Some railroads initially numbered their four-unit FTs and F3s all the same number, such as 800, with individual units designated 800 A, B, C, and D. Others numbered the A units differently, so a four-unit set might be numbered 800 A & B plus 801 A & B.

This card is signed by Ben Dedek.

Wikipedia says that Kansas City Southern bought six four-unit F3s. However, the Kansas City Southern Historical Society says that the railroad’s F3s were numbered 53 through 59 (each A through D), which would be seven four-unit locomotives. In any case, the locomotive shown here, number 54, may not have been first off the line but it was probably delivered in May 1947.

This card is signed by Ben Dedek.

In June 1947, General Motors delivered three A and six B units to Western Pacific. These were painting in passenger colors and allowed the railroad to lead its portion of the California Zephyr with A-B-B tie-ups that provided a streamlined appearance for the full length of the train.

This painting is signed Ben Dedek.

As a minor historical footnote, GM apparently offered Western Pacific this alternate paint scheme, which reversed the silver and orange stripes. It would have made the nose logo stand out a lot more.

This card is signed by Harry Bockewitz.

In June 1947, GM delivered to Western Maryland a two-unit F3 in this thoroughly uninspiring paint scheme. Though it later bought plenty of F7s, GP7s, and GP9s, these were the only F3s WM owned.

This card is signed by Ben Dedek.

Jersey Central took the unusual step of numbering each locomotive separately but putting all the numbers on each A unit. In July 1947 it received ten A units, numbered 50 through 59, and 5 B units, designated A through E. The painting on the data card shows units 51, A, and 52, so the number board reads 51A52.

As shown below, Ben Dedek’s signature was cropped out of the painting on this data card.

Also in July 1947, GM delivered seven three-unit F3s to Erie, meaning 14 As and 7 Bs. Erie would end up buying ten more As and ten more Bs. For some reason, the first order was numbered in the 800s while the second was numbered in the 700s, the same as the FTs that Erie already owned.

This painting is signed by Ben Dedek.

Here is the same painting in a print (or poster) issued by GM. Uncropped, it shows the artist’s signature in the lower left corner.