The Q bought three A-B-A sets of Phase II F3s with no dynamic brakes, high
exhaust fans, passenger-speed gearing, and passenger pilots (as used on all Q F
units except FTs and F2s) and assigned them to the California Zephyr when it
started in 1949. They were numbered 9960A,B,C - 9962A,B,C and were painted
silver with passenger striping (black nose stripes). These were the only Q F3s
without dynamic brakes and were used for a number of years in passenger
service. When E units took over almost all Q passenger trains, the F3s were
regeared for freight service and later painted gray. The Intermountain F3
first release will include these passenger units, which appear correct in the
website photo.
I have a Stewart A-B-A set of the Q passenger F3s, but they have the standard
EMD freight pilots, which I am replacing with the passenger pilots from
Highliner kits. The Intermountain F3s appear to require no such after-market
products.
As for the D&RGW F3s, they were purchased in 1946, all delivered in November in
the original black paint scheme with yellow noses and stripes first used on the
FTs, well before the CZ began. These units were used on the Exposition Flyer,
Prospector, Royal Gorge, and Mountaineer. D&RGW bought PA/PB sets for the CZ
because the PAs had dynamic brakes, and E units were not offered at that time
with dynamics. AT&SF probably bought their PAs because of the dynamic brakes
as well. The PA/PBs were painted in the same black and yellow paint scheme
when delivered in early 1947 and were repainted in late 1949 with a silver
scheme with yellow noses to better match the CZ. This paint scheme lasted only
until 1952, when the PA/PBs and all other D&RGW F units were repainted into the
aluminum and "Aspen Gold" scheme with four black stripes. In the early 1950s,
F3s and F7s began pulling the CZ, and the PAs were relegated to the Royal Gorge
and the Yampa Valley Mail. The F3s seemed to pull the CZ regularly through the
mid 1950s, when the D&RGW bought one A-B-B-A set of F9s in 1955. #5771 was the
lead unit for the Rio Grande Zephyr until it was abandoned in 1983; the unit is
now on display at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden.
- John Manion
Denver, CO
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/8ZCslB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|