Something good to be optimistic about: EMD F-Units Today!

[AntonioFP45]

I went to www.railpictures.net and typed in "F7". 19 pages of Photos!

What made me feel like this was a pleasant breath of fresh air is that many of the shots are of beautifully painted F-Units that actually run today throughout various states in America! Good to know that these pieces of American engineering and history are not extinct.

One of my dreams is to visit tourist and museum lines and ride excursion trains and specials that are pulled by E and F units.

It's wonderul to know that this is still possible! I hope that some of you here have already had the experience.

High Greens! [:)][:D][;)][8)][4:-)][tup]

[CSXrules4eva]

That's pretty cool. I wish I could see some F units in my area up and running. There is a F9 that SEPTA has just sitting in their train yard. It's all blue and has Southeastern PennsylvaniaTransportation Authourity in yellow letters on the side.

[Randy Stahl]

I am also optimistic about the F units under my control. I found a photo of my F-3 at the same site : www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=85187
Randy

[Anonymous]

The Naugatuck Railroad, which operates excursion trains on the weekends, uses an FL-9:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=32749
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=32750

[espeefoamer]

[:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]

[athelney]

West Coast Railway Assn operates 2 F units on their summer excursion out of Prince Rupert BC Canada for cruise passengers visiting from ships on the Alaska run .Ex CPR units are # 4069 & #1404 together with an open car and several cars from Rocky Mtn Railtours. Will run again next year from May - Sept .

[Anonymous]

Randy - nice nice units.

I'm really fond of the F-7's in B&M paint up in North Conway.

There appears to be about 700 pics of various models of E-units as well.

- - Stack

[dwil89]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

I went to www.railpictures.net and typed in "F7". 19 pages of Photos!

What made me feel like this was a pleasant breath of fresh air is that many of the shots are of beautifully painted F-Units that actually run today throughout various states in America! Good to know that these pieces of American engineering and history are not extinct.

One of my dreams is to visit tourist and museum lines and ride excursion trains and specials that are pulled by E and F units.

It's wonderul to know that this is still possible! I hope that some of you here have already had the experience.

High Greens! [:)][:D][;)][8)][4:-)][tup]

Bennett Levin did a beautiful job restoring 2 of the 3 ex-Conrail Business Train E-8's back into their original Pennsy Livery. #5711 and 5809. They pulled the Altoona Railfest Excursions around Horseshoe Curve for a few years, and often pull Excursions and Specials around the Northeast.....They were a static display for Altoona Railfest this year, and I took a nice appreciative closeup look at them on display.....Alot classier than the current Amtrak Genesis units in my opinion. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

[daveklepper]

Doesn't Metro North still have some well-maintained FL-9's in standby service, including one or more in the McGinnis NH scheme? Was not one specially painted in the New York Central lightning stripe two-tone grey and white scheme for a movie or special trip? I think I remember a posting or possibly a friend Emailed me a recent shot, this past summer, of one on a Danbury or Waterbury train.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Doesn't Metro North still have some well-maintained FL-9's in standby service, including one or more in the McGinnis NH scheme? Was not one specially painted in the New York Central lightning stripe two-tone grey and white scheme for a movie or special trip? I think I remember a posting or possibly a friend Emailed me a recent shot, this past summer, of one on a Danbury or Waterbury train.

They do have few FL-9's left in service. You might want to read this for more information: http://www.trainweb.org/locollection/Funit.html

Here's my photo of specially painted New York Central FL-9 2013: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=72608

[Anonymous]

CSXrules: Where's the SEPTA F?

[jdolan]

The Illinois Railway Museum has several E and F units in use on thier own operating railroad.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Again, try http://www.railpictures.net/ and enter the keyword "Australia". You'll get a large variety of stuff including a fair amount of bulldog noses.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

I am also optimistic about the F units under my control. I found a photo of my F-3 at the same site : www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=85187
Randy

Nice! Must be one heck of an experience! Randy, have you posted any topics on your experiences in owning and operating the F-unit?

Thanks!

[daveklepper]

Thanks Guilford 350! Great photos.

[Randy Stahl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

I am also optimistic about the F units under my control. I found a photo of my F-3 at the same site : www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=85187
Randy

Nice! Must be one heck of an experience! Randy, have you posted any topics on your experiences in owning and operating the F-unit?

Thanks!

I havn't operated it yet, as soon as I do I will let you know.
Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by athelney

West Coast Railway Assn operates 2 F units on their summer excursion out of Prince Rupert BC Canada for cruise passengers visiting from ships on the Alaska run .Ex CPR units are # 4069 & #1404 together with an open car and several cars from Rocky Mtn Railtours. Will run again next year from May - Sept .

I was up in Squamish about a month and a half ago, and they had one of their F units on the WCRA property.

CP colors, but I forget the Unit #, beautiful locomotive, they had it idling when I was there, and boy did it ever hum.

[ShaunCN]

GEXR (goderich & exeter railway) has two railink FP9's runnig on regular freight service and snowplough runs in the winter, #1400 and #1401.

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=74753

[athelney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

QUOTE: Originally posted by athelney

West Coast Railway Assn operates 2 F units on their summer excursion out of Prince Rupert BC Canada for cruise passengers visiting from ships on the Alaska run .Ex CPR units are # 4069 & #1404 together with an open car and several cars from Rocky Mtn Railtours. Will run again next year from May - Sept .

I was up in Squamish about a month and a half ago, and they had one of their F units on the WCRA property.

CP colors, but I forget the Unit #, beautiful locomotive, they had it idling when I was there, and boy did it ever hum.

It was #4069 -- the other unit #1404 is down at the Southern shops for electrical repairs . look out for it when it's repaired - they may run it in on Southern tracks .

[ckape]

Try searching railpictures for cliffs-erie, and you'll find some nicely-painted F9s pulling taconite last September and October.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Again, try http://www.railpictures.net/ and enter the keyword "Australia". You'll get a large variety of stuff including a fair amount of bulldog noses.

Yes, Australian railroads have some really neat looking units. If I'm not mistaken, the ones that resemble "E units" are referred to as "A-series" units. A year back Peter M636C made a good, well detailed post about them when I asked about these units. I didn't see any pictures of Australian versions of F units, though I assumed they had them.

If Peter is reading checking these threads, he may come in with some more info.[;)]

[M636C]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Again, try http://www.railpictures.net/ and enter the keyword "Australia". You'll get a large variety of stuff including a fair amount of bulldog noses.

Yes, Australian railroads have some really neat looking units. If I'm not mistaken, the ones that resemble "E units" are referred to as "A-series" units. A year back Peter M636C made a good, well detailed post about them when I asked about these units. I didn't see any pictures of Australian versions of F units, though I assumed they had them.

If Peter is reading checking these threads, he may come in with some more info.[;)]

Antonio,

The axle load of F units is too high for normal Australian track, so we generally had six axle units, mechanically similar to SD9s but weighing about 120 (long) tons. We did get two F-7s, ex the Western Pacific for the construction of the Mt Newman line, now run by BHP Billiton. One is preserved in a park in Port Hedland (just a shell) but the other is in full working order with the Pilbara Railway Historical Society in Karratha.

So, we only ever had two,but they're both still around.

Peter

[robscaboose]

The Monticello Railway Road Museum in Monticello Illinois have an E & F unit. (The E is privately owned. You can purchase throttle time if you want. Check our wesite for more info

Rob

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Again, try http://www.railpictures.net/ and enter the keyword "Australia". You'll get a large variety of stuff including a fair amount of bulldog noses.

Yes, Australian railroads have some really neat looking units. If I'm not mistaken, the ones that resemble "E units" are referred to as "A-series" units. A year back Peter M636C made a good, well detailed post about them when I asked about these units. I didn't see any pictures of Australian versions of F units, though I assumed they had them.

If Peter is reading checking these threads, he may come in with some more info.[;)]

Antonio,

The axle load of F units is too high for normal Australian track, so we generally had six axle units, mechanically similar to SD9s but weighing about 120 (long) tons. We did get two F-7s, ex the Western Pacific for the construction of the Mt Newman line, now run by BHP Billiton. One is preserved in a park in Port Hedland (just a shell) but the other is in full working order with the Pilbara Railway Historical Society in Karratha.

So, we only ever had two,but they're both still around.

Peter

Do you know that the WP numbers of these locomotives were? Were they repainted? Thanks.

[tree68]

The Central NY Chapter of the NRHS has a couple of E's that make it out on the rails from time to time. I had a chance to see them in motion several years ago, and toured one of them at the Syracuse train show a couple years back.

[Anonymous]

Canon City & Royal Gorge RR Canon City, CO

We operate two F-7A's from C&NW Heritage. Cab rides are available every trip.

[M636C]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Again, try http://www.railpictures.net/ and enter the keyword "Australia". You'll get a large variety of stuff including a fair amount of bulldog noses.

Yes, Australian railroads have some really neat looking units. If I'm not mistaken, the ones that resemble "E units" are referred to as "A-series" units. A year back Peter M636C made a good, well detailed post about them when I asked about these units. I didn't see any pictures of Australian versions of F units, though I assumed they had them.

If Peter is reading checking these threads, he may come in with some more info.[;)]

Antonio,

The axle load of F units is too high for normal Australian track, so we generally had six axle units, mechanically similar to SD9s but weighing about 120 (long) tons. We did get two F-7s, ex the Western Pacific for the construction of the Mt Newman line, now run by BHP Billiton. One is preserved in a park in Port Hedland (just a shell) but the other is in full working order with the Pilbara Railway Historical Society in Karratha.

So, we only ever had two,but they're both still around.

Peter

Do you know that the WP numbers of these locomotives were? Were they repainted? Thanks.

The only details to hand are the EMD serial numbers, 8970 and 10805.

One unit is the "other end" of a set from a US preserved locomotive (maybe 907C?)

They were repainted to red with a yellow stripe.

Peter

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

The Central NY Chapter of the NRHS has a couple of E's that make it out on the rails from time to time. I had a chance to see them in motion several years ago, and toured one of them at the Syracuse train show a couple years back.

Peter M636C, as always thanks for the info, Amigo!

Tree68. Are these the E units that are painted in the Erie Lackawanna or Conrail paint schemes?

Thanks![:)][:D][;)][8)]

[bluepuma]

Rode a train in West Virgina, it had what I saw as F7A/B and a FA1 painted like WM colors, rode a few hours and saw the front door open and someone come through it when the locos ran around to the back of the train for the last of the ride up the hill, then back down. Other days except Thursday, Friday, Saturday, the train is a working short line serving wood or coal along te Cheat River. I knew I had an Alco looking at the trucks since I had just gotten a N scale model FA/FB in UP a few weeks before that trip. Rode behind another F unit at Union IL a couple of years before.

There the PCC streetcar was my favorite ride, I never rode one in Los Angeles as a kid.

Loved the F7A/B units on the Sunset Line in Puente as they worked the cattle feedlot at Puente Ave. Most other units are just locos, give me a A/B any day over a AA.

- Puma