General Motors sold a total of 1,096 FT units. This success was partially because so many railroads quickly accepted the revolutionary advantages of Diesels. But it was also partly because the war prevented GM from innovating, which would have led to F2 and F3 locomotives much earlier in the decade.

This card is unsigned but is probably by Ben Dedek.

Here’s another data card showing a three-unit FT. Lackawanna apparently ordered four FTs with three units and two with four units. The three-unit versions were delivered in April 1945.

This card is signed B. Dedek.

Here is a card for the four-unit version, which was delivered in May 1945. This card is signed Dedek, but both are in the same style (and in the same apparent location on the river). In fact, with the exception of the number and the fourth unit, they are practically identical, so I suspect both are by Dedek.

This card is signed B. Dedek.

Chicago & North Western ordered two four-unit FTs, number 5400 and 5401. They were delivered in May 1945. Is it a coincidence that a four-unit FT generated 5400 horsepower and 5400 was the number of C&NW’s series for that locomotive? If so, we’ll find more coincidences like that for some other locomotive types.

This card is signed B. Dedek.

New York, Ontario & Western ordered four FTs with four units and one with just two. The four-unit locomotives were numbered in the 800 series (beginning with 801) while the two units were numbered 601 A & B. According to various web sites, the two units were actually paid for by Standard Oil of New Jersey (now Exxon) for testing purposes.

This locomotive illustrates an interesting principle. Many railroads preferred drab colors for their freight locomotives to make it easier to hide dirt and repaint them. But the fronts of locomotives needed to be in bright colors, preferably orange or yellow, to make them more visible at grade crossings. Except for the nose, one broad stripe, and one pin stripe, this locomotive is almost entirely grey.