When I was a kid I always wanted a red and silver SF F-3 but was never able to get one. Now 49 years later I have some money saved up to finally get a pw F-3. There is a show coming up in about 3 weeks and I will probably try to get one then. In the post war era what number should I be looking for? I understand that during this time changes were made such as number of motors, position of motors, details on the body etc. I plan on running this loco a lot so which one would be more reliable? I’m also not concerned about looks, one that is even beat up a little but runs good will be ok with me. What would be a fair price to offer a dealer? Would an MPC era be an acceptable choice? Also I’m only looking for an AA or AB combo. Thanks for any help in advance
2333 - first version of the SFwarbonnet. 2 motors, not Magnatraction
2343 - 2 motors, Magnatraction
2353 - 2 motors, Magnatraction, less details on shells
2383 - 2 motors, Magnatraction even less details on shells, black trucks instead of silver
Those are the dual motored units. I wouldn’t pay more than $300 for a set. Currently on choochooauctions.com, there is a set of 2343s for $250. Check that out.
Buy on ebay, without a doubt the best deals. I went to a Greenberg’s show in January, the prices where absolutely ridiculous. 2343 is the most detailed and is a great runner. Has the growl with the horizontal motors.
Also 2243, comprising 2243P A unit with one vertical motor and magnetraction and 2243C dummy B unit. The 2383, comprising 2383P and 2383T A units also has vertical motors and matches the 2243C B units. These vertical-motor F3s will get through Lionel O27 turnouts, whereas the horizontal-motor ones will not.
All the Lionel A-A sets are actually prototypically impossible. Santa Fe bought and ran their F3s in A-B-B-A sets, with each A-B pair permanently connected (no coupler) and a single locomotive number for the set of 4 units. (The units were designated, from the front, L-A-B-C.) The single-locomotive-with-multiple-units concept had more to do with getting around union-contract rules than with practical operation.