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EMD F3 Diesels
Now DCC Ready 
WESTERN
PACIFIC
EMD F3 PHASE II WITH STEAM GENERATOR | |
The Western Pacific
Railroad operated the westernmost leg of the California Zephyr's route. At the
head-end of the CZ for the WP was an A-B-B consisting of EMD F3 diesel locomotives.
This new production delivers a single B-unit, as well as a supply of the
A+B 2-unit sets, for hobbyists to recreate the accurate A-B-B lash-up used by
the WP with the CZ.
All of the models will be powered with the traditional
KATO five-pole motor with dual brass flywheels
The model mechanism will be
DCC-friendly, for easy drop-in installation of a decoder by the hobbyist operating
with DCC
The A-unit will be equipped with an amber LED headlight and have
illuminated pre-printed number boards.
All models will be equipped with the
KATO fully-automatic knuckle coupler.
The A+B set will carry road number 801A
and 801B, respectively and the single B-unit will be numbered 801C, for faithful
recreation of the prototype CZ-consist numbering |
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| Roadname
Information | - Burlington
Northern
The Burlington Northern was the result of a merger of several
railroads including the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, and Spokane Portland
& Seattle. Upon completion of the merger, BN found itself depending on a fleet
of inherited F-Units. Originally numbered in the 9700 series for passenger service,
the BN F3's that remained on the roster were soon renumbered in the low 700 series.
In the BN numbering scheme, A-units wore even numbers and B-units wore odds. The
road numbers we have selected are former GN and SP&S locomotives. - Denver
& Rio Grande Western
Famous for its advertisements featuring the Royal
Gorge, its lingering Narrow Gauge operations, and its beautiful locomotives that
pulled the California Zephyr, the Rio Grande operated in the mountains and deserts
of Colorado and Utah. Even today, a tourist
railroad operates excursions through the famous Royal Gorge with locomotives
painted in a D&RGW-inspired paint scheme. - Santa
Fe
Delivered in 1946, Santa Fe's first F3 locomotives featured a silver-painted
body with red "Warbonnet" over the cab. A-Units originally had three
porthole windows and a single headlight. Santa Fe was quick to make changes; removed
was the center porthole window and added was a second headlight — this is
the version we have selected to produce. In later years, Santa Fe's F3 locomotives
were rebuilt with new fans and side panels to duplicate the appearance of the
newer F7 locomotives. - Union
Pacific
The "Route of the Streamliners," started accepting delivery
of Electro-Motive F3 locomotives in 1947. Intended for passenger service, an early
delivery was numbered in the 900 series and entered in UP's locomotive classification
scheme as FP-3 locomotives. In the early 1950s, the 900 series locomotives were
renumbered into the 1451 number series. Displaced by more powerful E8 locomotives,
several F-Units received freight pilots as they continued performing dual roles
for Union Pacific. Many F3s were ultimately rebuilt to F9 specifications. - Western
Pacific
As a partner railroad for the California Zephyr (WP, D&RGW,
CB&Q), the Western Pacific supplied motive power for part of the train's journey.
When the CZ was new, this power was often WP's F3 locomotives numbered 801 and
802. They were built specifically for CZ use, but were eventually utilized throughout
the railroad. The attractive orange, silver, and stainless steel scheme made the
"Feather River Route" hard to forget. - Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy
An A-B-A consist of CB&Q F3 locomotives, in
silver bodies with black nose stripes and lettering, was on the point of the California
Zephyr when it pulled out of Chicago on its inaugural westbound run, March
21, 1949.
The CB&Q locomotives had a "passenger" or "closed"
front pilot and lacked dynamic brakes because of the Burlington's relatively flat
route.
The bodyshells feature correct "passenger" pilot detail
and correctly lack the roof mounted dynamic brake fan. |
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