused confusion.
For the most part, please see the following thread.
“Two types of couplers: Top & Bottom operation”
The Monon used both schemes in freight service. A Google search will uncover prototype photos. But the red/white Fs primarily were assigned to passenger service.
Monon - Dearborn Station by d.w.davidson, on Flickr
Monon - 117th Street by d.w.davidson, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Great photos,Ed.
Thanks for posting.
Rich
Who cares what people say/think. D&RGW had boiler equipped F units and they were used also on freight trains. Most were F3’s purchased for passenger service but in early years were used on freights. D&RGW also purchased two F7A’s with boilers to be used on passengers if needed but they were mainly used on freight trains. The other F7’s purchased for passenger service only the B units had boilers, just like the Rio Grande Zephyr F9;s.
Yes there are countless times when the same locomotives were used on passenger and freight services.
David
It would matter to modelers who wish to accurately model the Monon.
Model railroading isn’t all about “Rule 1.”
The Monon chose two separate liveries to reflect the colors of two online universities- Purdue and the U of Indiana.
Would recommend George Hilton’s “The Monon Route” as a source on this.
Exactly. Not everybody wants to run the Crazy Quilt Northern. Believe it or not some people actually do care. It’s their railroad and they can do what they want. What they want is to be realistic. That is why they ask for advice. If they didn’t care they wouldn’t bother asking.
I really appreciate all of the replies. Thank you all so much. These replies have all been very helpful to me.
Rich
As would I.
Thank you for that recommendation.
Here is an interesting comment on the book and on the Monon route.
“Though it was originally envisioned as a facility for interchange with steam boats at New Albany on the Ohio River and at Michigan City on Lake Michigan, the railroad’s principal function proved to be northbound freight haulage from southern rail connections at Louisville.”
Very interesting.
Rich
