Wow, a release that does not include ATSF, UP, SP..... Someone somewhere got their wish for more eastern exposure. But I have to say this is very good for N Scale! I may just have to pick up a set or two of these to run at shows. Everyone out here always runs UP, SP, WP and ATSF at the shows. I like to sneak in other roads just for something different. So a question, are the ACL units freight or passenger units? Same question with the Rock Island....... Thanks!
The F2 had the D8 generator from the FT rated at 1350hp in what is essentially a Phase 1 F3 carbody. As was mentioned and in the case of the CB&Q, they would split one (1) four unit ABBA FT sets into two (2) FT AB sets and add an F2 at the other end making a 4050hp trio. Here's a photo of a FT/F2 "Motor" by the late Bernard Corbin. Andy Tetsu Uma
Nice releases, and the CBQ units will certainly be in my roster. Maybe the CNW units too,unless Kato "Kato's" the yellow. Still, most of my locos are F's and this ain't gonna help. Nevermind Intermountain finishing those NP F3's "soon"...
The funny thing is I just finished off my IM F3 ABA set to go with my FT ABBA set. I also have an orphan F7B unit. So I thought I was all set on gray backs! I have the F2's on order. So I will have to see how they run with IM, either FTs or ABA with the F7B. Maybe Kato will do their own FTs!!
"The F2 was more of a stop gap loco as the upgrades found in the F3 where not ready to go. That is so few of them were built." That's not quite true. The EMD F3As started to be built in July 1945 while the F2As did not start to be produced until July 1946, a year later. The F2As were intended to be a compliment of the earlier FTs while the F3s were upgraded versions. Some roads felt that the cheaper F2s were better to get because of cost and being essentially a match, horsepower wise, to the FTs and, like the photo of the "Q" F2a with an FTB and FTA, were often used to split up four unit FT A-B-B-A sets, creating two A-B-A sets (some FTs were built as A-B-A sets with what is referred to as a short FTB). A cheaper way of covering motive power needs but not necessarily a better one. (Fair to say that other roads used F3As to split the FT sets.)
Given that the Kato models for those roadnames will have the steam generator details, the answer would be that they could see dual service. Of course, both the Coast Line and the Rock also rostered assorted E-units, so those were probably the primary passenger power with the F-units serving as protection power or for use on mail/express trains.
That is interesting. I know I read it somewhere, now I am going to have to find out where. There goes a good chunk of my Sunday!
Yes and no George. The F2 A units only fill a small gap. There is still a healthy appetite for the F3 and F7 A and B units that will remain until IMR re-releases some units or (hopefully) Kato expands their offerings. Personally, I'm hoping for a Kato F3 greyback release in both A and B units.
For those of us hoping for a future release of single headlight B&M units, I wonder which batch they might produce. The first group was purchased to break up the FT sets and were A units only, 4250 - 4264 (so Kato could do an AA set) or the much smaller group B&M bought as AB sets, 4224A/B - 4226A/B. Kato's site says the two packs are being sold according to prototype operating practices. Frankly, I haven't been this excited about a locomotive release for a while, except the Atlas S2, and Kato may never even make them in my roadname.
This scheme would be attention getting: http://tinyurl.com/pcpw7ql If you haven't seen it, the book North American Locomotives: A Railroad-by-Railroad Photohistory by Brian Solomon has a photo, on page 47, of a single B&M F2A doubleheaded with a steam loco.
Although a little gaudy, I have come to appreciate all of the McGinnis schemes, especially on the E and F units. The AB F2 sets seem to have stuck around a little longer but B&M also kept a few of the single F2As around and there are a lot of photos of them in passenger service. I like this scheme too. http://www.athearn.com/ProdInfo/ATH/450/ATHG16701-450.jpg http://imagestorage.nerail.org/photos/2001/01/05/2001010519194016204.jpg Of course Kato doing the Minute Man would be great too, but now that the possibility exists for a factory painted B&M F2 unit (however slim) I think I will paint my older Kato Phase I F3 up as a Minute Man F2 and match it up with my IM FTs. I would think that Kato would choose one of the McGinnis schemes because they are more flashy and no one else has done them from the factory in N scale.
Kato have been pulling a few nice surprises in their last couple of monthly Japanese prototype release notices too, you never know what these guys have up their sleeves waiting to be pulled out.
Nothing for me with this release, but I'm (once again) resolving to spend less next year. A very interesting group of road names, to be sure.
Wow... never thought Kato would dare to make something of a relatively low production that doesn't include UP, SP and ATSF road names. I'm likely to be interested in the Rock Island units... but... since I do not have any Rock Island FT's... I wonder if these F2s were used on their own. Good to see Kato breaking out of their old habits and doing models that were not expected.
This is interesting. Why did roads find this necessary? Was the ABBA configuration of the FT's too much horsepower for the situations they were being used in?
that, oh yes that! I think we've got plenty of UP and ATSF stuff. Can we have some BN, GN, and NP F units not Kato, please oh please?!I can paint my own SP&S F's I just need NP, BN, and GN ones.
I really like that unusual consist... just wondering how that scenario came about. BTW... Regarding Kato's model choices... To be fair about Kato's decision to make this F2 model... they did the GG1... a very limited prototype. Then they followed that up with an E5 which is also very limited. It would be interesting to see if Kato's 'faith' in the US market can be bolstered by good sales of these somewhat unique models. At least Kato will have some sales from those who have FT units.
