F Unit Noses

The nose of the EMD F Unit is unlikely to be confused with anything else. Often referred to a bullldog nose the round design came about as a need to add style to passenger trains and provide safety to crews. The nose was equipped with a heavy nose door. This door swung inward allowing crews to move from one unit to another enroute. A toilet and airbrake equipment occupied the nose area which also housed the headlights and the numberboard lighting. a pair of heavy crash posts were located inside the nose affording protection for the crew. In later years the ATSF and many other roads added lifting lugs to these collision posts aiding in the rerailing or uprighting of the units after a derailment. Santa Fe F Units carried many paint schemes during their long careers with the carrier. Many paint schemes were variations on a theme. Hollow heralds, stripes and coloration was all up for modification when the units were repainted. It is oftern possible fo find consecutively numbered locomotives carrying different paint schemes as shown below by the 338 and 339.

EMD F Unit Noses