EMD early engines series

[johncolley]

We see almost all the E-series locos but what about F's and GP's? We see FT's, F3's, and F7's, but don't see F2's, 4's, 5',s 6's, or 8's. Same with GP's we only see 7's and 9's.

[rrinker]

Actually there were a few F2's, early production F3's

My wild guess is that passenger locos were more like cars - back in those days, cars changed every year, not 6-8 year runs of the same model like today. Being int he public eye,t he passenger train got all the latest and greatest. A freight hauler, as long as it was doing the work required and didn;t need excessive servicing - it wasn't economical to upgrade on a regular basis. The new model had to do something significantly better for a railroad to invest that kind of money. It probably wasn't for passenger power either, in terms of passenger revenue miles, but there is the intangible element of public goodwill.

--Randy

[ndbprr]

GP7 was the first EMD freight offering with the exception of the BL-2 bought by only a very few railroads so you are seeing the original and remarkably almost 60 years after introduction. Many early F units were upgraded to later models or turned back in as horsepower increased. Until the 80's EMD made a living replacing three units with two of equal horsepower. F units were not fun for crews to switch with and most of the models you mention have less HP than a GP-7.

[Anonymous]

EMD's service literature shows some of the very late F3s as being considered F5s. The GP7 is the equivalent of the F7 in engine and electricals while the GP9 is the equivalent of the F9.

[cspmo]

QUOTE: GP7 was the first EMD freight offering

The FT was the first EMC freight offering

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

We see almost all the E-series locos but what about F's and GP's? We see FT's, F3's, and F7's, but don't see F2's, 4's, 5',s 6's, or 8's. Same with GP's we only see 7's and 9's.

John,
[:I]not sure what track you're on but the reason you do not 'see' any of those loco type numbers is that they were developmental or 'evolutionary' interims and not deemed worthy or significant of 'public release' or sale.

This is quite usual in engineering, product or service design and the fact that 'gaps' appear in numbering sequences is purely administrative and reasonable.
As to what may have occurred 'in-between' shows by what is 'saleable' later- new shapes, speeds, features, engines, electrical or whatever teh marketplace deems desirable.

The obscurity of what is an F3 or 'deemed' an F5 [after the fact by fabrication of enthusiasts] or developed by engineers [the Dash-2 series debates of electrical improvements and changes] when contained inside an 'anonymous' shell of another type becomes the big debate.

According to the 'rosters' the D&RGW only bought 4 F9A's, so thats all I can have right? Wrong. An FT 'A' wreck was rebuilt with an F9 carbody added- so what was it- an FTA or an F9A? The number was the original, as were its guts apparently. Since it was outshopped with a new paint scheme, it returned to its 'road family -BBA' units and they were given the new clothes as well! So it looked like an F9A/FTB/FTB/FTA consist. Gotta love a road that ...[:p]
regards,
dave

[ndbprr]

GP-7 was the first road switcher. yes the FT was the first freight loco but it belongs in the group with the F units not the GP's

[Bullitt406]

QUOTE: Originally posted by drgwrails

According to the 'rosters' the D&RGW only bought 4 F9A's, so thats all I can have right? Wrong. An FT 'A' wreck was rebuilt with an F9 carbody added- so what was it- an FTA or an F9A? The number was the original, as were its guts apparently. Since it was outshopped with a new paint scheme, it returned to its 'road family -BBA' units and they were given the new clothes as well! So it looked like an F9A/FTB/FTB/FTA consist.

What Locomotive is this? An FT into a F9 seems farfetched. I could see an F7 rebuilt as an F9, but not an FT.

Go here for a story on the fabled F5:

http://utahrails.net/drgw/rg-f5.php

Josh

[Bullitt406]

The only D&RGW FT engine that was rebuilt that I could find was the 548A or 5481 which was wrecked and rebuilt as an F7. All other FT sets were traded in on GP30/GP35 engines.

Here the Quote:

D&RGW 5481 was wrecked on 5 December 1950 at Gore, Colo.; wreck damage repaired by EMD, completed with an F7A car body in March 1951; first unit painted in the new gold and silver with four black stripes paint scheme. (F7As 5701-5764 and F7Bs 5702-5753 were the first new units in the new scheme, delivered in June 1952.)

Josh

[espeefoamer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

We see almost all the E-series locos but what about F's and GP's? We see FT's, F3's, and F7's, but don't see F2's, 4's, 5',s 6's, or 8's. Same with GP's we only see 7's and 9's.

F2s were very rare and were identical to early F3s.They had the same horsepower as an FT.There never was any such thing as an F4,6 or 8.The GP series started with GP7,and ran 9,18(looked like a late GP9),20,30,35,and GP40.

[Anonymous]

What Locomotive is this? An FT into a F9 seems farfetched. I could see an F7 rebuilt as an F9, but not an FT.
Go here for a story on the fabled F5:
http://utahrails.net/drgw/rg-f5.php
Josh

[Bullitt406]

I just like the interface of Utahrails better than many of the other websites out there.