I just read the current issue of L&N Magazine, March 2009, Vol 5, #1, the fine publication of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society. In it is a nice color picture of L&N 395, an EMD repowered FB-1, looking pretty spiffy in gray and yellow livery, page 9. The caption claims this is a former Frisco FB-1m, repowered by SLSF/EMD with a 16-567-B. The Frisco-applied lifting spark arrestors are visible and are still black. The story describes how this unit was used as a substitute in a L&N train that normally was powered by a set of five GP30s. On the day in question, they only had four GP30s available, so the FB-1m was put in the consist in the trailing position. It apparently worked out OK, though the story notes that the old Alco was leaking fuel. L&N was a buyer of used locomotives from other roads, and for sure, bought some surplus Frisco E7A (EA7) and E8As. I was not aware, however, that they bought any SLSF FA-1 or FB-1 units. Looking in Dr. Marre's Frisco Diesel Power, all the FB-1's, repowered or not, are shown as having been traded in to either EMD or GE in the mid-to late 1960s, except one in 1963. It is presumed, then, that the L&N must have purchased the used unit from one of these two builders. I would be curious as to what SLSF unit numbers made it into L&N service. Does anyone in the group have any details on Frisco FB-1s on the L&N? Does anyone have an L&N diesel roster that might refer to the Frisco unit numbers? All we can tell from the L&N 395 picture is that it definitely has been repowered by EMD. Ken
It has been years, so I cannot put a date on it at the moment, but TRAINS magazine ran a 2-part article on the FAs. It included tabular info with regard to who owned what and when. It also listed dispositions. A photo of an L&N, nee Frisco, FA was included in the article. I will look for the article.
The model railroad magazine index lists the following Trains articles about FAs from June/July 1975. http://index.mrmag.com/ Are they the ones you're thinking of? The Million-Miles-Before-overhaul Diesel Trains, June 1975, page 22 Alco's big bid to be best (ALCO, DIESEL, FA, FA1, FA2, "INGLES, J. DAVID", ROSTER, ENGINE, LOCOMOTIVE, TRN) The Diesel That Didn't (Quite) Do It Trains, July 1975, page 22 Alco's big bid to be best (ALCO, DIESEL, FA, FA1, FA2, "INGLES, J. DAVID", ENGINE, LOCOMOTIVE, TRN) FA Finale Trains, July 1975, page 44 Last FAs in service on Burlington Northern (ALCO, BN, DIESEL, FA, FA1, "SCHAFER, MIKE", SP&S, ENGINE, LOCOMOTIVE, TRN)
Well at least the FA's, Frisco's especially, "looked" rugged. They have done the million miles on model railroad layouts. Tom
They certainly did, the cab ALCo's, both FA-1 and FB-1s and PA-1 and PB-1s, sure looked good. I still like them better than the EMDs. My dad got me a Lionel yellow UP FA-FA locomotive to add to our Lionel train layout one Christmas, and I have loved them ever since. But in real life, they were maintenance hogs for sure! The Frisco FA black and yellow paint scheme was one of the better. Probably GM&O and Erie were the best, at least to my eye. Ken
