Here is an interesting picture I found on Facebook - from the Frisco All Aboard, February 1951. The photograph features the then new Frisco EMD FP7As, SLSF 5040 to SLSF 5051, delivered in December 1950 - February 1951. It shows the five-chime horn used on these units, almost certainly a Nathan M5, with all horns facing forward. Not unusual for the Frisco to specify all five horns forward during this time period, but unusual for the Frisco to specify a Nathan. This was the time period when they first fell in love with the Leslie. Leslie five chimes, all horns forward, were being fitted on the Frisco's F and FA-1 units at this time, and on GP7s and E units as well. Why the Nathan on the FP7As? A few of the GP7s also carried the Nathan horn setup. Ken
Thanks Ken, What an interesting tidbit of information. So many interesting things to ponder concerning the photograph and caption. Wonder why Frisco went with Leslie instead of Nathan? Also the FP7A seems to be attached to a freight train, and the only unit. Maybe the heater has not been turned up as the snow is building on the nose and windshield. So far I have resisted Facebook as it looks to me to be a sort of huge potential virus. But it seems maybe I should re-consider it. Now I have to build a SLSF FP7A. As always thank you for posting Ken!
Maybe we will never know why, but combining the facts that this locomotive was purchased primarily for passenger service and to be operated as a single unit going one direction facing forward, having all five chimes oriented this way makes since. Maximum sound approaching grade crossings with passengers in tow. In contrast, the GP15-1s were delivered with the same horn but for use as freight units switching rural branch lines operating in both directions. Go Figure!
Probably EMD and/or Frisco got a better offer from Nathan to furnish the air horns than from other vendors. I remember when those engines first came to Springfield. It was a whole new sound. Some of the E and F units still had single horns and you could not tell the Frisco diesels from the Missouri Pacific engines until the FP7As came They started putting the air chimes on all the road diesels circa 1951. That is also a good way to date photographs of the period: before or after 1951, single horns verses multiple trumpet air chimes. Tom G.
Speaking of FP7A SLSF 5040, the Frisco Archive has a photograph of E7A (EA7) SLSF 2000, with FP7A SLAF 5040 in the background, It almost looks like the Frisco advertising art on matchbooks, calendars, ticket envelopes, etc. if SLSF 5040 were parked just a little closer. TG
Note the caption under the picture mentions six locomotives. The Frisco FP7As came in a batch of six in December, 1950, with six more in February, 1951. My pictures show Nathans on the first six, but the second six only shows them on a couple of horns. This could be misleading, as over time, all sorts of horn swapping went on. Photographs show the FP7As mounting not only the Nathan M5, but also Leslies - both with five horns forward. Later they had three forward, two rearward orientation. All those Leslie pictures are aged units, however, suggesting a swap out likely occurred during a shopping. What you guys are suggesting about these five chime Nathans led the way for the Frisco to mount five chimes on all their road units makes sense. I had not thought of that. Some boss down in Springfield probably thought the Leslie sounded better than the Nathan, and the love affair started! I am wondering if the last batch of F7 units had a few locomotives that trialed the five chime Leslie? Tom, Look for one of the Intermountain FP7As on eBay. They look pretty good, only need a few fixes, and run fine. As opposed to the mating Intermountain Railroad Company (IRC) F7B, the FP7A correctly does not have the dynamic brake fan. I still cannot get over that they screwed up the F7B! I submitted an article on fixing up the IRC FP7A for Richard to use in The Meteor, but he passed away before he had a chance to publish the next issue. I found several other interesting Frisco pictures on Facebook, and will post them when I have a chance. Ken
I bought some Intermountain N-scale FP7As. I had them preordered for FOUR years before they were delivered! They do look nice and run great, but Intermountain's, as well as other manufacturers, announcement/release/delivery "systems" are shameful.
Ken, Excellent story to share. Echoing Tom's thoughts, it does really place the time for this type of detail from a modeling standpoint. Keep up with the old All Aboards; they are filling in some gaps in my knowledge base for this decade. Best Regards,
