From Frisco's All Aboard, February, 1948: Shiny new locomotives shortly after their arrival from EMD at Lindenwood Yard in St Louis are being made ready for their very first trip down the Eastern Division. This is the Frisco's very first F3 ABBA set: SLSF 5100, 5101, 5001, 5000. Note the chicken wire covering all the openings in the side of the cabs on the two A-units, and that the yellow stripe does not continue under the chicken wire. Starting with F3A SLSF 5002, the F3A sides had louvers in line with the portholes, a continuous yellow stripe, and long chicken wire mesh grills running down the sides at the top covering only the several openings up there Note the unit numbers have not yet been applied to the sides of the bodies, the two stock single "blat" horns, one facing each direction, and of course, no nose multiple unit (MU) electrical cable connections, no exhaust spark arrestors, no radio antenna and no roof beacon yet. These items were a way down the road from January, 1948 when these beauties were placed in service. I think the ring around the headlight was silver, either stainless or chrome. And, look how shiny new they are. I hope the top brass fellow inspecting the pilot did not get fingerprint smudges on it! Should you want to model either 5000 or 5001, the chicken wire body was made in HO by Stewart. They are on eBay now and then, and may still be available as a part from Bowser. I have two of them, but have yet to do anything with them. The Stewart body shells are quite nice, but they do have dynamic brakes. Easier to remove from the F3 than from the F7. Ken Edit 3/7/2024: Note the All Aboard comment referring to the 6000 horsepower "locomotive". It would be a couple of years before the railroad and industry realized the true flexibility and utility of individual locomotive units. Note the forward facing horn on the cab roof still is still covered. The horns and some other openings were sealed with cardstock and tape for shipping from the factory to the railroad. Also, the benzyl edges of the headlight are not chrome or stainless steel. The rim edge is painted yellow, similar to how the car body side porthole window surrounds are highlighted with paint. Added additional photograph narrative. MKD
