Chicago, Burlington & Quincy O Scale Premier F-3 ABA Diesel Set - With Proto-Sound 2.0

World War II had called for locomotive manufacturers to adhere to production guidelines as set by the War Production Board. With the war's end in 1945, EMD, like other major competitors, worked hard to meet industry demand after four years of restricted supply. In the freight cab market, EMD released their F-series. The F-3 headlined the series, debuting in the summer of 1945, a few months before the official end of the war.

The F-3 emerged with a new generator that supplied both direct and alternating current, an important upgrade for EMD's initial F-unit design. Because of the addition of the dual generator, AC-powered fans and blowers could be operated electrically, boosting the locomotives' ability to stay in top form. The 1,500-h.p. rated F-3, with its bulldog nose and dual capabilities set a standard in railroading. In test runs, No. 291, a demonstrator unit, logged over 125,000 miles in sixteen months pulling freight and passenger loads. Railroads were impressed with the tests and hundreds of advanced orders for the F-3s poured in.

EMD and Premier fans will no doubt want to order any of these stellar replicas of the F-3 dressed in five exciting paint schemes. The Premier F-3 represents the bulldog tenacity of the prototype in 1:48 scale complete with the awesome sounds and features of Proto-Sound 2.0.

Did You Know? F-3s assigned for freight duty utilized a "wedge" pilot rather than the smooth pilot found on passenger service assignments.