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The EMD F3 was a 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) B-B freight-hauling diesel locomotive produced between July 1945 and February 1949 by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. Final assembly was at GM-EMD's La Grange, Illinois plant. A total of 1,111 cab-equipped lead A units and 696 cabless booster B units were built. The F3 was the third model in GM-EMD's highly successful F-unit series of cab unit freight diesels, and it was the second most produced of the series. The F3 essentially differed from the EMD F2 in that it used the "new" D12 generator to produce more power, and from the later EMD F7 in electrical equipment. Some later F3s had the same D27 traction motors used in the F7, and were nicknamed F5 models.
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Identification
As built, the only way to distinguish between the F2 and F3 was the nose number panels on the A units, which were small on the F2 and large on the F3 and subsequent locomotives. However, these could and were often altered by the railroad. Few F2s were built, however.
Early versions of the F3 had the "chicken wire" grilles along the top edge of the carbody. Later production featured a distinctive stamped stainless steel grille.
All F-units introduced after the FT have twin exhaust stacks and four radiator fans arranged close together atop their roofs, unlike the FT's four stacks and separated pairs of fans.
F3 phases
The identification of locomotive "phases" is a creation of railfans. EMD used no such identification. EMD kept track of the marketing name (F3) and individual locomotives' build numbers. During the production cycle of a model, EMD would make changes. To keep better track of the variations of locomotives identified the same by the manufacturer, railfans began referring to phases; critical changes to a locomotive line.
Despite not being official designations, the phase description is useful. However, many of the changes described are cosmetic, easily changed features of a locomotive; roof fans, body panels, grilles and the like could be and sometimes were updated or swapped.
The following are normally identified as F3 phases:
Phase I
Built from July 1945. High, flat-topped 36 in (914 mm) roof fans. Top third body panel had "chicken wire" in openings only. Short rear vent panel. Center-third body panel with three equally-spaced porthole windows and D17 traction motors. As-built Phase I F3 units are identical to the F2, they differ only in electrical equipment and numberboard size. Three locomotives survive from this series, rebuilt as F10s, all for Metro-North Railroad.
Phase II (early)
Built from February 1947. Top third body panel now had full-length "chicken wire". Long rear vent panel. Center third body panel now had two portholes; area between covered with chicken wire, over 4 smaller rectangular openings.
Phase II (late)
Built from December 1947. Roof radiator fans change to low, pan-topped items.
Phase III
Built from March 1948. Center third body panel now has no chicken wire between the portholes; the four rectangular openings now have louvres.
Phase IV
Built from August 1948. Chicken wire upper-third panel is replaced with full-length horizontal stainless steel grille.
"F5"
Built from October 1948 through end of F3 production in February 1949. D27 traction motors with heavier-duty cables and higher capacity traction motor blowers fitted.
Surviving F3 locomotives
Eleven F3s survive today at a variety of museums; nine are A units, while two are B units. Metro-North Railroad still has three F10 units in service, which are rebuilt F3s. Lately, with the leasing of P40s from Amtrak, the usage of these units in revenue runs has declined.
References
- Furhman, Jim. EMD F2-F3-F5 Phase Chart. Retrieved January 2, 2005.