F3 grab irons

[Jim Osborne]

In studying photos of these units, it looks like none of them were delivered with grab irons on the side of the cab. But all of the passenger units (and others as well) appear to have the grabs later after being repainted in black and gold. Do we know which units had the grab irons installed, or maybe which ones didn't, and when that was done?

[Rick Berg]

When we were making the new F3's I noticed this too. They came without and were added when on the property.
The same for the BL2's. Once the Passenger engines entered freight only service, they had them added. We also noticed that the modifications were done and later more were added. I do not remember anything else that I was told about this.

[Steve Dolzall]

The added grab irons were a result of FRA safety requirements and applied to all locomotives regardless of service, freight or passenger. If you study cab unit photos, regarless of builder, you will see that the different railroads used various  arrangements to meet the standard.

Steve

[Tim T Swan]

Steve, do you know when that FRA rule went into effect?  I've long noticed that the MONON seems to have begun applying the extra handrails mainly on the cab "cheeks" and "eyebrows" of their F-units sometime after 1952.  They were originally painted to match the carbody, but eventually were repainted yellow during the early 60's.

There's a photo on Page 101 of your book showing a special train in the rain at the 1953 grand opening of the joint Erie/MONON depot in Hammond, and with #81-B still without those extra grabs.  By 1955, all the F's seem to have them applied though.

[Steve Dolzall]

Tim, I don't have anything that gives the exact FRA required dates. From photos of various railroads, it appears that some railroads began installation of the grab irons above the windshield as early as 1950.  By 1955/56 most if not all units had them.

The installation of grab irons on the side of the nose to reach the top  seems to have began in the 1959/1960 period and pretty much complete by 1962/63. The railroads employed quite a variety methods to meet this requirement.

Steve