subject: Emd Fp9 - Indoor Playground Equipment Manufacturer - Playground Zoo Series [print this page] Identification Identification
Just as in the previous FP7, the FP9's carbody is essentially the F9's with 4feet (1.2m) extra added a little behind the cab, just aft of the forward truck. Unlike the FP7, the forward porthole window is relocated so that it is better balanced in the space, but there is still more room between the porthole and the first carbody filter grille behind it; it is just less obvious. As on the F9, there is now a carbody filter grille before the window as well.
Original buyers
Locomotives built by EMD at La Grange, Illinois
Railroad
Quantity FP9
Quantity F9B
(where ordered with FP9)
Road numbers FP9
Road numbers F9B
Notes
Chicago & North Western Railway
4
4
4051A4054A
4051B4054B
Built from trade-in FTs
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mxico
25
70107034
Saudi Government Railways
7
15021508
Totals
36
4
Locomotives built by GMD at London, Ontario
Railroad
Quantity FP9
Quantity F9B
(where ordered with FP9)
Road numbers FP9
Road numbers F9B
Notes
Canadian National Railways
43
38
65006542
66006637
Canadian Pacific Railway
11
8
14051415
19001907
Totals
54
46
FP10
FP10 locomotives are not the linear successors of the FP9, as their designation might indicate. The FP10 units were 'built' in the late 1970s by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad at its Paducah, Kentucky shops for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority using former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad F3 and F7 units. These F3 and F7 locomotives were used by the GM&O and ICG (for a short period) in Chicago-area commuter service and later in freight service until their retirement.
The rebuilding by ICG saw all of the units gain full-length stainless steel air intake grilles, which in many cases replaced the 'chicken wire' appearance which many had during their tenure with the GM&O and ICG. They were also equipped with a 480V HEP generator at the rear of the locomotive, as well as dynamic brakes, and had their classification lights replaced with large red marker lights which enabled the locomotive to "carry the markers" when operating in push mode.
It should be noted that the FP10 units were never extended beyond their original length, thus making the "P" in their designation misleading. The FP10 designation, like that of the GP10 (also an ICG product) was conceived by ICG and was never sanctioned by EMD, though railroads and rail enthusiasts alike agree on the moniker.
The FP10 locomotives were painted in the MBTA's purple, silver, and yellow scheme, wearing two variations (one which had two substantial yellow swaths on the nose, and the second which used the yellow only as striping on the nose, as well as the rest of the carbody) of the transit agency's dress. At least one was painted in a scheme that was a "negative" of the conventional scheme, where purple was the primary color and silver taking a secondary role.
During the early 1990s, the FP10s were retired by the MBTA, with four being sold to the Metro North Commuter Railroad (MNCR 410-413), some leased (Cape Cod Centralnd eventually resold after that operation ceased) and others being scrapped. In late 1999/early 2000, the last remaining MBTA-owned FP10 units were sold and have operated in Maryland, New Orleans, Georgia, and Idaho on various tourist trains.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: EMD FP9 locomotives
References
Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
Trainweb.com (2004) EMD F9A, F9B, FP9, FL9 Order Numbers, retrieved on January 4, 2004.
Categories: B-B locomotives | EMD locomotives | GMD locomotives | Passenger locomotives | Diesel locomotives of the United States | Railway locomotives introduced in 1954
