Model Railroading > EMD F Unit Phases with Pictures

Hi

I am looking for an article on the spotting features of the different F units phases. (FT thru F9). Is there a good web page out there? I found a lot of web pages that list the differences but they lack pictures or I find them for one specific road with.

Thanks

Tim

Are you talking about the different F unit locomotives such as F3 vs F7? Or the various phases within the F3 or F7 locomotives?

Not sure about the web pages, but a few of the print magazines have covered this over the years. I remember Railfan and Railroad had a two part article a few years ago and a number of the model magazines have covered both the Fx vs Fy differences and the various phases of the Fx or Fy.

Brian Solomon also has a book, "EMD F-Unit Locomotives" under the Traintech banner that can be found fairly inexpensive on ebay or Amazon.

Jay

Hi Jay

I am looking for both of the differences between models and the differences between there phases.

Tim

From what I've read, the phase designations were something coined by rail fans and not the manufacturer - so there may not be any official photo's from EMD saying this an F3A phase 3 etc.

That being said, Athearn Genesis has produced most of the F unit phases so those HO models can be shown as examples.

Cheers, Jim Fitch

There used to be one, but, that was then.

The term Phases was coined by the magazine X2200 South.

You really need to procure one of these. It is the BEST book on F Units I've ever seen:

http://www.amazon.com/Units-Diesels-Golden-Years-Railroading/dp/0890243743

It covers each model generically with a drawing, then photos by model.

BTW, FYI, there is no "official" model of an "F5" - that was someone's idea to cover the very last of the F3 production, and the very earliest of F7 production. So, it's either an F3 or an F7. (Phase IV F3 vs. Phase I F7).

Bob

ATSF100WEST......Out

ATSF100WEST Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> BTW, FYI, there is no "official" model of an "F5"
> - that was someone's idea to cover the very last
> of the F3 production, and the very earliest of F7
> production. So, it's either an F3 or an F7. (Phase
> IV F3 vs. Phase I F7).
>
> Bob
>
> ATSF100WEST......Out

Yeah, there was quite a discussion on this on Don Strack's site here:

http://www.utahrails.net/drgw/rg-f5.php

Cheers, Jim Fitch

Thanks

I ordered the book.

Tim



ATSF100WEST Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There used to be one, but, that was then.
>
> The term Phases was coined by the magazine X2200
> South.
>
> You really need to procure one of these. It is the
> BEST book on F Units I've ever seen:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Units-Diesels-Golden-Years-R
> ailroading/dp/0890243743
>
> It covers each model generically with a drawing,
> then photos by model.
>
> BTW, FYI, there is no "official" model of an "F5"
> - that was someone's idea to cover the very last
> of the F3 production, and the very earliest of F7
> production. So, it's either an F3 or an F7. (Phase
> IV F3 vs. Phase I F7).
>
> Bob
>
> ATSF100WEST......Out

SPDRGWfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ATSF100WEST Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > BTW, FYI, there is no "official" model of an
> "F5"
> > - that was someone's idea to cover the very
> last
> > of the F3 production, and the very earliest of
> F7
> > production. So, it's either an F3 or an F7.
> (Phase
> > IV F3 vs. Phase I F7).
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > ATSF100WEST......Out
>
> Yeah, there was quite a discussion on this on Don
> Strack's site here:
>
> http://www.utahrails.net/drgw/rg-f5.php
>
> Cheers, Jim Fitch

According to EMD documents quoted in the Larry Russel article in the Don Strack article,
EMD DID recognize the "F5".

EMD January 1971 Locomotive Reference Data (same in January 1973 issue)

Loco
Model Loco
H.P. Engine
Model Loco
Type
F3A-F3B 1500 16-567B Freight or Passenger
*F5A-F5B 1500 16-567B Freight or Passenger
F7A-F7B 1500 16-567B, 567BC, 567C Freight or Passenger
EMD note: * All F5 locomotive were delivered as F3 units.

Peter Arnold