Hi, I´m Christian from Germany,
can anyone give me drawings(possible with measurements) of the GMD FP7A and FP9A?
Thanks forward!
Model Railroader recently had the F units including the FP series in the magazine along with drawings. The FP7 is exactly 48" longer than the F7. If you have the basic F unit drawings that are scaled, the 4 additional feet is in the front section behind the side cab door.
The MR article shows this and illustrates the side of the unit. The tanks are still the same so the front truck has an additional 4 feet from the truck to the battery box.
Sorry I have no drawing of the complete FP7 series.
Hi Christian,
There are scale drawings of the FP7 (no need to specify “A” since there’s no such thing as an “FP” B unit) in the “Model Railroader Cyclopedia, Volume 1: Diesel Locomotives,” compiled by Bob Hayden. This is a Kalmbach book but it’s currently out of print. However, copies are available from Amazon.
Dimensionally the FP7 and FP9 are identical, and the external differences are all in details. The main one is that on the FP9 the front porthole is farther toward the rear and there’s a fifth carbody louver set ahead of it. Photos in the MR Diesel Cyc illustrate both FP7s and FP9s.
So long,
Andy
Just Curious as to why they did this. What is the extra 4 feet for? Thanks.
The ‘extra’ 4 feet in the length of the FP7 and 9 is there to provide space for extra water capacity for the steam generator. The ‘P’ in the model designator refers to passenger service. Hope this helps.
“CAZEPHYR” wrote “‘Model Railroader’ recently had the F units including the FP series in the magazine along with drawings.”
That was the October 2006 issue, pages 62 and 63. I should have recalled that in my earlier response.
So long,
Andy
Christian,
While looking for info on F units, you might run across FL9s. These were originally built for the New Haven, served under Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak, and Metro-North. Most were retired, but I think there are a few still floating around…used as protection power or on work trains. FL9s have a 3-axle rear truck, and can run as a diesel, or electric locomotive.
Although I guess it was technically possible to squeeze a steam boiler and water in a standard F unit “A” body, the F-series going back to the original FT were designed to have the water and boiler in the B unit where there was more room (no cab / crew to get in the way!). The FP-series allowed the A unit to have water and and generate steam - very helpful on a long train going across Canada when it was -30F !! However, a few railroads bought FP’s to use by themselves on trains of shorter length (4-6 cars), Soo Line and Northern Pacific for example used FP’s solo on some secondary trains here in Minnesota.