"Norfolk Southern acquires F units for business train
October 24, 2006
Rail Cruise American F9PH 102 rests at St. Louis station on march 23, 2005. The unit was purchased by Norfolk Southern in October 2006. (Steve Glischinski)
NORFOLK, Va. Norfolk Southern today confirmed for Trains News Wire that it has purchased an A-B-B-A set of streamlined F units from Kansas City Southern for business train use. The four units are in operating condition, but NS spokesman Rick Harris said they are en route to the railroads Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pa., where they will be given a complete mechanical review and receive any needed repairs. The units are slated to be painted in a version of Southern Railway’s classic “tuxedo” scheme of black and white with gold striping and lettering. Harris said the units would likely make their debut in spring 2007, depending on the type of mechanical work needed.
The four locomotives were acquired by KCS last February, when it purchased the locomotives and rolling stock of special train operator Rail Cruise America, based out of St. Louis Union Station. While KCS has retained the eight Rail Cruise America passenger cars it got in the deal, the Fs were never placed in service before their sale to NS.
The four units, two F9As and two F7Bs, have varied histories:
…That sounds great…If painted as stated it should really make a great appearance when put to use out on the rails.
Just seems a bit strange for conservative NS to be doing something as such, but glad they did and people will get to see them in operation. Of course that’s all great.
Ah yes, the F7. They were common place on the C&NW commuter trains – an F7 would pull up to 5 gallery bi-levels; for longer trains the E8’s came into play. These days they pull up to 11 cars behind and F40PH.
I remember seeing from Winter Park in Colorado a D&RGW passenger train – seems it was an ABBBA set with steam generator car and maybe 7 passenger cars. Up in the mountains you needed almost as many F’s as coaches, and the train wasn’t going very fast either. I suppose non-turbo units lost a lot of power at altitude, just like a modern 4-cylinder car runs out of wind in the mountain air.
NS has quite fleet. They have some typical business cars, some coaches, some straight sleepers and a full length dome. They are all painted up in an N&W passenger car style - tuscan and dulux gold striping/lettering with black trucks and roof.
Hmm… Should be interesting! I wonder why NS felt the need for such units, though. They sold off the ex-Conrail E8s, re-numbering only 4020 to 1000. CSX was to get 4021, but did not hold it for long before selling it to Bennett Levin. Now, what happened to 4022? (Ex Erie/EL 833)