Nostalgia & History > CB&Q F3s

CB&Q 116D leading at Fairview Ave., Downers Grove, Illinois on July 4, 1965.  This is an F3AB pair with most probably an F7A added to make an ABA set.  The F3s were originally 116ABCD.

Enjoy,
Marty Bernard

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Passenger pilot on the A unit.  Would that indicate it was originally  a passenger unit?

No.  The Q had only 9 passenger F-units (3 F7 ABA sets with boilers) bought for the California Zephyr.  Except for the first 10 Zephyr units all Q passenger diesels were E-units.  Q F3As and F7As had passenger pilots and I assume with covers for the coupler.  The covers soon disappeared as best I can tell from pictures.

Marty Bernard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/15 17:59 by MartyBernard.

Straight (non FP) F units with "passenger" pilots used for freight service, that is not having SG's nor the controls for them,  were not the norm but not unique to the"Q" either as most of the PRR's F-unit fleet were so equipped as well as the Wabash's . I think in all three cases it was the attraction of /or being sold on the coupler shroud concept (not an option with the "freight" pilot) adding additonal protection to the engine and crew in the event of nailing a vehicle at speed at a crossing, the shroud and smooth pillot was thought to better deflect rather then punch and hold the struck vehicle upon impact, just as with like equipped E and FP units .     

Agreed, but eventually most roads decided it wasn't worth the extra time and maintenance, from what I understand.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/15 19:37 by wabash2800.

MartyBernard Wrote:
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> No.  The Q had only 9 passenger F-units (3 F7 ABA
> sets with boilers) bought for the California
> Zephyr.  Except for the first 10 Zephyr units all
> Q passenger diesels were E-units.  Q F3As and
> F7As had passenger pilots and I assume with covers
> for the coupler.  The covers soon disappeared as
> best I can tell from pictures.
>
> Marty Bernard

Passenger F3's were bought for the California Zephyr not F7's

Posted from iPhone

Another dandy one, Marty. Thanks for sharing it !

Spoony81 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MartyBernard Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No.  The Q had only 9 passenger F-units (3 F7
> ABA
> > sets with boilers) bought for the California
> > Zephyr.  Except for the first 10 Zephyr units
> all
> > Q passenger diesels were E-units.  Q F3As and
> > F7As had passenger pilots and I assume with
> covers
> > for the coupler.  The covers soon disappeared
> as
> > best I can tell from pictures.
> >
> > Marty Bernard
>
> Passenger F3's were bought for the California
> Zephyr not F7's

Correct, i.e. the passenger A-B-A F3 sets, even retained their original passenger road numbers after removal of the steam generators and re-gearing for freight service.