Burlington Route Historical Society

EMD model F3(The F-unit roster text by Jim Sandrin, from BRHS Bulletin #4, THE GRAYBACKS Š1982 Burlington Route Historical Society.)  Click on photos and diagrams to see larger size.
The first Burlington F3's arrived in October 1947 as four-unit sets 116-121. These were delivered as Phase II F3's (F2's and Phase I F3's being identical) with high fan shrouds, high headlights and no Mars light in the nose door, large angled number boards, and two portholes with screening covering the four square vent openings between the portholes. They were also equipped with "passenger-style" straight pilots and with coupler covers.

Another diagram of the venerable F3.

EMD photo of the Phase II CB&Q F3 set at the factory in April, 1948.  The exhaust stacks, fans, brake openings and horns are still covered with paper.  (EMD photo)

F3 passenger set 9960CBA, specifically built, maintained and shown here pulling the California Zephyr at Naperville, Il.  (Kuepper/Lotz collection)
Sets 160 and 161 were delivered in November 1947. These were Phase II F3's also but came as three-unit A/B/A sets, like the FT/2 sets which preceded them numerically.
A third batch of Phase II F3's, also A/B/A sets, was purchased at the same time, but these were intended for passenger service on the new California Zephyr. Numbered 9960-9962, they were delivered in the passenger paint scheme of silver (aluminum paint) with black striping and lettering. They were the only F-units on the system with steam generators (in both the A- and B-units) and were the only ones lacking dynamic brakes. After they were bumped from the Zephyr in the early Fifties, they were regeared for freight service in 1955 and eventually repainted in the freight scheme. They kept their passenger numbers to the end, however.

CB&Q #126D F3A pulling freight out of Savannah, IL, in mid-late 1960s. (Jan Kohl/Castle Graphics)

An ABBBA set with F3 #126D at the end, unknown date. (Jan Kohl/Castle Graphics)

    Number 
    blt.date 
    Serial # 
    Renumber 
    disp.date 
    description 
    notes 
  
    116A
    10/47
    4404 
     
    10/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #116 
     
    116B
    10/47
    4414 
     
    10/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #116 
     
    116C
    10/47
    4415 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #116 
     
    116D
    10/47
    4405 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #116 
     
    117A
    10/47
    4406 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #117 
     
    117B
    10/47
    4416 
     
    10/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #117 
     
    117C
    10/47
    4417 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #117 
     
    117D
    10/47
    4407 
     
    5/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #117 
     
    118A
    10/47
    4408 
     
    5/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #118 
     
    118B
    10/47
    4418 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #118 
     
    118C
    10/47
    4419 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #118 
     
    118D
    10/47
    4409 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #118 
     
    119A
    10/47
    4410 
     
    see note 4 
    1 unit of ABBA set #119 
    4
  
    119B
    10/47
    4420 
     
    see note 4 
    1 unit of ABBA set #119 
    4
  
    119C
    10/47
    4421 
     
    see note 4 
    1 unit of ABBA set #119 
    4
  
    119D
    10/47
    4411 
     
    see note 4 
    1 unit of ABBA set #119 
    4
  
    120A
    10/47
    4412 
     
    9/64 
    1 unit of ABBA set #120 
     
    120B
    10/47
    4422 
     
    5/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #120 
     
    120C
    10/47
    4423 
     
    3/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #120 
     
    120D
    10/47
    4413 
     
    3/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #120 
     
    121A
    11/47
    4465 
     
    5/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #121 
     
    121B
    11/47
    4467 
     
    10/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #121 
     
    121C
    11/47
    4468 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #121 
     
    121D
    11/47
    4466 
     
    8/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #121 
    5
  
    122A
    4/48
    5874 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #122 
    5
  
    122B
    4/48
    7020 
     
    4/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #122 
     
    122C
    4/48
    7021 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #122 
     
    122D
    4/48
    5875 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #122 
    5
  
    123A
    4/48
    5876 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #123 
     
    123B
    4/48
    7022 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #123 
     
    123C
    4/48
    7023 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #123 
     
    123D
    4/48
    5877 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #123 
     
    124A
    5/48
    5878 
     
    10/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #124 
     
    124B
    5/48
    7024 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #124 
     
    124C
    5/48
    7025 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #124 
     
    124D
    5/48
    5879 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #124 
     
    125A
    5/48
    5880 
     
    12/60 
    1 unit of ABBA set #125 
     
    125B
    5/48
    7026 
     
    12/60 
    1 unit of ABBA set #125 
     
    125C
    5/48
    7027 
     
    6/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #125 
     
    125D
    5/48
    5881 
     
    11/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #125 
     
    126A
    6/48
    5882 
     
    8/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #126 
    5
  
    126B
    6/48
    7028 
     
    5/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #126 
     
    126C
    6/48
    7029 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #126 
     
    126D
    6/48
    5883 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #126 
    5
  
    127A
    8/48
    5884 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #127 
    5
  
    127B
    8/48
    7030 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #127 
     
    127C
    8/48
    7031 
     
    1/64 
    1 unit of ABBA set #127 
     
    127D
    8/48
    5885 
     
    1/64 
    1 unit of ABBA set #127 
     
    128A
    8/48
    5886 
     
    10/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #128 
     
    128B
    8/48
    7032 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #128 
     
    128C
    8/48
    7033 
     
    7/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #128 
     
    128D
    8/48
    5887 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #128 
     
    129A
    8/48
    6561 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #129 
     
    129B
    8/48
    7034 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #129 
     
    129C
    8/48
    7035 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #129 
     
    129D
    8/48
    6562 
     
    4/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #129 
     
    130A
    10/48
    7006 
     
    5/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #130 
     
    130B
    10/48
    7036 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #130 
     
    130C
    10/48
    7037 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #130 
     
    130D
    10/48
    7007 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #130 
     
    131A
    10/48
    7008 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #131 
     
    131B
    10/48
    7038 
     
    3/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #131 
     
    131C
    10/48
    7039 
     
    1/64 
    1 unit of ABBA set #131 
     
    131D
    10/48
    7009 
     
    1/64 
    1 unit of ABBA set #131 
     
    132A
    11/48
    7050 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #132 
     
    132B
    11/48
    7054 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #132 
     
    132C
    11/48
    7055 
     
    11/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #132 
     
    132D
    11/48
    7051 
     
    3/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #132 
     
    133A
    1/49
    7052 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #133 
     
    133B
    1/49
    7056 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #133 
     
    133C
    1/49
    7057 
     
    5/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #133 
     
    133D
    1/49
    7053 
     
    7/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #133 
     
    134A
    11/48
    7014 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #134 
     
    134B
    11/48
    7044 
     
    10/65 
    1 unit of ABBA set #134 
     
    134C
    11/48
    7045 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #134 
     
    134D
    11/48
    7015 
     
    12/66 
    1 unit of ABBA set #134 
     
    135A
    11/48
    7016 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #135 
     
    135B
    11/48
    7046 
     
    3/63 
    1 unit of ABBA set #135 
     
    135C
    11/48
    7047 
     
    1/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #135 
     
    135D
    11/48
    7017 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #135 
     
    136A
    11/48
    7018 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #136 
     
    136B
    11/48
    7048 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABBA set #136 
     
    136C
    11/48
    7049 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #136 
     
    136D
    11/48
    7019 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABBA set #136 
     
    137A
    10/48
    7010 
    163C
    1/68
    1 unit of ABBA set #137 
    6
  
    137B
    10/48
    7040 
    163B
    2/69
    1 unit of ABBA set #137 
    6
  
    137C
    10/48
    7041 
    164B
    2/69
    1 unit of ABBA set #137 
    6
  
    137D
    10/48
    7011 
    164A
    2/69
    1 unit of ABBA set #137 
    6
  
    138A
    10/48
    7012 
    165C
    2/69
    1 unit of ABBA set #138 
    6
  
    138B
    10/48
    7042 
    165B
    2/69
    1 unit of ABBA set #138 
    6
  
    138C
    10/48
    7043 
    166B
    2/69
    1 unit of ABBA set #138 
    6
  
    138D
    10/48
    7013 
    166C
    2/69
    1 unit of ABBA set #138 
    6
  
    160A
    11/47
    4469 
     
    1/70 
    1 unit of ABA set #160 
     
    160B
    11/47
    4473 
     
    1/68 
    1 unit of ABA set #160 
    8
  
    160A
    11/47
    4470 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABA set #160 
     
    161A
    11/47
    4471 
     
    3/68 
    1 unit of ABA set #161 
     
    161B
    11/47
    4474 
     
    1/68 
    1 unit of ABA set #161 
     
    161C
    11/47
    4472 
     
    2/69 
    1 unit of ABA set #161 
     
    162A
    6/48
    6506 
     
    1/68 
    1 unit of ABA set #162 
     
    162B
    6/48
    6508 
     
    1/68 
    1 unit of ABA set #162 
     
    162C
    6/48
    6507 
     
    1/68 
    1 unit of ABA set #162 
     
    9960A
    10/47
    4424 
     
    9/64 
    1 unit of ABA set #9960 
    7
  
    9960B
    10/47
    4430 
     
    1/67 
    1 unit of ABA set #9960 
    7
  
    9960C
    10/47
    4425 
     
    11/65 
    1 unit of ABA set #9960 
    7
  
    9961A
    10/47
    4426 
     
    10/63 
    1 unit of ABA set #9961 
    7
  
    9961B
    10/47
    4431 
     
    10/63 
    1 unit of ABA set #9961 
    7
  
    9961C
    10/47
    4427 
     
    7/63 
    1 unit of ABA set #9961 
    7
  
    9962A
    10/47
    4428 
     
    9/63 
    1 unit of ABA set #9962 
    7
  
    9962B
    10/47
    4432 
     
    8/64 
    1 unit of ABA set #9962 
    7
  
    9962C
    10/47
    4429 
     
    8/64 
    1 unit of ABA set #9962 
    7
  
Footnotes4. Sold to C&S 7/60 renumbered 703
5. Equipped with nose MU air and electrical
connections sometime after delivery.
6. F-3 number series 137 through 138 were broken up
and renumbered in 1950 and combined with 4 F-7's to produce F-3-7 series 163 through 166.
The F-3 series 137, for example, became F-3-7 163, using an F7 (later renumbered 163A) and
F-3 137 (using the "A" and "B" units), and F-3-7 164, using an F-7 and
F-3 137 ("C" and "D"), and so on.
7. Purchased for use on the California Zephyr.
Originally painted silver passenger colors, withdrawn from passenger service in 1955. At
that time, boilers removed and re-geared for freight service. 
8. Modified with a square hostler window and
controls added.
Content Š2007 BRHS