I bought a New Haven F-3 A-B-A- set today and a train store that is sadly going out of business after 35 years. One A unit is number 8851, has a black fuel tank, and runs perfectly. The front fruck has a dual roller pickup. The other A unit is number 8852, has a silver fuel tank, and it has two motors, each with a single pickup. On the bottom of the fuel tank is a silver lever-is it a standard E-unit? The 8851 does not have this lever.It seems to be noisy, and buzzes a lot. Any maintenance or tuneup tricks on this one? What's the story with the differences in the two powered units? Any suggestions of things to check? The B unit is a dummy and is number 8864. I am not familiar with F3s (these are my first) and when coupled together as an A-B-A consist, the engines actually pull against each other. I have never seen this before-any opinions on this?
I see no clear reason why I should grow up...
According to the Greenberg guide for 1970-1991 era, the 8851-8852 A-A was sold as a pair, with the 8852 as a dummy unit. If your 8852 is powered, then that unit was modified, and is not original. The pictures show both units with silver fuel tanks. It seems the 8851 shell belongs on the other unit, and the other frame, motors, and trucks are from another roadname altogether. The hobby shop probably built that unit out of spare parts.
If the units pull against each other, you need to lock the trailing units' reverse unit into reverse, and the leading unit into forward.
Maintenance on these units is the same as any other diesel locomotive. Here is a link to the service document for the 8851, which shows a standard E-unit.
Larry
Larry got it covered, the 8851 should have 2 motors. The 8852 should be a non motored dummy. silver fuel tanks on all . The buzzing you hear IS the e-units. That is normal.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Thank you both for your help. I'm not terribly concerned with originality here, and I'm happy to have two powered A units-I thought I was buying a powered unit and two dummy units!
I'm wondering if the dual motor one is a frame and motors from a post war F-3 with a modern shell fitted on to it. Have seen it done before and with the E-unit lever sticking down it sounds it to me.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
This is what I have-casting number on the frame is 2243-38.
Any idea what this originally was?
What you have looks like the original frame/motors/trucks/E-unit of your 8851 shell. Your pictures look identical to the service literature referenced in a previous post. Lionel modified the postwar frames when they discontinued the battery operated horn, and before they tooled up new frames for electronic boards, so that explains the postwar casting number.
It also has traction tires which would make it correct for an 8851.
Thank you all for your help-it is very much appreciated.
One more guess.
The 8851 was a duel motored New Haven F3a, the 8852 was a dummy, they were sold boxed as a pair in the late 1970s. The "B" unit was a separate sale item. (they also made the same pair of F3a in Pennsylvania tuscan and in green)
If you put the 8851 cab on the dual motered frame it would be as produced. In the early 1970s three "Service Station Sets" were produced powered with single motor F3a pairs. The Canadian Pacific, Rio Grand, and Milwaukee roads. Forty years later they still sell at low prices. Looks like one of the Service Station Set single motor frames ended with the New Haven dummy top.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month