Just purchased Lionel 18117 Santa Fe Blue F3's - what can you tell me?

[FEClionel]

Just purchased this AA new in box pair for an incredible price. My question is when was this engine produced and what is special about the blue paint job, is it a freight color? Also how does it compair to recent F3 besides the fact it does not have railsound and TTCM. Any info you all can provide would be greatly appriciated!

[brianel027]

FEC, you make me chuckle! You really like your Santa Fe F3's. I assume your name stands for Florida East Coast? Too bad Lionel didn't make an F3 in that road.

Your F3's are not in the 1993 catalogs, but are listed in the price guide as being made in 1993. One can assume from production at the time, they probably have the open frame Pull-Mor motor (s) and a mechanical e-unit. There is a B unit cataloged in 1994 for your double A's. The B is shown with the double A's and they look nice. I'm sure you may have gotten a good price as your units don't have the up-to-date features that the newer engines have. I'm sure even minus speed control, electronics etc. they're still reliable nice running units.
Yes, Santa Fe did the blue/yellow scheme for freight service, but rules were broken when necessary. Conrail had solid grey units for "ballast service" but I've seen them on mainline freight service. Same with the solid orange CSX "MOW" units that also got called up to freight service when there was a locomotive shortage. So for those who instist on nothing less than prototypical operation, I say all things are possible - just as they were with the real railroads. With the real railroads, the rule was making money. With our trains, the rule is just have fun and enjoy.

brianel, Agent 027

[FEClionel]

Yeah this is my second set of Sanat Fe F-3's in less than a week. I sold my 2343 at a train show and purchased this set for a cheap price considering they are mint in the box. I was searching for them in the 1993 catalog and found nothing. I was just wondering why Lionel made these Santa Fe's after so many years of producing warbonet colored F-3's. They run great and I can't wait to build a freight set around them. I know its cheesey but I'm creating something like a set that I wish Lionel would have put together. This is my first step into something other than my dad's postwar and my starter stuff from the late 80's and early 90's.

-Oh yeah and my FEC does stand for Florida East Coast - too bad lionel has only made a handful of FEC rolling stock and locomotives. FEC paint jobs are amazing and would look great on Lionel stuff. Maybe someday!

[brianel027]

FEC, Keep your eye out for Williams Trains. They've made several I believe in FEC. If memory serves me right there's a BL-2, a GP-9 and an F-7 all offered in FEC livery along with a N5C porthole caboose to match. All negotiate an 027 curve. Williams engines come highly recommended with those who don't like all the additional electronics, like me. They also have a limited lifetime warranty. Ironically Williams makes some reproductions of Lionel locos better than Lionel makes them: diecast trucks, fuel tanks, couplers, metal or diecast frames, metal gears (with good gear ratio for slow, smooth running), plus a variety of roadnames unmatched by any other 3-rail train mfger./importer. Check their website at: www.williamstrains.com.

There are several places that offer good prices on Williams stuff. "Ma And Pa Junction" comes to mind as well as "WOW Trains" and "JustTrains." Also K-Line has recently made a car or two in FEC (a vat flatcar comes to mind) and Lionel made a FEC 9700-series boxcar around 1999.

It always nice to have a few things in your favorite road. That's why I repaint.

brianel, Agent 027

[Bob Keller]

CTT ran a review of the blue F3s in the May 1994 issue. They were on the cover of Lionel's 1993 Stocking stuffer catalog, right above two CSX Dash-8s.

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[FEClionel]

Hey Bob how can I get a copy of that edition of the mag?

[Bob Keller]

Send me your snail mail address at [e-mail]. I think I may have an extra copy in my filing cabinet.

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[brianel027]

Bob, that's a nice offer you made to FEC. I missed the '93 Stocking Stuffer catalog... out of place on my shelf, but sure enough there's the Blue F3's on the cover.
Now if you told me you remembered the prouduct review of those F3's in the May '94 CTT right off the top of your head (without using the computerized index I'm sure you guys must have), I'd really be impressed! With 13 years going on 14 of CTT issues in my library, there's a lot I remember and a lot I don't. Sometimes I'll say, "gee I think there was an article on that... but what issue was it?" I do bring up the "Scale's the thing" article from the March '93 issue a lot, especially when I was posting on the OGR Forum - a lot more than I do now. I got annoyed with the 'less-than-scale' intolerance... nothing wrong with scale, but nothing wrong with 027 either. But anyways there's an article that could be updated and reprinted again. Useful information for everyone and especially those just entering the hobby.
brianel, Agent 027