Attached is an interesting photograph of F9A SLSF 5007. The former F3A was rebuilt into a F9A by EMD. During rebuilding is was upgraded to 1750 HP, up from 1500 HP, and equipped with dynamic brakes with the 48" fan. It is pictured here in Mandarin orange and white colors, after it was renumbered to SLSF 77. Also in the photograph is F7B SLSF 132, also in Mandarin orange and white paint and renumbered from SLSF 5132. There is something strange about this photograph. Can anybody see what I mean? Answer below. Do not peek! . . Yes!, the dynamic brake fan is missing from F9A SLSF 77. Anybody know why? Removed for servicing? Removed just prior to trade-in? Just plain removed? Yet another Frisco mystery. Ken
Ken, They must have moved the dynamic brake fan from F9A SLSF 77 and relocated it to my first Frisco model. It is a HO-scale F7A using an Athearn blue box unit. I am thinking of converting it to an FP7A for service on our Northern Division model railroad. I would like to renumber, repower and finally rectify all of the beginner mistakes I originally made. Someday.
Chris, That cannot be the right answer. The F9As, like SLSF 77 / SLSF 5007, used a 48" dynamic brake fan. The earlier F7As and FP7As that had dynamic brakes used a 36" cooling fan, same size as the radiator cooling fans. So, your model has a 36" dynamic brake fan on it. Rather than cutting up your F7A to make it into a FP7A, take a look at either the Intermountain Railway Company, okay, or Athean Genesis, really nice, FP7As. Ken
