FM #45 Lash-up

[George Lortz]

I found this image on the Internet today and was struck by the fact that I don't remember seeing a single FM lashed up with an F3C.  The image caption is:

Chicago, IL; 12/21/64; Jim Boyd photo; Joseph Testagrose collection; 73rd Street

Can't tell which F3C this one is.

Any comments?

George L.

[Pete Pedigo]

I would guess it is not Mu'd to the FM and is dead in transit.  If that was the case only the brake line was hooked up.   A lot of locomotive were not compatible for M.U'ing for various reasons.  I have a NW book here somewhere that lists all of their locomotive from the 70's and points out which ones are not compatilbe for M.U.ing with each other because of gear ratios etc.

[Stew Winstandley]

I've wondered about compatibility between MUed units.  The two high hood C420s that the Monon had for passenger service were used for freight service after the end of passenger trains on the Monon.  Were the two high hood units geared differently than the freight units?  And if so, how does that affect MU operation?  On the southend, when a couple of C628s were MUed with a RS-2 in the middle, there was a signifcant difference between tractive effort and horsepower.  In other words, I don't know how the MU connection compensates for locomotive power differences and gearing.  There's a photograph of C420 #501 lashed up with RS-2 #56 and C628 #407 on page 104 of Lewnard's Monon book.

Obviously with the combination of various locomotives MUed together, engine differences made no difference to their operation together.

Stew

[Chad Boas]

The FM has been rebuilt with EMD parts and is basicly an F unit. Wern't they able to lash up with A's?
Chad

[Joe Land]

Have seen a photo of re-engineered FM and a BL2 working at Paoli.

[Steve Dolzall]

When the Monon FM H-15-44's were new, they only had MU connections on the short hood end and would only MU with each other. When the Monon rebuilt the FM's at Shops with EMD powerplants they apparently revised the MU systems so they would be MU compatible with the EMD F-3's and BL-2's at the same time. At some point later, the Monon also installed MU connections on the long hood end of the FM's so they could operate in MU in mid locomotive consists.

[Rick Dreistadt]

 The Alco units would MU with other Alco's only.  The EMD and 2 FM units would MU with each other after the FM rebuilds.
Rick

[George Lortz]

Here's another photo of a crazy lash-up I just recently found on eBay.  If I'm seeing it right, it's an FM-FM-F3-F3-BL2-F3 set.  There is no photo description of where or when.  There's a building and tower visible in the background.  Any ideas?

George L. 

[Steve Dolzall]

The photo was take in Bloomington at McDoel Yard. Roundhouse is in the background.

[James W Smith]

Chad has this one correct, because of the photo date -- post-1960.  That FM is really an F3 in disguise.  You can see the two EMD stacks atop the carbody.  So that FM & F3B are lashed up and both pulling the train.