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14 replies

FT, F2, F3 etc diesels

rrmanrrmanOGR Forum Member

Bought and thoroughly read and re-read the Spring 2015 Classic Trains magazine that covers the history of EMD's masterpiece.

 

So questions to you RR dieselophiles:

 

I did not see any reference as to why these were named F units.  I know there were the E unit predecessors so F makes sense. But what were A,B,C,D units, as I don't recall reading any units with these letters?  I know there were diesel "A" unit cabs, "B" unit boosters and several RR used "C" for a trailing cab unit.

 

And finally, why was the first F unit #103 named as FT series and not F1.  What did T stand for?

 

Or maybe just point me to an internet source for the answers.

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RO Ray of sunshineOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Can't speak for all railroads, but many of the CB&Q early F units were ordered from EMD with draw bars.

 

So an FT ABA set would be numbered 150-A, 150-B and 150-C. The B unit was 150-B whereas the 2 A units were numbered 150-A and the other 150 -C.

When it came to E-8 or E-9's, the Q NEVER had a "B" unit. Several pairs of A units would be numbered as a pair such as 9938A and B. 

 

Ray

StuartStuartOGR Forum Member

The original Winton 201 series diesels used an Alphabetic system based on the horsepower for the model designation.  This carried over to the FT model.

 

FT = Fourteen hundred horsepower Twin (The FT was 1350 HP, so EMC rounded up, not down and EMC originally intended the FT to be sold as an A/B set).

E = Eighteen hundred horsepower

NC/NC1 = Nine hundred horsepower - cast frame

NW/NW1 = Nine hundred horsepower - welded frame

SC = Six hundred  horsepower - cast frame

SW - Six hundred horsepower - welded frame

 

After the 567 became standard the letters simple became the model designation, regardless of horsepower

 

F = Freight

FP = Freight/Passenger

BL = Branchline

GP = General Purpose

SD = Special Duty

SW - Switcher

MP - Multiple Purpose

TR - Transfer

 

Stuart

 

 

 

Last edited by Stuart
HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Originally Posted by Stuart:

The original Winton 201 series diesels used an Alphabetic system based on the horsepower for the model designation.  This carried over to the FT model.

 

FT = Fourteen hundred horsepower Twin (The FT was 1350 HP, so EMC rounded up, not down and EMC originally intended the FT to be sold as an A/B set).

 

Not correct. The "F" was for Freight and the "T" was for "Twenty seven hundred horse power". EMC did NOT round anything up! The FT "sections" were draw-bar connected together, totaling 2700 HP plus designed to fit on a 90/100 foot turntable, just lik the 4-8-4 steam locomotives if the late 1930s.

 

E = Eighteen hundred horsepower

NC/NC1 = Nine hundred horsepower - cast frame

NW/NW1 = Nine hundred horsepower - welded frame

SC = Six hundred  horsepower - cast frame

SW - Six hundred horsepower - welded frame

 

After the 567 became standard the letters simple became the model designation, regardless of horsepower

 

F = Freight

FP = Freight/Passenger

BL = Branchline

GP = General Purpose

SD = Special Duty

SW - Switcher

MP - Multiple Purpose

TR - Transfer

 

Stuart

 

 

 

 

HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Originally Posted by Stuart:

As for the demonstrator being number 103 I believe that was the serial number or order number for the set.

 

Original builder photos actually show the FT demonstrator set carring road numbers 1030 &1031, which was apparently the internal "order/engineering/budget number of that time. Prior to departing on the demonstrator tour, the set was renumbered to 103.  

 

Later EMD demonstrators, such as the SD7, SD24, GP20 and GP30, used the serial numbers as the locomotive numbers.

 

Stuart

 

 

PingmanPingmanOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by rdunniii:
Originally Posted by Pingman:
Originally Posted by rdunniii:

I got a kick out the FP7 chapter that completely ignored the most iconic 4 FP7s that pulled the CZ.

What "FP7 chapter" are you referring to? 

Chapter 7, starting on page 56, "This Bulldog get no Respect".

Thanks for the clarification.  I was not familiar with the source the OP referenced, and my confusion was the notion of a magazine article organized by chapters.  Sounds like a source I should buy.

 

I have Jeff Wilson's F-Units:  The diesels that did it.  He supplies fairly obvious cosmetic difference among the F7, FP7, and FP9 models.

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