Found these in FMIG Newsletter #30, from Lee Buffington's original records: 5000, 5001, 5100, 5101 Received at Springfield on 1-15-1948, placed in service on 1-17-1948 5002, 5003, 5102, 5103 Received 6-4-1948 and placed in service on 6-5-1948. The rest of the F-3s were delivered in groups of four (A-B-B-A) on June 5, 6, 7, and 9th (1948) and immediately placed in service. The F-7s and ALCO's were all delivered in groups of three (A-B-A). Also found some notes from Mike Condren on the same topic, who noted: "By the way: 5000 and 5001 were the only two F-3A type II chicken wire variations, production of such ended in mid-1948, according to the 'Diesel Spotter's Guide.'"
It's entirely possible that the F3A Type II is the important defining point here, but after looking at gobs of F3 photos, there are numerous examples of SLSF F3's with chicken wire. I have no idea what A and Type II mean. The other option is that it refers to chicken wire all the way down between the portholes. There are only a couple I found with that variation, but there were lots with chicken wire instead of Farr air grills.
@skyraider Hi Paul. What is being referred to are the first two F3's (#5000-#5001) that came delivered with screen wire between the portholes: Subsequent F3's delivered to the Frisco were the later phase that only had screen wire along the top such as this: The rail fan community labeled the above F's with "Phase" designations, but I'm not well versed with all the ins/outs of the spotting features of the "Phases" of F3's, F7's, etc. However, hope this helps. Andre
It is interesting that the caption for the photo in the clipping refers to the four-unit set as "a" locomotive.
F units have always been my favorite diesels, followed fairly closely by high nose geeps and SDs. Good observation on the text in Andre's photo--I failed to notice that. The information I read ages ago reported the single locomotive thing as being an anti-union strategy. Since it was one locomotive, it didn't need two crews. The FT's were originally semi-permanently coupled together and were, in effect, basically one locomotive. They were sure shiny when they were new!!! If there was a locomotive that shiny on the layout it would look like a toy! Right now the only SLSF F's on our layout are an ABA set of F7s. Some compression due to the fact that I can't run a train long enough to warrant a 4 unit lashup. One of the three is a nicely weathered A unit by Tom Holley. Someday I hope to have some F3's. Does anyone know if the EMD FT demonstrators ever ran on the Frisco? They were Pullman green and yellow, and ran about everywhere else. Just 'druthers: to me, the units without the chicken wire between the portholes looked nicer, because the yellow stripe ran the entire length of the locomotive, without the break between the portholes.
An MU-consist being referred to as a single "locomotive": I've heard that it was a brotherhood thing, too. Something about either paying for additional crews per unit or additional pay per engine in the consist. It's always about money. Full wire vs top wire: I too, think the F3's with wire grills along the top only look better than those with wire also between the portholes. However, that additional wire between the portals makes for a very distinctive contrast in model types. Because of my appreciation for visual differences among like models, I have allowed for a full wire unit or two on my paper roster of my KC&G theme, and already have one such undecorated unit equipped with DCC/Sound (by Keith Robinson) and in service. Still needs to be painted, though. Painting will happen "one of these days". Andre
Andre, completely agree with the variety on the units. I like chicken wire; farr air grills; F3 round fans and F7 style fans; F3's, F7's and even FT's.
