There were many types of F-units. Most of them were used for freight service. They were built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, EMD. All had 2-stroke, 16-cylinder V-type diesel engines of the 567 type. The diesel engine turned an electric generator providing electricityp to the four traction motors, one for each axle. That way the diesel engine could run at optimum speed, at all locomotive speeds.
|
Model |
Hp |
Engine |
Produced |
Units built |
|
FTA |
1350 |
567, 567A |
1939-1945 |
555 |
|
FTB |
1350 |
567, 567A |
1939-1945 |
541 |
|
F2A |
1350 |
567B |
1946 |
74 |
|
F2B |
1350 |
567B |
1946 |
30 |
|
F3A |
1500 |
567B |
1945-1949 |
1111 |
|
F3B |
1500 |
567B |
1945-1949 |
696 |
|
F7A |
1500 |
567B |
1949-1953 |
2366 |
|
F7B |
1500 |
567B |
1949-1953 |
1483 |
|
F9A |
1750 |
567C |
1954-1956 |
87 |
|
F9B |
1750 |
567C |
1954-1957 |
154 |
|
FP7 |
1500 |
567B |
1949-1953 |
376 |
|
FP9 |
1750 |
567C |
1954-1959 |
79 |
|
FL9 |
1750 |
567C |
1956-1957 |
30 |
|
FL9 |
1800 |
567D1 |
1960 |
30 |
The B-units were cabless units, called Booster-units. They were controlled from the cab of an A-unit. Their purpose was of course to make a more powerful formation of locomotives without having to pay for a complete cab, with all expensive equipment.
The FP-units was longer versions to provide space for a steam generator for passenger cars. No FPB-units were ever built.
The FL-units were built with a third rail shoe for electric operation in New York, by New Haven railroad. Diesel units was not allowed in the tunnels under the river. They were the longest of the F-units and had a two axle bogie in the front and a three axle bogie in the back, where the third rail shoe was fitted.
All kinds of F-units had the same bulldog nose as the later E-units, EMD's passenger locomotive.
General Motors' F-UNITS, The locomotive that Revolutionized
Railroading
by Daniel J. Mulhearn and John R. Taibi
ISBN-0-915276-39-9, Quadrant Press, Inc., Room 707, 19 West 44th St.,
New York, NY 10036. USA
Detailed history, many pictures.
F Units: The Diesels that Did It
by Jeff Wilson
ISBN 0-89024-374-3,
Kalmbach Books, USA
Not so detailed history, many pictures.
The second diesel spotter's guide
by Jerry A. Pinkepank
ISBN-0-89024-026-4 ,
Kalmbach Books, USA
About many types of diesels
Diesel Locomotives: The first 50 years. A guide to diesels built
before 1972
by Louis A. Marre
ISBN-0-89024-258-5,
Kalmbach Books, USA
About many types of diesels
Trains magazine. (Not much about F-units in recent years)
Classic Trains Magazine.
Model Railroader Magazine. (Quite often there are articles about painting F-unit models with information about the real thing.)
Vintage Rails magazine. (No longer published, back issues available)
The F-unit Roundhouse (a great site about F-units)