Erie Lackawanna
Railfan.net 'erielack' E-Mail List Photo Archive

Tri-State_F3_Scranton_9-6-2010_Railfest_crop1_003.jpg   Original: 2000 by 1416 pixels - Current: 2000 by 1416 - 100%
                          Try your mouse wheel too!

Previous Image - Tri-State_F3_Scranton_9-6-2010_Railfest_026.jpg (No Next Image)

From: MDelvec952 mdelvec952 AT aol DOT com
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2010 23:32:46 -0400
Subject: Lackawanna F3s, Steamtown's Railfest, and a thank you...
"Tri-State_F3_Scranton_9-6-2010_Railfest_crop1_003.jpg" - image/jpeg, 2000x1416 (24bit)



In a message dated 09/06/10 19:34:46 Eastern Daylight Time, paultup@comcast.net writes:
So the big question here: Is the track uneven here, or is the 663 about an
inch higher than the 664?

--------------------------------

The 663 is almost two inches higher than 664, a difference that's very apparent in this paint scheme since the yellow stripes are two inches wide. The difference was there in the CNJ paint, but it wasn't that obvious. We had concerns about this while moving the two units between the roundhouse and the diesel shop as the doors there barely cleared the 664. A repair to the shop door allowed plenty of clearance by the time 663 had to make that same move.

There are reasons: Tri-State in the later 1990s bought eight brand new wheels for BAR 44, later CNJ 57 and now DL&W 663. While that wheel-and-axle work was being done the trucks were inspected and renewed. In addition, the trucks under the 663 were completely remanufactured in 1970 by the Santa Fe, so the springs and other equalizing components were new then. The trucks under the 663 came from Santa Fe CF7 2649, which was originally bluebonnet freight F7 262C. The significance of this CF7 is that it was the first one built, in February 1970. ARHS bought it from the Blue Mountain & Reading to use the prime mover, main generator and electrical gear while restoring BAR 46, CNJ 56, now DL&W 664. ARHS tried to give away the hulk from 2649 after discovering it was the first-ever, but there were no takers. The hulk went to scrap with the 46's trucks under it. BAR 44's trucks are under the 664.

There is precedent for all of this truck swapping since the DL&W did a lot of truck swapping between Fs and Fs, and between Geeps and Fs, to keep gear ratios within certain groups of cab units.

The two DL&W F3s were back-to-back for the first time this weekend, and it was a nice sight to see. Those who were in Scranton were the first in 50-ish years to see this image. As all on this list know, this freight scheme that predates the passenger image was phased out late in the 1950s, the last believed to have been repainted in 1962.

There are some other differences between the units, owing to various circumstances and the preferences of the two separate groups doing the restorations. When time was short before the NRHS Convention and we weren't guaranteed indoor housing for a week at Steamtown due to overhead crane work in the shop, we opted to cover the entire locomotive in gray paint to protect it. That temporary gray ghost was a big hit among the Convention-goers and the coverage. While adding the stripes later, we decided to leave our anti-climbers gray in homage to the ghost, and also because most of the DL&W F-units had gray anti-climbers. The styling drawings don't specify the color, and the two known color builder's photos show one of each. Originally ARHS and Tri-State agreed to paint them black in consideration of the planned painting sequence. We removed all of our nose grab irons since the DL&W didn't have them, we're mounting the flag holders per DL&W style (not yet done), and other little
details. Both groups bought these units in 1985 to model our favorite paint schemes, so we make no apologies for not restoring them to BAR units (the most often heard criticism). While it was a miracle that the BAR had run these dinosaurs so long, the purchase of them by ARHS and Tri-State assures they'll be around for more generations of railfans and industrial historians. What we didn't realize in 1985 is that 25 years later we would have the oldest unaltered and operating set of F-units in the world. We are indeed custodians of history, and we're taking that responsibility seriously.

Next big expense for Tri-State is a set of batteries (about $6K), and the next move at Steamtown is for them to be posed with a vintage freight train along the entrance road where the T1 2124 and the Grand Trunk 4-8-2 had been sitting for years. The ARHS had its unit idling during Railfest, and Tri-State's can be jump-started from the 664 -- it was running last November after cylinder liner, head and injector repair. Running them at Steamtown is now just a matter of some mechanical work, shakedown runs, and the required NPS paperwork.

And with this little paean, on behalf of Tri-State and the F3 project I'd like to personally thank the ELHS for its generous contribution toward the effort, and to the many list members who contributed their hard-earned money. While we still have a way to go -- we were still adding details during the Railfest event -- we hope the ELHS and its members will enjoy these two art-deco beauties for years to come. For the rest of our lives they will be a living reminder of the Road of Anthracite, and they'll be pulling trains at the ultimate venue. You all played a part.

Below are a few of my own photos from Sunday morning.

Mike Del Vecchio
DL&W 663 project leader


By the time the sunny-side porthole rings were on, clouds covered most of the sky but occasional holes did appear. The alignment of stripes is obvious. ARHS bought two new wheelsets for its B-unit, but may replace the wheels on 664 first so the units more closely match.




Sunday morning saw bright sun and stark shadows.




The arrangement of a classic pusher set in Scranton. Above the nose of 663 in the distance is Liggett's Gap, for which the railroad was first named in 1851.




The builder's photo from 1948 of the 621 set.
--6890f42d-47ba-47a5-9393-0185c5788bdc

Tri-State_F3_Scranton_9-6-2010_Railfest_crop1_003.jpg

Image EXIF Data:
Image Capture Date   2008:04:29 04:56:14
Image Digitized Date   2008:04:29 04:56:14
Make   EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Model   KODAK EASYSHARE C160 DIGITAL CAMERA
Exposure Time   1/800 Sec.
Shutter Speed Value   1/797.865 Sec.
Aperture   f4.6
Aperture Value   f4.5
Focal Length   13.7mm
35mm Focal Length   77mm
ISO Speed Rating   10 (80)
Metering Mode   Multi-Segment/Pattern
Exposure Bias   0 EV
Exposure Program   Program Normal
White Balance   Auto White Balance
Light Source/White Balance   Automatic
Flash   Flash Not Fired; Compulsory Flash Suppression;
Exif Image Height   2604 pixels
Exposure Mode   Auto Exposure
EXIF Version   0221
FlashPix Version   0100
Sensing Method   Single Chip Color Area Sensor
YCbCr Positioning   Datum Point
Max Aperture Value   f4.5
ColorSpace   sRGB
Component Configuration   YCbCr
Exposure Index   80
Digital Zoom Ratio   None
Exif Image Width   3472 pixels
Scene Capture Type   Standard
Gain Control   Low Gain Up
Contrast   Normal
Saturation   Normal
Sharpness   Normal
Subject Distance Range   Unknown


Click Here or on the corner X to close this window.


    All photos are the property of the original photographer unless otherwise noted and are to be used for personal viewing purposes only.

    The use of these photos on any website or other distribution media is strictly forbidden without the express consent of the image copyright holder.

    Linking directly to this page is permitted as long as "Railfan.net Erie Lackawanna Email List Photo Archive" is creditted on the linking page.