painted the F-units into their simpli- fied blue and gray paint scheme and renumbered the four units 116-119. No. 116 was originally built for the Clinchfield in 1948 as F5A No. 800, lat- er upgraded to F7 specs. The other cab unit was an FP7 built in 1952 as Clinchfield 200, which later became CSX 118. The two cab-less “B” units were both built in 1950. Clinchfield F7B No. 869 (originally built for the Nashville, Chattanooga & St Louis) would become CSX 117, and F7B No. 250 would become CSX 119. The F- units combined with the RoadRailer trailers made for a streamlined, sleek looking train.


“F” is for Freight Unfortunately, the F-units were doomed from the start. On their first run in RoadRailer service, the F’s were involved in a fatal automobile grade crossing collision in Fairfield, Ohio. It wasn’t long before operating prob- lems began to appear. Only rated at


RIGHT: Soutbound train R-211 crosses the Hickory Creek south of Morley, Tenn., on August 28, 1988.


BELOW: A more impressive tall bridge is crossed over Cove Creek at Jacksboro, Tenn., on the same day. TWO PHOTOS DAVID P. OROSZI


44 AUGUST 2012 • RAILFAN.COM


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