PDA

View Full Version : Diagram Discussion



meteor910
11-15-2009, 06:01 PM
Group - Take a look at the ALCo FA1 (with EMD engine) and ALCo FB1 (with EMD engine) diagrams I recently posted. FYI, they are in groups 10a and 10b.

Notice on the FA1 diagram, SLSF 5200-5231, with EMD engines, there is a note that says "Units 5208 & 5209 have type B C engine". The diagram for the ALCo FB1's, SLSF 5300-5315, has a note that says "Units 5304 & 5305 have type B C engine".

I hadn't noticed these two notes before, and am not 100% sure what it means. Does anybody in the group know for sure the meaning of the "type B C engine" reference?

I do have a couple of clues and a possible explanation. FA1's SLSF 5208 and 5209 were the first two ALCo FA1's to be re-engined by EMD. Same story with FB1's SLSF 5304 and 5305 - they were the first two FB1's to be re-engined by EMD. Refer to the re-engine dates in Dr. Marre's "FDP", page 96.

Second clue - the EMD FT had a 567-A engine, 1350 HP, the first 567. The EMD F2 (1350 HP), and the EMD F3, F7 and FP7 (all 1500 HP) each had the 567-B engine. The EMD F9 had the 567-C engine, 1750 HP. It is stated that the FA & FB repowerings were with the 567-C, but that it was down-rated to 1500 HP from 1750 HP to mate better with the rest of the ALCo components in the FA1/FB1. I guess the SLSF also believed they fit in better with the rest of the cab unit fleet at 1500HP.

Now for my proposed "answer": I'm guessing the "type B C engine" is some sort of transition engine between the 567-B and the 567-C. EMD did that frequently - few transitions to new and improved locomotive components were ever sharply defined. EMD did not do locomotive models like GM did with their automobile models - i.e., there was a distinct line between the 1949 Chevy and the 1950 Chevy models, but the move from the F3 to the F7, or the F7 to the F9, was a transition over a period of months.

Any comments? Any better ideas?

Ken

Sirfoldalot
11-15-2009, 06:29 PM
U know - I am the last person to ask, and I am not sure what you mean by "transition"?

My explanation would be that it is a "B" for hp from a "C" model.

gna
11-16-2009, 01:05 AM
Well, sort of.

The 567 A and B models had trouble with water leaks, so EMD rebuilt them as AC and AB models, so they were much like the C models. See http://utahrails.net/loconotes/pcook-emd-567.php

meteor910
11-16-2009, 09:17 AM
Bingo! Thanks Gary! What a great information sharing group frisco.org is. I learn something new about the Frisco almost every day.

Ken