Folks, I started wondering whether the FP7As on the Frisco were set up for multiple unit (MU) operations. Photographs posted by Ken Wulfert of units at Enid, OK certainly confirm that they were. http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?3544-SLSF-FP7-s-Enid-Negative-Collection&highlight=FP7 Does anyone know of dates when the FP7A units would have been set up as such? I do not believe they were delivered this way. Perhaps it coincided with the late 1950s shopping that added a Mars light and removed side skirts. (http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?4283-FP7-Mars-Lights-and-Fuel-Tank-Skirting) Best Regards,
Chris, I cannot find it in writing, but I am quite sure the Frisco FP7As were set up for multiple unit (MU) operations right from the beginning. It would not make any sense for them not to be. The idea was to have an F-unit that could run in passenger service either alone, or mated up with a steam line F9B, or with an E-unit Or to run in freight service with any of the F3s, F7s, F9Bs, GP7s, FA-1s or FB-1s, all of which had MU capability. Ken
The early diagram books are silent in this regard. However, Employee Time Table (ETT), May 20, 1951 shows in the Bridge Class ratings and in the Tonnage Class ratings that the December 1950 - February 1951 built FP7As were indeed run in multiple with other covered wagons.
All F units, from the beginning FT series, produced by EMC, later EMD, were set up for multiple unit lash-ups. That was their design intent, to replace a single steam locomotive and its maintenance costs with multiple lashed diesels "locomotive". The new multiple unit "locomotive" produced the same or greater tractive effort than the steam engine they replaced. Further, they were designed to be less dependent on continuous maintenance with its associated facilities and labor costs. As result, they were usually sold in sets; AA, AB, ABA, ABBA, etc. E units were also so equipped from the beginning.
Also E-units, FA's, F-3A'a, F-7A'a and the FP-7's were originally only set up for multiple operation on their blind ends. Tom G.
