Car Body Unit Backup Lights

Discussion in 'Diesel Locomotives' started by pbender, Apr 5, 2017.

  1. pbender

    pbender Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Does anyone know if any of Frisco's cab units had backup lights?

    I was looking at photos in a book on Columbus, OH railroads and thought the backup lights on NYC and B&O F units would make a neat addition, but i don't recall seeing any on Frisco cab units of any type.

    Paul
     
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  2. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Several, if not all, of the E-units had a backup light installed late in their service lives.

    Per our late, great friend Lee Buffington, an E-unit was backing down to St. Louis Union Station at dusk. In the darkness, it backed into something fouling its track. The local Frisco management issued an order to install back-up lights on the E's.

    They mounted them on either the back door, or on the bulkhead at the left of the back door. I have a couple of pictures somewhere of Frisco E's showing the light on the rear. One of them, I think is a Mike Condren slide, of the rear of an E-unit (2007?) at Ft Smith.

    Greg has that slide now as he has my slide collection. I'm not sure about the other picture, but I know it is a black and yellow shot.

    I put back-up lights on all my Frisco Proto 2K E's, using the Details West part. I think Lee told me the story in a letter. I'll try to find it.

    I doubt if any other Frisco cab units had back-up lights.

    Ken
     
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  3. Douglas wayne

    Douglas wayne Member

    I saw a F, probably 7, on the Ozark train once.

    It was a long time ago and I was a kid so I don't remember a lot of details, but I do remember the light on the back end.
     
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  4. pbender

    pbender Member Frisco.org Supporter

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  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    That's it, thanks Paul!

    I found the reference in one of Lee Buffington's letters, December 15, 1984. The accident was in 1955, and SLSF 2007 was backing up at St Louis Union Station to return to Lindenwood. It collided with a Wabash unit around Grand Avenue. The Frisco had to pay the Wabash for the unit damage, plus send the 2007 to EMD for repairs, which were done in June, 1955. Back up lights were installed - at least on the 2007!

    Lee also noted a fact I had forgotten. The E's when first purchased (E7As) were to be numbered in the 300 series. Mr. Hungerford over-ruled that, wanting them in a stand-alone series number distinctly different from the 200 and under series switchers. Ditto the F-unit cabs, hence the 2000 class and the 5000 class.

    One day I'll reproduce all my "Lee Buffington Letters". They are a great source of information you don't usually hear. I sure miss that gentleman!

    Ken
     
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  6. pbender

    pbender Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Mike Condren actually identifies that photo as being of 2016.

    http://condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco Diesels/E8-2016.html

    So that would be at least 2 that have the backup lights.

    B end images of the E-units are pretty rare. Almost all of the ones I've seen have them coupled against something, either another locomotive or a train.

    Paul
     
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  7. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    You said it.

    The only one I've seen is of 2012 switching at Clinton as shared by Tom G. here:

    Clinton sub passenger trains

    Judging from the white-outline on gold stripes, I'd say this was sometime mid-to-late 50s.

    Best Regards,
     
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  8. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Paul,

    SLSF 2016 it is.

    Somehow I had 2007 in mind, but I didn't have a copy of the picture here, so I relied on my memory. Risky!

    I wonder how many of the E's received back-up lights after the 1955 accident?

    I should have asked Lee back in December, 1984!

    Ken
     
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  9. pbender

    pbender Member Frisco.org Supporter

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