E8A - Radio Equipment Equipped Units - Inquiry

Discussion in 'E8A' started by meteor910, Jan 29, 2008.

  1. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Can anyone confirm were any of the Frisco E7A (EA7) or E8As ever fitted with cab radios?

    For example, during the last years of their SLSF service lives when they might have been sometimes involved with hauling freight.

    Thanks.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 22, 2024
  2. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    We chatted about that recently.

    I went back and looked at dozens of photographs, but I could not find any antennas.

    I am still looking.

    Tom
     
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  3. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    I have just now been looking through Frisco In Color.

    There are lots of other units with antennas, but no E units. Nearly all the F units and FA-1 units and switch engines have one kind of antenna or another. The "firecracker" and "nail" type are most common on early locomotives.

    However, some switchers and cabooses have what I would call a "police" type wire or whip antenna. The wire had a small white insulator at the bottom.

    In the book on page 47, there is a photograph of an E8A without an antenna and an FP7A with an antenna at the Ft. Smith, AR depot.

    Tom
     
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  4. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Tom,

    Thanks.

    I know the E units had no radios while in regular passenger service, but was wondering if a radio was added late in the game.

    I do not have many pictures of the E units in the Mandarin orange and white livery to look at since I despised it so much! :eek:

    I have been told Frisco tried a few E units in freight service before disposing of them.

    Does anyone know if that is the case?

    I cannot imagine the E units being much good on a Frisco freight given the hills and curves profile of the road.

    I recall from personal experience how Iron Hill slowed down the two E units pulling The Meteor during my times riding No. 9 from St. Louis Union Station to Rolla, MO.

    Ken
     
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  5. rszucco

    rszucco Member

    I was a frequent visitor to the diesel shop at Lindenwood Yard in St Louis, MO.

    I did my pharmacy internship at the Frisco Hospital. I rode in all the first generation and most second generation diesel locomotives as they were being hosteled about. No E units had any radios at the end of passenger service into St Louis which was April 1967.

    I do remember seeing E units on the Chrysler Turn between Lindenwood Yard and Valley Park, MO. Crews probably had hand held pack-sets or walkie-talkies.

    Being the frugal railroad that the Frisco was, I would almost bet no E units ever had radios after that either.

    Bob Zucco
    Sullivan, MO
     
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  6. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    My father maintained that the Frisco experimented with the E-units in freight service, but he never provided any details.

    Your account is the first that I have ever seen that was specific.

    The experiment must have been short-lived, because the units were sold or sent to EMD very shortly after the end of passenger service.
     
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  7. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I must admit that I installed a "nail" radio antenna on my P2K E8A SLSF 2020 "Big Red", my favorite.

    I knew that was wrong but did it anyway because I liked the look. I did not do the same to E8A SLSF 2016, "Citation", even though it is my second favorite P2K E8A. I also installed an antenna on my P2K E8A SLSF 2006, which is in the economy scheme with the yellow cigar band.

    I do not recall if that was a "nail" or a "firecracker" antenna. The model of SLSF 2006 is stored in a box. Again I liked the look, and figured that would look good in freight service, though I rarely ran it with a bunch of freight cars trailing. It did not look right!

    I sold my other two E8As in our 2016 estate sale, which were the second issue of the P2K E8As, SLSF 2019 and SLSF 2022. I did not like that version of P2K E8As as well, and do not remember if they were radioed up or not. All I remember of them is that I changed the horse name of SLSF 2022 to "Champion", and added only early 1950s-era details.

    No, fear not, I never considered adding an antenna to my P2K E7A, SLSF 2003, which is in "Texas Special" paint scheme. It is simply gorgeous.

    K
     
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  8. rszucco

    rszucco Member

    I was driving on Sappington Road just west of the Frisco Railroad Webster Groves depot back in 1964 or so.

    As I crossed the tracks, I looked west and saw an E unit heading towards me so I pulled over and it was pulling auto racks loaded with automobiles. Later that day I enquired at the diesel shop and was told they did not have any GP7s when the Chrysler Turn was called. But they had the 2 E units for No 9, the Meteor, so they used them.

    This was is the mid afternoon so I guess the E units were available for their regular assignment that evening.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 22, 2024
  9. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Thanks for providing the details.

    Your account seems to be an ad hoc use of the E-units.

    I have been looking for accounts or images to confirm the experimentation of the E-units in regular freight service circa 1967.
     
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  10. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Until definitive evidence of the latter, the former ad hoc scenario would be a fun little wild card to throw into one's modeled operating session.

    Send them out on a turn and get them back soon.

    Fascinating stuff in this thread from top to bottom.
     
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  11. rszucco

    rszucco Member

    I did not have my camera with me.

    What a shame, and back then I took everything for granted that it would all be around for years to come. What a mistake.

    All those happenings on the Frisco are still very vivid in my mind.

    Bob Zucco
     
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