F units in Scranton

[RDG Diesel]

Recently the RDG FP7s ran their first excursion for the season and the first of the DL&W F3's was completed by the ARHS









as a bonus the ARHS and the RCT&HS jointly rebuilt the Jeweled numberboards for the front of these locomotives using the original diagrams

[Mark D]

NICE! photographs.
Nice looking units, too. When I was a kid, these things were all over the place. The so-called "Road Switcher" design was just becoming known. To me, they were just diesel locomotives and had no special significance. Today, I'd love to hear a bevy of these things hauling a 12000 ton train up a grade, working their guts out.
I had that chance, too, fairly recently since the DM&IR was running F7's until only a few years ago. I just never took the time to go railfan their line. The opportunities were there, but I just never considered it. My loss.
I hope those engines get to run often and for many years.
Mark D.

[timom615]

As far as sounds, Mark, I think they do sound somewhat different from the EMD GP9 I am used to. I can't quite put my finger on it, but even the two FP7s sound a little different from each other. Somehow, they rumble a little more than the Geep. It could just be a generational difference in the 567 prime movers. Anyway, the FPs took the train to the Delaware Water Gap, and back. They are expected to be the regular "return power" on all of the Tobyhanna trains this year.

[RDG Diesel]

You are right the two FP7's do sound different. This is cause they have different series 567 engines and one runs at a higher RPM then the other. As far as sounding different then Geeps I agree I think it due to different acoustics and resonate properties between the carbodies. Just my thought on it.



Tim W

[tom c]

Mark,

The DM&IR hasn't run F units in many moons. I think the BN ran F units longer than the Missabe did in ore service. Maybe you were thinking of Erie/LTV line? They ran the original F units till the end. I got to ride in a cab of one near Cramer Tunnel one fine fall day. Not far but still a ride.

Tom C.

[Mark D]

Yes, Tom, I think you're right on who operated the F units into the '90s. But I wasn't thinking that way. The line to Two Harbors is DM&IR, and those F units ran on that line, apparently trackage rights.
But IIRC, the DM&IR was running modified SD-40's with a -3 or something like that.
Mark D.

[tom c]

Mark, Keep digging in your memory, Not on two harbors line, but tac harbor line. No trackage rights that I am aware of.

Tom C.

[Mark D]

Sorry, Tom, memory is pretty worthless. I was remembering a set of LTV F units that derailed while running around a curve while unable to slow, for whatever reason. I thought that happened at Two Harbors where they have a baloon track.
I guess that upon reading the reports in the local paper, I had the impression that it was Two Harbors. Taconite Harbor has an approach that runs down a steep grade using a switchback. That must have been where they lost those units.
I always wondered what happened to the wrecked units. Probably salavage for parts and the rest scrapped, but I don't know for sure that they weren't repaired.
One problem with those LTV F units is that they had filled them with concrete to increase weight. = tractive effort. This made them not so desirable for other uses. Not all of them had this done.
Mark D.

[tom c]

Mark, Thats it. The wrecked ones were scrapped and the LTV leased U30C's (IIRC) to fill in. Sorry for derailing the subject line!

Tom C.

[Leonard S.]

Here's a video that I took of the Reading Company FP-7's 902 and 903 a few years back.
Enjoy.
Len,
Reading Company FP-7's Nice Start Up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhPaAqw9660

[RDG Diesel]

Reading Company FP7's 902 and 903 will be out this Saturday



a link to the criteria for the day

http://www.nps.gov/stea/planyourvisit/railfest-2010.htm

Hope to see you there.