F3 Units Verses F7 Units - Distinctive External Features Spotting Differences - Inquiry

Howdy,

I have to complete sets of F3 units and want to convert them to F7 units for use in the TWMRC's Frisco operations.

What were the external differences between the Frisco's F3 units and F7 units besides the grill on the sides?

Happy rails,

Mike Corley

 

Mike,

The easiest way to answer your request would be to obtain a copy of the October, 2006 issue of Model Railroader.

There is an excellent article in there, "Modeler's Guide to F-Units", which is well illustrated. Any chance you can get your hands on a copy of that issue?

There also is a great article in the January, 1970 issue of Extra 2200 South, "All About F Units", but that one understandably will be harder to obtain.

Briefly, stay away from trying to modify SLSF 5000 and SLSF 5001, they were unique on the Frisco, Phase 2 F3s. Their sides was largely covered with chicken wire.

The rest of the F's, SLSF 5002-5017, were Phase 3 units. They had low fans, like the F's, had a completely different dynamic brake set up than the F7s. But no worry, SLSF did not have dynamic brakes on the F3s or the F7s.

The F3s had a chicken wire grill along the top openings on the body sides. The F7s had a fabricated Farr horizontal side grill covering those top side openings. Take a look at pictures of Frisco F3s and F7s to easily see the difference.

The F7 fabricated grill is available as a part from, I think, either Details West or Detail Associates. Simply changing the side grills will make an F7 "looker" out of a F3, as long as there is no dynamic brake.

There are several other detail differences, but few will notice. Best thing to do is look at pictures of the two units and make the changes you see.

These comments apply to A-units.

Will you be doing any B units?

As long as the F3 has low fans, the side grill will be the main difference. Again, there are some other little differences.

Internally, they both had 1500 HP 16-567-B engines, but the later F7s had 1500 HP 16-567-C engines.

Ken

 

Thanks Ken,

Your comments are very helpful.

I have access to all the magazines at the Texas Western and will check them out!

I have not delved into Frisco diesels so my knowledge about them is thin.

I will be doing B units. The photographs I have of F7s in Fort Worth show full sets of ABBA units.

The F3s I have are all Athearn, so I will check the differences in photographs.

Mike C

 

Tom and Mike,

The January, 1970 issue of Extra 2200 South was issue Number 20.

The article "All About F Units" is on pages 19-21.

There also was a roster of Kansas City Southern (KCS) diesel power as of 1970 on pages 25-27, plus a technical article on page 28 on "Wheel Slip Detection".

The early issues of X2200S, those done by the Dovers in Cincinnati, OH, were a great resource, much missed.

Ken

 

I had a complete set, but after the Dovers quit publishing it, it seemed X2200S turned into just a locomotive picture magazine.

Very few of the meaty detail articles I loved, such as "All About F Units", and frequent locomotive rosters. The Dovers were very particular about the magazine, and had some very qualified assistant editors. I met the Mr. Dover when we lived in Cincinnati, 1974-1977, in a hobby shop.

Prior to our recent move to Florida, I sold all the issues except for the original ones edited by the Dovers, which I kept.

X2200S is no longer published as far as I know.

K

 

Thanks for the replies Ken.

Your help was spot on!

Mike C