Freight vs passenger

[oplholik]

For the 50's era aba diesel units, to be correct, were different models used for freight vs passenger service? If so, what was used for which? Thanks.

Paul O.

 

[Espeefan]

Depends on the railroad. F units were produced for both freight and passenger duties. They were geared differently and had steam generators for passenger car heating & AC systems. Alco did the PA (six axle)for passenger service and the FA (four axle) for freight service. GP-7's and 9's appeared in freight and passenger service, as did Alco RS2 &3's E units were exclusively passenger units though a few railroads tried them (unsuccessfully) on freight service. There are probably others depending what railroad you're modeling.

 

[UP2CSX]

The Santa Fe used F units almost exclusively on passenger trains. They also had a lot of F units for freight, painted in a different color scheme. The UP also used lots of F untis for passenger trains. The only difference between a passenger F and a freight F was the passenger F had higher gearing and a steam generator located in the rear of the engine. Some railroads never used F units on passenger trains, just engines made for passenger service, like the EMD E units and the Alco PA series. You really have to know the railroad you're going to model to find out if they used F units for passenger or even dual service work. For example, the NKP never even owned an F unit and used only PA's on their passenger trains.

 

[oplholik]

The Santa Fe used F units almost exclusively on passenger trains. They also had a lot of F units for freight, painted in a different color scheme. The UP also used lots of F untis for passenger trains. The only difference between a passenger F and a freight F was the passenger F had higher gearing and a steam generator located in the rear of the engine. Some railroads never used F units on passenger trains, just engines made for passenger service, like the EMD E units and the Alco PA series. You really have to know the railroad you're going to model to find out if they used F units for passenger or even dual service work. For example, the NKP never even owned an F unit and used only PA's on their passenger trains.

At this point, I'm wanting the Lionel aba units of Santa Fe, red and silver, I really like those. That might change, but I doubt it, however a nice Santa Fe Dash 9 in the more modern era is in the back of my mind, and I can't seem to totally kick it out. I could probably do that cheaper than a nice used ABA set-up.

Paul O.

 

[UP2CSX]

Paul, the Warbonnet red and silver F's were used only on passenger trains from the late 40's through the early 60's. With the decline in both passenger trains and the use of F units, remaining units were used on freight trains until their retirement, so using them on passenger or freight trains would be prototypical.

 

[oplholik]

Paul, the Warbonnet red and silver F's were used only on passenger trains from the late 40's through the early 60's. With the decline in both passenger trains and the use of F units, remaining units were used on freight trains until their retirement, so using them on passenger or freight trains would be prototypical.

Thanks Jim, so it sounds as if there were F units in use well into the 60's? Another question I've thought about are the motors in these older Lionel's, if one goes bad, are motors easily replaceable with new motors?

Paul O.

 

[Laidoffsick]

All the parts for Lionel Post-War F units are readily available. Motors, gears, contact rollers, E-units, horns ladders, paint, decals etc etc. I have restored about a dozen F units in the past couple years and had no problem finding parts. Most of the mechanical stuff can be found on Ebay, paint and decals as well as the detail parts can be found at The Train Tender, or Olsens's Toy Trains Parts. In fact just about anything can be found for all the post-war stuff these days.