I was wondering when the SCL retired its F units. I think I read somewhere that all were off the roster by the early 1970s. However, I (think) I can remember seeing F units on trains on the Spartanburg subdivision in the mid to late 1970s. These were on trains that would have been coming off the Clinchfield in Spartanburg and heading down to Augusta, GA. I was very young at the time, but I could swear I remember seeing these units. Is there anyone here familar with this line during this timeframe who could shed some light? Maybe it was Clinchfield or Georgia F units I saw. Thanks for any insight anyone can provide.

Bryan

-- Bryan Russell (btr5353@hotmail.com), December 16, 2002

Answers

Bryan, the SCL F units were all gone, either scrapped or traded in for U-36B's or GP-38-2's, by mid summer, 1971. The FP-7's lasted a little longer, the last were gone by mid spring, 1973. The Clinchfield F-7's that you remember continued in general freight service through the mid 70's before being traded or scrapped. One FP- 7 and one F-5 rebuilt into an F-7 and two F-7b's made the merger transitions through early CSX and were used system wide to promote the new system. If you can find copies, see Warren Calloway's book,"Atlantic Coast Line" The Diesel Years, and Steve King's "Clinchfield Country" for more info. The Clinchfield units that you saw were generally pooled with SCL power on trains SCL 397/CRR 97 and CRR 92/SCL 392. Sometimes CRR units were also on SCL coal trains between Spartanburg, Laurens, and Irmo or Wateree or Pinopolis Jct.via Columbia Newberry & Laurens. Additionally CRR units sometimes ran to the Lee Steam Plant at Pelzerover the Piedmont and Northern.

Hope the above has helped, Steve Kamp sakamp@hotmail.com

-- Steve Kamp (sakamp@hotmail.com), December 16, 2002.