All About Aurora Postage Stamp Trains
F9-B Powered Diesels
Prototype Information
These highly successful diesel-electric locomotives were manufactured by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors; the F7s were produced from 1949 to 1953, and the F9s from 1953 to 1960. The F7 was the single most popular locomotive in its class, and saw use in both freight and passenger service on well over fifty railroads in North America. Trix's model is correctly referred to as an F7 in their catalog, whereas Aurora inexplicably changed it to F9, which is incorrect. That said, the main difference between the two is the pattern of smaller grilles along the side between the porthole windows.
Model Information
Catalog Numbers/Road Names
- 4854 Santa Fe
- 4855 Penn Central
- 4856 Baltimore & Ohio
- 4857 Union Pacific
Product Photos
NOTES
A Pennsylvania F9-B was only available as a dummy.
It's very difficult to find B&O diesels in good shape. The gold printing is not durable: it fades, and is sometimes almost completely worn off. Also, the light grey paint chips easily.
In the early 1970s, American Tortoise became the sole importer of these locos, which were sold under the Minitrix and Model Power brands. Production continued until the late 1990s, when Trix went bankrupt, and their new owner, Märklin, ended production of all North American models.
Packaging
Given that each road name has a unique catalog number, the road codes included on the packaging seem a bit redundant. Odd, too, that they didn't always do it.
See Also...
- F9-A Diesels
- F9-A and F9-B Dummies
- Diesel Maintenance Instructions
- Servicing Older Locomotives
- Locomotive Packaging