Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

How many F-Units do you have?

7465 views
69 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Saturday, November 3, 2018 10:55 PM

My four Globe F-units are long gone...

...and while I'm now modelling an earlier era, I still much prefer (over F-units) the 8 or 9 FAs and FBs that I still have.
I do kinda wish that I still had these two, though, even though they're also too modern for my layout...

Wayne

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,369 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, November 3, 2018 9:49 PM

I've got 3 A units and 1 B unit, all Milwaukee and all old Athearn blue box models.  The B and one of the As are sound dummies.  My collection started around 1960.

I've got a UP shell with no chassis, which ended up inside one of the Milwaukee's.  All of them have been fixed up with new headlight lenses and window glass, plus grabs.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, November 3, 2018 11:28 AM

riogrande5761
Stewart have the best silky smooth KATO chassis and they look pretty good too. You can add details to taste.

.

Also, the Kato bodies are pre-dimpled at the drill locations for the Walthers F Unit dress up kit. That kit can be had for 5-10 dollars. The kit does an A/B set of locomotives.

.

So, you can get a decent looking fine running A/B set for around $100.00 if you shop a bit.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,871 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, November 3, 2018 9:55 AM

Bigjim7
I have to admit I have 0 F units. I just have modern diesels from 1960 to now . Maybe one day.

D&RGW was running F units well past 1960, as was other roads.  In fact FT's were still running through about 1964.  F7's lasted until about 1972 and the F9's ran until 1984.

Like many I had grandios plans to run trains from several time periods hence all those F units.  I expect a some 

xboxtravis, college years are difficult to have a train hobby, I know.  And possibly wife and kids to distract you and spend your mondey too.

But, if you want to join the F unit crowd, you can find Stewart F units at train shows for a fraction of the cost of Intermountain and Genesis, and best of all, Stewart have the best silky smooth KATO chassis and they look pretty good too.  You can add details to taste.  I see them in the $50 to $80 price range - on Ebay some have them listed at nutty prices but pay no attention to those trolls.  Heck, I've been trying to sell my NIB WP F3's for about $55 ea and no nibbles.  The mechanisms are so nice, I'll probably save them in case I need them to replace Genesis chassis.  Stick out tongue

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    October 2018
  • 117 posts
Posted by Bigjim7 on Saturday, November 3, 2018 8:04 AM
I have to admit I have 0 F units. I just have modern diesels from 1960 to now . Maybe one day.
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, November 2, 2018 9:26 PM

The STRATTON & GILLETTE FAs are in the paint shop right now.

.

These are going to be the most colorful diesels on the SGRR roster when they are completed.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,871 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, November 2, 2018 7:49 PM

Since we are shoe horning in other F units, Ill add in 4 F40PHs.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 271 posts
Posted by MARTIN STATION on Friday, November 2, 2018 7:36 PM

    I have 3 Kato CB&Q F3A units in N scale and 1 B&O F7A early Athearn Genesis HO unit kept over from my HO modeling days. I am seriously considering one (or two) of the upcoming Kato Santa Fe red warbonet F7A locos just for fun. In N (normal) scale of course! Big Smile

Ralph 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, November 2, 2018 6:17 PM

SeeYou190
That is only 9, I thought I had 11. I might have missed a set of them.

.

Back at home and double checked the roster.

.

It turns out the missing two units are an A/A set of Alco FAs. These are Walthers low end models.

.

So... 9 EMD F units, 2 Alco F units.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    May 2017
  • 382 posts
Posted by xboxtravis7992 on Friday, November 2, 2018 5:19 PM

Let me be the lame guy here and say, zero. 

Nada

Nilch

Zip

Squat!

Not that I don't love me some F-Units, its just I have not yet had time to plop down cash for some. $200+ for some Athearn or Intermountain unit with the full DCC and Sound? Yeah, I ain't going to build a fleet of those overnight, at least not until I finish college. 

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 2,893 posts
Posted by Paul3 on Friday, November 2, 2018 5:09 PM

How many F-units?  I have 5 NH FL9’s, and they are simply the finest F-units ever made (disclaimer: I helped to design them as a member of the NHRHTA).  

If you want to consider non-EMD F-units, I also have a dozen Alco FA/FB’s, all in NH.

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • From: About 20 minutes from IRM
  • 430 posts
Posted by CGW121 on Friday, November 2, 2018 9:00 AM

I have 12 chicken wire F3As, only 5 F3Bs. All CGW.

 

                                           Mike

 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 89 posts
Posted by NS6770fan on Friday, November 2, 2018 8:13 AM

I don’t have any yet, but I hope to have a few PRR F units along with the NS OCS units. If you count O scale, I have one Amtrak F45 I believe.

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 2,486 posts
Posted by caldreamer on Friday, November 2, 2018 8:11 AM

I have just 2 F3B;s painted in BN Green and black paint scheme,  They are designated for snow and MOW service.

      Ira

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 917 posts
Posted by Southgate on Friday, November 2, 2018 1:38 AM

Two blue box Athearns. One on the rails in SP Black widow. Other in the drawer is GN. I wanna put a bloody nose shell on it.  Dan

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Danbury Freight Yard
  • 454 posts
Posted by OldEngineman on Thursday, November 1, 2018 11:16 PM

No F units here.

Actually, when I was a young fireman, I spent much of my time ON F units (FL-9's) working on the [former NH RR] Danbury Branch and the Harlem and Hudson lines on former NYC territory.

I never really cared for them. They were ok, but one could get tired of tending to the steam generators with the big engine roaring in your ears (have some tinnitus that I think was aggravated by that back in the day).

I realize the F-40's "weren't the same" as the classic F units, but those were great locomotives, spent many days and nights on them later on.

On my little switching line (based on the "Black River Junction" of MRR a few years' back), it's all "single units" and they have to reverse direction to get home.

F units just wouldn't "fit in".

NHTX wrote: "Only seven F's, all New Haven FL-9s in the McGinnis flavor."

I probably ran at least one or two of those in your collection, back when they still "ran"...Big Smile

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 36 posts
Posted by Erie Lackawanna in Georgia on Thursday, November 1, 2018 8:08 PM

BigDaddy

 Well I’ve done my share of lurking around various topics over the years, but I’ve certainly learned an awful lot here.  I’m determined to get envolved and contribute when I can!

 
Erie Lackawanna in Georgia
First post on this site

 

You've been a member since 2011?  Don't be shy.  One of the benefits of posting is that you find out what you think you know ain't so.  Not that it is has happened to me :tinfoil2:

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, November 1, 2018 7:33 PM

Erie Lackawanna in Georgia
First post on this site

You've been a member since 2011?  Don't be shy.  One of the benefits of posting is that you find out what you think you know ain't so.  Not that it is has happened to me :tinfoil2:

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Thursday, November 1, 2018 7:24 PM

     Only seven F's, all New Haven FL-9s in the McGinnis flavor.  Thank you Jason Shron and all of the good folks at Rapido!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,614 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, November 1, 2018 6:52 PM

Erie Lackawanna in Georgia
First post on this site

Congratulations on making your first post!

F series (and Es) are my favourite locomotives but I don't own a bunch of them.

I have 1 F7, 1 FP7, 1 FP9 and 3 F7Bs all in Canadian Pacific maroon and grey. Everything is DCC with sound, except the F7 which I will sell because the details don't match the rest of the fleet. It is an older Athearn. The others are all InterMountain.

I also have one E6 AB and one E7 ABOff Topic

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

DrW
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Lubbock, TX
  • 368 posts
Posted by DrW on Thursday, November 1, 2018 6:48 PM

All Santa Fe:

F3 passenger (warbonnet)

4 AB sets, representing phases 1 to 4 (3 sets ATHG, 1 set Stewart)

F3 freight

2 AB sets, phase F5 (ATHG)

F7 passenger

2 ABBA sets, representing phases 1 and 2 (ATHG)

F7 freight

1 ABBA set, 2 AB sets (all phase 1, ATHG)

FT passenger

1 AB set (DP)

FT freight

1 AB set (DP)

According to my calculations, the total is 32. All listed units represent the "non-modernized" versions; they have no lift rings, no grab irons above the windshield, no grab irons on the side of the hood. The listed units do not only represent different construction phases, but also different paint schemes. For passenger units, the length of the red "warbonnet" was shortened at some point of time, and the freight units show either the "cat whisker" (earlier) or "cigar band" (later) design. Although out of my time frame, just because I like its looks, I also own an ATHG F7 bluebonnet set.

JW

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,549 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Thursday, November 1, 2018 5:54 PM

I'm 50 now, with 45 years in this hobby.  For me, the journey has been interesting, as I was not always an F unit fan, but more of an Alco Century fan since I was 5.

For a number of reasons that do not need to be rehashed here, F units have grown on me quite a bit.  I currently have only three Stewart/Kato F-3A's with the chicken wire side grills, all nos original factory paint and lettering, the way they came: 

PRR 9501

SP black widow, no number yet

WP no number yet

Here's where I differ from some:  My current pre-orders and most planned future purchases are exclusively F units.

John

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: SE Minnesota
  • 6,845 posts
Posted by jrbernier on Thursday, November 1, 2018 5:30 PM

  Now that I think about it, here are the totals.

1 Walthers ABA set of F7's(MILW)

2 P1K F3's (C&NW)

4 Atlas/Roco FP7's (MILW)

1 Athearn F9A (MILW)

  I think that is it...maybe...

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 58 posts
Posted by RobertSchuknecht on Thursday, November 1, 2018 5:02 PM

I have an F3A and an F7B. 

PED
  • Member since
    April 2016
  • 571 posts
Posted by PED on Thursday, November 1, 2018 4:34 PM

9 A and 10 B. All Santa Fe DCC.

Paul D

N scale Washita and Santa Fe Railroad
Southern Oklahoma circa late 70's

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 36 posts
Posted by Erie Lackawanna in Georgia on Thursday, November 1, 2018 4:33 PM

First post on this site

A-B-A set of Brass F3 Phase II chicken wire

Erie Lackawanna grey maroon & yellow

I need more!

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,571 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, November 1, 2018 4:31 PM

I model the D&H, so .... zero.  Smile, Wink & Grin

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, November 1, 2018 4:08 PM

1 Stewart F3 A&B for the Northern Potomac.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, November 1, 2018 3:52 PM

I think this is correct for the STRATTON & GILLETTE... All are Stewarts with Kato drives.

.

F3 A/B set, High Fans, Freight

F3 A/A Set, Low Fans, Freight

F7 A/B/A Set, Freight

F7 A/B Set, Passenger, B unit has Steam Generator

.

That is only 9, I thought I had 11. I might have missed a set of them.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 1,855 posts
Posted by angelob6660 on Thursday, November 1, 2018 3:52 PM

California Zephyr

3 F3 Western Pacific A-B-B

3 F3 CB&Q A-B-A

4 F3 D&RGW A-B-B-A

Canadian National

2 F7 A-B (later repaint into G.N.O. Railway)

Santa  Fe

4 F7 A-B-B-A

I need to get a F3 converted to look like F7 A-B-B-A set and 2 more F7B since my locomotives were delivered in a A-B-B set.

Union Pacific

1 F3A

Amtrak

9 F40PH Phase III

I been planning on getting more F3 and F7. 

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!