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Has anyone custom built a 2 faced F locomotive? (Victoria RR)

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Has anyone custom built a 2 faced F locomotive? (Victoria RR)
Posted by davefr on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 6:02 PM

I stumbled on some images of double ended F locomtives used in Victoria.  I think they're really pretty cool.  Has anyone built one?  I have plenty of HO F shells and might want to give it a try. I just haven't figured out a way to get a nice clean shell to model one like this. Splicing two shells halves together would probably look silly. Just brainstorming feasibility.

 

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Posted by wrench567 on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 8:16 PM

  I have seen them in brass. That would be a monumental build. You would need trucks and a frame too. Liking the oversized portholes.

    Pete.

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Posted by ndbprr on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 8:18 PM

not a direct answer  but a GP7 is the roughly the same legnth and I put an F cab on one replacing the short hood and cab.

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Posted by Southgate 2 on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 9:13 PM

ndbprr

not a direct answer  but a GP7 is the roughly the same legnth and I put an F cab on one replacing the short hood and cab.

 

Do you have a picture of that? I'd like to see it.

Those double end locos in the OP's pictures have 6 axles, possibly a double end E unit?

Dan

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Posted by mvlandsw on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 9:29 PM

I did one in the mid 1970's using the Globe/Athearn all plastic dummy units. I had cut the rear end doors off to use on Hobbytown Alco FA units and spliced two of the F7 shells into a double ended unit. I kept the Blomberg 4 wheel trucks and the standard fuel tank.

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Posted by OldEngineman on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 9:42 PM
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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 10:24 PM

I'd use E8/E9 shells and change out the sideframes for Flexicoils.  These are Victorian B60, one of the best Australian locomotives over the years.

The successor class is notable for having the angular carbody of a typical EMD cowl unit with the E-unit-style bulldog nose.  That was what the proper follow-on to the E9 should have been...

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Posted by Morpar on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 11:13 PM

I picked up one of the Auscision models of one of these while in Sydney a few weeks ago. As I was told these locos were basically an SD7 with the double-ended F-unit bodies. Casula Hobbies had 2 of these locos when I was there, both were DCC but no sound.

Good Luck, Morpar

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Posted by davefr on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 9:36 AM

Thanks for the replies.  I've ruled out trying to piece together shell parts.  I think I'll search for an Auscision B61 in Bernie Baker livery.  Do Auscision models ever make it over to the US.  They sure look nice.

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Posted by mikeGTW on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 11:09 AM

Years ago I made a Athearn GP 35 and a F unit combo  the nose was the F unit  

It used a SD truck on the rear and standard GP truck on the front

Anyone I showed it to laughed said never happen    well it did on my rr

It runs just as well as any of the hundred or so other engines I have

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Posted by Morpar on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 1:01 PM

Casula Hobbies (Sydney) only had the Vic Teacup scheme locomotive (B83) left after my visit. None of the other hobby shops in the Sydney area had any of these locos available when we were there at the end of January. The exchange rate favors the US dollar right now, and I know they will ship to the states. Not the paint scheme you want, but it may be your best option. Shoot them an email and see what you can do. I spent some time chatting with the owner and he is a great guy. Good luck!

Good Luck, Morpar

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Posted by davefr on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 3:19 PM

Morpar

Casula Hobbies (Sydney) only had the Vic Teacup scheme locomotive (B83) left after my visit. None of the other hobby shops in the Sydney area had any of these locos available when we were there at the end of January. The exchange rate favors the US dollar right now, and I know they will ship to the states. Not the paint scheme you want, but it may be your best option. Shoot them an email and see what you can do. I spent some time chatting with the owner and he is a great guy. Good luck!

 

 

Thank you!

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 5:21 PM

I suspect you could start with a Rapido EF-3 electric locomotive like the New Haven used to run.  These models have F-unit cabs at either end and six axles each.  You would probably want to remove the pantographs and some other roof details, and maybe either replace the roof with another F-unit roof or get some detail parts and scratch it.  But that's easier than trying to splice two whole bodies together.  I think Rapido still makes these, so they're not going to be cheap, but you only need one of these and the engine will work when you get and will have DCC.  Something to consider.

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

DrW
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Posted by DrW on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 7:08 PM

Locomotives very similar to the two-ended "F-type" Victorian Railway B unit were also produced in Europe by NOHAB in Sweden and mainly sold to the Danish, Norwegian and Hungarian State Railways (DSB, NSB, MAV). They appear to have a lower nose and larger windscreens than F units, but are otherwise very similar. Several of them are still in use today (although none by the original owner).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euswRJJ1MgM&ab_channel=HD1080ide

Hungarian NOHAB M61

HO models produced by Roco several years ago seem to be largely sold out. However, PIKO announced models a year ago, and they should now be in production. There are several US importers of PIKO models.

https://www.piko.de/DE/index.php/en/piko-latest-news/model-presentations/1937-h0-expert-diesel-locomotive-nohab-52480ff.html

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Posted by Da Stumer on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 7:50 PM

Fun fact on the NOHABs - Two have been painted up in American roadnames.

-Peter. Mantua collector, 3D printing enthusiast, Korail modeler.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 8:36 PM

I think Baldwin was the only American builder who made "streamlined" dual cab diesels.  There were about a half dozen for CNJ commuter service.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_DR-6

 

DrW
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Posted by DrW on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 9:22 PM

Here is some lovely video recording of a NOHAB unit still in service in Germany. At the time of the video (2022), the locomotive and the EMD 567 prime mover were 57 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb2I78wadJc&ab_channel=OHEFilmerJens

It is laudable that the current owner (AltmarkRail) is aware of the history of these engines. The pictures on both sides of the body show that it had been one of the Norwegian NOHABs.

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 11:34 PM

Didn't see an "F", so how do they know which end the front is?

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Posted by Attuvian1 on Thursday, February 29, 2024 1:47 AM

maxman

Didn't see an "F", so how do they know which end the front is?

 
Old Engineman (above) posts the e-ad for the models made by Auscision.  About a third of the way down on this spread is a nice line drawing/profile of the loco.  It indicates that the "A" end is the one with the battery box immediately behind the (leading) truck.  I'd capture and post it here if I had have my wits about me to handle the process. Tongue Tied  Perhaps someone more savvy with attachments will do so. (It appears that the drawing can be isolated from the ad)
 
John (of Attu) 
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Posted by maxman on Thursday, February 29, 2024 7:28 AM

Thanks.  I guess they couldn't make it easier by making the Battery end the "B" end, could they?  I think I like the "F" method.

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Posted by Attuvian1 on Thursday, February 29, 2024 10:04 AM

maxman

Thanks.  I guess they couldn't make it easier by making the Battery end the "B" end, could they?  I think I like the "F" method.

 
Well, Bear is from Down Under.  Perhaps he can provide a rationale. and perhaps even by means of a Beartoon Bow.  Can't recall seeing one this week.  It's like the Diner's pie case being empty. Sad
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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, February 29, 2024 11:23 AM

In a 'real life' kitbash, GN Y-1 electric 5011 was damaged in a wreck. GN replaced the boxcab style body by buying two FT-A unit bodies from EMD and splicing them together. 

 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzEKjj9Spy4FmHNQl8t20xFfZ8XfJ_kJq73tXvWXZW1DfQmAuywmFyWf11qUJQ7DrMppMv3xiCvPt8nWICa3KD3Ec7Xh_mmgHHlavdldfAkEv8KlWl7gMQtQnZZpLuB4QFxbE2bI1Knk/s1875/245796157_10166238421805529_6591650895093828818_n.jpg

http://www.bigbendrailroadhistory.com/2021/12/gn-5011-at-wenatchee.html

 

Stix
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Posted by xdford on Saturday, March 2, 2024 1:06 AM

As to whether anyone in the US ever built one,  I remember seeing an article in MR on a club layout that had an electric line and a double ended F unit with pantographs was powering a passenger train on it.

The conversion to a Victorian Railway B class was done here in Australia with 2 F bodies (Athearn or Globe) spliced together before Lima produced their B class for the market here in the late 70s/early 80s.  An Athearn SD9 chassis was the preferred mechanism and could be fitted to the Lima body with minimal grinding of the frame.  The wheel spacing was very close.

Because of the smaller loading gauge, the radiator fans on the B class ( which was mechanically an F3 -  E units had two 12 cylinder motors while the B had one V16 567) were placed centrally as a group of 4 in the middle of the body.  

I am not sure which the A end was but BOTH ends HAD DYNAMIC BRAKE FANS th  and equipment.  AS REPORTED EARLIER, the A end was AT THE END WHERE THE BATTERY BOX WAS ONE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.  

I dug out the book "The ML2 story", the requirement of lower axle loads AND 6 TRACTION MOTORS for the B class effectively spawned the development of the SD7 and 6 motor trucks.  ML2 was the designation of the B class by licensee for EMD, Clyde Engineering where as ML1 was the designation for the Commonwealth Railways GM1 class which were A1A-A1A for the first 11 units.  ML  =  Main Line. There was an ML3 loco which was a single ended similar loco built for Pakistan's North Western Railway by Clyde.  Victorian, Commonwealth and New South Wales Railways also had variations of those as well but they were referred to as A7's.

The CAPS are my own edit marks,  not yelling at you all!

Hope this helps,

Cheers from Australia

Trevor

 

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 11:14 AM

Sure looks like the VR B Class was another victim of the EMD Styling Department. Check out this Erie E or F unit vs the VR livery

 

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Posted by xdford on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 6:45 PM

A number of Australian schemes were copied or derived from US schemes

New South Wales early schemes  =  Santa Fe freight with Red rather than Blue

Victoria -  Erie as noted. When Victorian Railway became Vline, the first scheme was similar to the ICG  Grey and Orange.

South Australia  -  Mainline 900 and 930 classes were painted like Southern Pacific short lied Golden State and Overland Schemes

Commonwealth Raiiways  -  Maroon and White painted similary to Atlantic Coast Line Purple and White scheme

Silverton Tramway -  painted their 3 Alco units similarly to CB&Q Chinese Vermillion and White scheme.

Cheers from Australia

Trevor

 

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