Future use for Metro-North FL9's

[Steamboat Willie]

The biggest problem keeping these ancient engines around longer on any road is that the pollution standards have risen over the years, and they do not comply with the new tier emissions. It was mentioned before hand that in the case of the CDOT units, they were rebuilt recently and was done so by money granted by the state. I believe they are holding off scraping them right now because of that. The CDOT units also fall under the same category the other F units MNCR owns with tier emissions.

It would be hard to rationalize the decision in purchasing these locomotives for any short line service considering the fact that finding parts for these engines are becoming harder as the years progress. On top of the reasons stated before hand.

I love the F units as much as the next guy, and most whom work for the RR feel the same about it being a trademark for MNCR heritage. People have to accept the fact that these engines have served the carrier (and for some units, previous carriers) for decades and their time has come and gone.

[Otto Vondrak]

Patronize the Naugatuck Railroad if you want to see New Haven FL9's pulling trains in Connecticut:

http://naugy.blogspot.com/2009/10/just- ... lroad.html

You can also visit static preserved FL9's at CERM and DRM:

http://www.danbury.org/drm/

http://www.cteastrrmuseum.org/


-otto-

[acornillie]

Is it possible to describe some of the carbody rust? Was it in the cab floor or in the cab sides? Or in the Slab sides? Or carbody Trusses?

I have wondered about the longevity of F-units with Paducah carbodies since there should not be as many structural issues as compared to engines with ply-metal since they would be better sealed. This is a big issue since the rebuilding of a more tired truss carbody can cost $50,000+ alone, not including the mechanical details.

The scrapping of the FL9ACs and other 710 powered FL9 carbodies was a waste exactly for he above reason, they were in reasonable good shape, and even with the prime movers/electrical components removed they could have been valuable cores for some kind of remanufacture (like UPs or BNs 38 series cab units). Versus using a more historic locomotive for such a purpose.

-Andrew Cornillie

[Noel Weaver]

When these engines were rebuilt, it wasn't intended to run them forever but to get some more useful years out of them
which they did. They are just as obselete today as steam locomotives were in 1960 and thus most likely the next stop for
all or most of them is the scrap heap.
Those of you who want to save one should get your money together and buy one if it means that much to you.
Noel Weaver

[trainguy2024]

Could they be converted into a slug?

[Ridgefielder]

Could they be converted into a slug?

I'm sure they could, but to what end? Does anyone use slugs in passenger service?

Like Noel said, these locomotives are as obsolete as steam in 1960 (remember, they're actually OLDER now than most of the steamers were on their replacement in the '50's). They belong in museum operations, tourist service or the scrapyard.

[Otto Vondrak]

"It belongs in a MUSEUM!" --Indiana Jones

[Tadman]

Slugs are for low-speed pullers and brakes, in places like yards, secondary tracks, and hills. No passenger carrier needs low speed pulling power, and I bet no freight carrier wants a carbody-style FL9 as a slug conversion. An FL9 isn't like a pickup truck with a body sitting on top of a frame, an FL9 is more like a space-frame car where the body covers a skeleton frame that supports the PM. So it's not like it could be cut down to a brake sled. Take a look at the CF7 conversion program where ATSF tried to convert F7's to geeps. It took a lot of work.

[atsf sp]

Surprised the 410 didn't go to a museum being the oldest commuter engine in operation.

[FL9AC]

Surprised the 410 didn't go to a museum being the oldest commuter engine in operation.

The 410 isn't the oldest...the 413 was in fact the oldest F unit in regular service in the US, and that unit looks like it will be spared for now along with NYC-painted 2012.

[DutchRailnut]

410 is ex MBTA 1109 built in 4/1947 and 413 is ex MBTA 1152 built in 12/1946
412 was ex MBTA 1151 now Adirondack Scenic 18** was built in 6/1946
411 was ex MBTA 113 and was built 4/1947

So 313 was oldest F unit in regular service.

[blockline4180]

410 is ex MBTA 1109 built in 4/1947 and 413 is ex MBTA 1152 built in 12/1946
412 was ex MBTA 1151 now Adirondack Scenic 18** was built in 6/1946
411 was ex MBTA 113 and was built 4/1947

So 313 was oldest F unit in regular service.

412 built 6/46 or 6/47?? If its the former then that is the oldest.

[RailBus63]

Surprised the 410 didn't go to a museum being the oldest commuter engine in operation.

Other than the classic EMD bulldog nose, there is very little on an F-10 unit that suggests it was once a 1940’s F-3. Paducah really bastardized the carbodies on these units.

[atsf sp]

Right it is the 413, my mistake. i just forgot the number off the top of my head.

[MNCRR9000]

Railpictures.net has a couple good pictures of the 413. From the pictures it definitely does look worn. There was a picture of 413 being used on the Danbury Branch back in April 2008.