To possibly make the F unit a bit more switching friendly, you could couple a caboose to the rear of the unit for a crew member to spot the cut of cars, or the rear of the entire (but short) train to lead as the loco backs up. That would be a plausible combination, supported by one of my favorite pics.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2225407
Its a modern dinner train, but it could work with a local freight in some situations.
- Douglas
Just a follow-up...another issue is that beginning around 1960, railroads started trading-in their freight F-units (usually starting with FTs if they had them) to EMD for newer units like GP-30s. Passenger Fs were likely to last longer, since by the 1960's the handwriting was on the wall for private passenger trains, and most railroads (thought not all) didn't want to invest in new passenger engines, so kept using their passenger Fs.
As has been mentioned, many of the Fs still in service today are on dinner or excursion/fantrip trains. I could see a situation where a railroad ran a dinner train with one or two F-units on Friday night - Saturday - Sunday, but once in a while used the F-unit(s) during the week in freight work.
Thank you all so much! This is exactly the reason why I came here with this question! Between knowledge and research, this community contains some of the most amazing and helpful people I have ever met! It is awesome how as modelers, we band together and help each other in such an amazing way! I am so thankful that you all have let me know that my ideas are not just in my mind, and that they DO have some basis in prototypicality. Thank you all so sincerly much, and I'm sure that I will repay this in turn for others, but for now, I am simply glad that I am a part of this wonderful, helpful, and amazing community. For one final time, THANK YOU!
Check out the Balfour and Colucci Creek Southern Railroad, my proto-freelanced N scale model railroad, at bccsrailroad.weebly.com or on Youtube on my channel, N Scale Train Boy.
-Dennis
While they won't be pulling freight cars, HERE'S SOME INFO on the only working A-B-A set of F3s in the world.
Wayne
N Scale Train Boy Thank you, Tom, but I think I didn't clarify, which is my fault. While that was a very interesting article, and I appreciate the help, my question was more if any railroads use F units in revenue freight runs, or in a similar role. I'm sorry I didn't clarify. Thanks for trying to help regardless though, Tom!
Thank you, Tom, but I think I didn't clarify, which is my fault. While that was a very interesting article, and I appreciate the help, my question was more if any railroads use F units in revenue freight runs, or in a similar role. I'm sorry I didn't clarify. Thanks for trying to help regardless though, Tom!
It might take a while, but review the following list and try to look for railroad names with only 1 F unit listed. Only 1 will tend to be pics of more modern railroads, unlike, say, ATSF that will be old pics of gobs of F7s.
I think some shortlines might have some F9s. Erie Mining used some late, and then maybe got sold to another line.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?mid=136
Edit: Here's one. Grafton & Upton. I think its mainly used for excursions but it gets used mu'ed to a GP in freight service from time to time.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4125586
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3465263
Here's a good one, VLIX, but I doubt the consist was used in regular service much. Probably a one-off photo.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=627557
And the ex Erie Mining F9s owned by Indiana Box Car, sort of a leasing company. Not sure who is using them here.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=209434
Probably the kind of thing you're looking for, albeit in Ontario.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=201701
Hello all,
Not a freight service but the Royal Gorge excursion train; in Cañon City, Colorado, runs A-B on the head end and an A unit on the rear for the trip in reverse.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
The SEMINOLE GULF RAILWAY in Fort Myers, Florida runs an F unit on the head end of its dinner/murder train.
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The F unit is not fully functional and serves as the control stand and the head end power generator. The train is pushed by a GP-9 from the rear. The passenger cars are actually two dead RDCs and an old kitchen car, so it is an interesting consist to be sure.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
The problem is that F-units were designed to run mainline freights and passenger trains, generally in sets of 2-4 units. With their poor rear visibility they really aren't well suited to way freight switching like you'd find on a shortline or branchline. An old road switcher like an EMD GP would work better in that situation. That's why ATSF converted so many of their F-units into CF-7 'general purpose' locos.
Google the Ontario Southland Railway, and you will be able to find pictures of F-units running on freights, often mixed in with roadswitchers. I believe they have three A-units among their eclectic roster.
tstage Norfolk Southern has an ABBA set of F-9s that are part of their "Heritage Fleet": You can read about them here: http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2013/12/10/norfolk-southern-s-cab-units-among-the-most-technologically-advanced-streamliners-around.aspx Tom
Norfolk Southern has an ABBA set of F-9s that are part of their "Heritage Fleet":
You can read about them here:
http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2013/12/10/norfolk-southern-s-cab-units-among-the-most-technologically-advanced-streamliners-around.aspx
Tom
Tom thanks for the information. I just picked up the Bachmann version of 4271 and is nowhere near the prototype. The ditch lights are non functioning decals ala NASCAR cars and the horn and front grab irons are not correct. Someday I will update this but in the meantime i will not complain since I only paid $99 for a locomotive with sound and DCC
Currently breaking it in running local freights.
Joe Staten Island West
dknelson The Keokuk Junction runs from Kolbe (near East Peoria) west on weekdays with an A-B-A set of F units. These are former TP&W tracks. On days when one or another of the F units is cranky, they substitute a GP20. Also first generation EMD (although some say first of the second generation). I think the Fs are former Algoma Central. Nicely painted.
The Keokuk Junction runs from Kolbe (near East Peoria) west on weekdays with an A-B-A set of F units. These are former TP&W tracks. On days when one or another of the F units is cranky, they substitute a GP20. Also first generation EMD (although some say first of the second generation). I think the Fs are former Algoma Central. Nicely painted.
Dave,
That's awesome to hear! Unfortunately, I'm a Northeaster myself, but if I ever get a chance, that would be awesome to see firsthand. Additionally, that story of steam at such a late date as 1980 was an amazing story, thanks for it. Sad to hear it was gone so suddenly, but happy you got to see it!
Not too far from Sedona, AZ, the Verde Canyon RR runs excursion trains. A fun trip if you ever are in that area.
https://verdecanyonrr.com/
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Absolutely there is, and if you have a chance to railfan it, it is a wonderful experience.
At Bushnell IL you might see a BNSF freight stabbed by the Keokuk Junction F units - a nice photo opportunity if it works out just right. At Canton IL the Keokuk Jct crosses a former BN branch line, which is severed. There is also a nice bridge over the Spoon River at Seville. Another good photo op.
There are tons of You Tube videos of the Keokuk Jct F units. It is almost as much a time machine as the operations of the Northwestern Steel & Wire company in Sterling IL were in 1980 when due to the stubbornness of the elderly owner, the mill was still all steam, ex Grand Trunk 0-8-0s. The day I was there there were four locomotives in steam. They had 7 or 8 fully servicable steam locomotives. Every movement was fully whistled. The old man was driven past us in his limosine and waved and saluted. Days after his death -- fully dieselized.
Dave Nelson
P.S. (amended posting) And just to make clear, the Keokuk Junction is a work-a-day freight railroad, not in any way a tourist or museum operation.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
So, in my head, I was kind throwing around the idea of a couple "second hand" or more likely "third hand" F units for my modern day small-ish railroad, wondering if there were any left operating on any prototype railroads still in freight service. Then, I remembered that I have this amazing community that I can ask anything and recieve an answer in a pretty damn timely fashion. So, is there a prototype for this kind of thing, maybe on shortlines or class 3 railroads, or would this fall totally under the "modeler's license" category?
Thank You!