Can anyone confirm - were any of the Frisco E8's, or the E7's, 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
We chatted about that recently and I went back and looked at dozens of photos, but I couldn't find any antennas!!?! I'm still looking... Tom
I've just now been looking through "Frisco In Color." There are lots of units with antennas, but no E's. Nearly all the F's and FA's and switch engines have one kind of antenna or another. The "firecracker" and "nail" type most common. However some switchers and cabooses have what I'd call a "police" type antenna (wire with small white insulator at the bottom). On page 47, there's a photo of an E-8 (no antenna) and an FP-7 (with antenna) at the Ft. Smith depot. Tom
Tom - Thanks. I know the E's had no radios while in regular passenger service, but was wondering if a radio was added late in the game. I don't have many pics of the E's in the red-orange/white livery to look at since I despised it so much! I've been told SLSF tried a few E's in freight service before disposing of them. Does anyone know if that is the case? I can't imagine the E's 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 Racehorses pulling The Meteor during my times riding No. 9 from StL Union Station to Rolla. Ken
I was a frequent visitor to the diesel shop at Lindenwood yard in St Louis....I did my pharmacy internship at the Frisco Hospital ...I rode in all the 1st generation and most 2nd generation diesel locos 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.....being the frugal RR that the Frisco was, I would almost bet no E units ever had radios...after that either.....Bob Zucco Sullivan, Mo. PS, I do remember seeing E units on the Chrysler Turn between Lindenwood and Valley Park...crews probably had handi-talkies
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 psgr service.
I must admit that I installed a "nail" radio antenna on my P2K E8 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 E8 SLSF 2016 , "Citation", even though it is my second favorite P2K E8. I also installed an antenna on my P2K SLSF 2006, which is in the economy scheme with the yellow cigar band. Don't recall if that was a "nail" or a "firecracker" antenna (2006 is 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. Didn't look right! I sold my other two E8's in our 2016 estate sale, which were the second issue of the P2K E8's, SLSF 2019 and SLSF 2022. I didn't like that version of P2K E8's as well, and don't remember if they were radioed up or not. All I remember of them is that I changed the horse name of 2022 to "Champion", and added only early 1950's-era details. K ps - No, fear not, I never considered adding an antenna to my P2K E7, SLSF 2003, which is in "Texas Special" decor and is simply gorgeous.
I was driving on sappington road just west of the frisco rr Webster Groves depot back in 1964 or so and 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 didn't have any gp7 s when the Chrysler turn was called but had the 2 e units for the meteor #9 so they used them....this was is the mid afternoon so I guess the e units were available for their regular assignment that evening....
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.
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 'em back soon. Fascinating stuff in this thread from top to bottom.
I didn't 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
