Postwar F3's, what names were available?

[Fordiesel69]

I want to search for other RR names to add to my NYC.  I know of the santa fe, but what else was offered back then? 

 I see the MPC era has loads of offerings in the F3's but I dislike the single motor drive and overall cheap construction.  I own a MPC era GP9 and am not pleased at its build quality.  You cant even change the wheel rubber easily. 

[LILarry]

Hi

I am still running my original 1956 lionel 2269w diesel freight set

That's the baltimore and ohio f3 diesel

Still looks and runs great   

                                        Larry

[bfskinner]

Lionel: Santa Fe, New York Central, Western Pacific, Southern, Illinois Central, Wabash, Baltimore & Ohio, Canadian Pacific, Milwaukee, Denver and Rio Grande, Texas Special for certain, Pennsylvania RR of unknown (to me) quality at some point, and a relatively poor quality Amtrak. Perhaps someone knows of more.

Most had dual motors, at least one had only one. The earliest motors were horizontal, later ones were vertical. Some, such as Santa Fe, were released in more than one version over the years. They came in different configurations that came out of the box, or could be cobbled together as: AA, AB, ABA and even ABBA. Several roadnames never had a B unit apparently. Body trim differed also, especially with respect to louvers, portholes, grab-irons, etc. After around 1960 the quality of the offerings was much lower than the late 40's through 50's versions, IMHO -- which were the "Golden Years."

Check out this link:

http://www.postwarlionel.com/diesel.html

. 

  

[LILarry]

Let's not forget Magna-Traction'

[arkady]

Fordiesel69

... I dislike the single motor drive...

I've always wondered about that. I have a single-motor Canadian Pacific AA that I bought back in the Seventies, and I wonder if it would be possible to add a second power truck to the powered unit. Has anyone ever tried this?

[lionelsoni]

I have two 2243 sets, which I run together in the same ABBA combination that Santa Fe used.  That's a way to get two motors.  But a single 2243 is a very good locomotive in its own right.  The worm drive of the one that I got new in 1955 is so smooth and the magnetraction so strong that the wheels will turn and spin the motor when I drag it along the track.

The 2383 is one of those made only in A units.  If you want matching B units (black trucks), you have to get those that came with the 2243, which as a result cost more than the 2243 A units.

The 2373 and 8365 Canadian Pacifics, which yours probably is, are considered rare.  Rather than try to modify yours, why not just buy one of the many black 2-motor chassis, like the 2363, especially if you can find one with a beat-up or missing shell on Ebay, and swap your shell onto it.

[arkady]

lionelsoni

The 2373 and 8365 Canadian Pacifics, which yours probably is, are considered rare.

They are? I didn't know that. I wasn't aware that any of the MPC A units were rare.

Thanks.

[cbq9911a]

bfskinner

Lionel: Santa Fe, New York Central, Western Pacific, Southern, Illinois Central, Wabash, Baltimore & Ohio, Canadian Pacific, Milwaukee, Denver and Rio Grande, Texas Special for certain, Pennsylvania RR of unknown (to me) quality at some point, and a relatively poor quality Amtrak. Perhaps someone knows of more.

Most had dual motors, at least one had only one. The earliest motors were horizontal, later ones were vertical. Some, such as Santa Fe, were released in more than one version over the years. They came in different configurations that came out of the box, or could be cobbled together as: AA, AB, ABA and even ABBA. Several roadnames never had a B unit apparently. Body trim differed also, especially with respect to louvers, portholes, grab-irons, etc. After around 1960 the quality of the offerings was much lower than the late 40's through 50's versions, IMHO -- which were the "Golden Years."

Check out this link:

http://www.postwarlionel.com/diesel.html. 

 

In the Fundimensions/LTI era there were the following F3s, in addition to repeats of the postwar names:

Amtrak (pointless arrow)

Pennsylvania (Brunswick green and tuscan red)

Preamble Express

Union Pacific

Santa Fe (freight)

Burlington (plated silver)

Illinois Central (different from postwar)

Southern Pacific

[lionelsoni]

Greenberg:  "...reportedly only 2,500 manufactured.  Came with set 1350, the 1973 Service Station Special.  Reissue of famous 2373 postwar F-3, and now equally scarce."

[overall]

They also made a Milwaukee Road F3 as a service station set in 1975( ?) I have one. It runs OK.

George

[arkady]

lionelsoni

Greenberg:  "...reportedly only 2,500 manufactured.  Came with set 1350, the 1973 Service Station Special.  Reissue of famous 2373 postwar F-3, and now equally scarce."

Interesting. I know my CP A-units weren't part of a set -- I bought them boxed and new as separate items.