Following the concept of main constructor Richard Dillworth, a new freight locomotive called FT (F = freight, T = "twenty-seven hundred horsepower")  had been designed in 1938, based on the 16-567 engine (1000 kW at 750 rpm) and the D8 main generator. Its trucks were designed by Martin Blomberg. Each unit weighed 110 tons. The cab and the booster units were connected by a fixed coupler. The appearance of the locomotive was a new design, similar to the E-s but with a shorter ("bulldog") nose. This appearance became legendary in American locomotive design.

The first two cab-booster sets had left the factory in February 1939. In November, the two sets connected together (A-B-B-A) to produce 4000 kW started to run a 11-month demonstration tour on the lines of 20 railroads of 35 states. During this time they'd run 83764 miles without problems. In some cases the diesel engines had run for 5 days continuously. This tour was readily successful and proved the advantages of diesel traction in freight service.

Santa Fe Railroad was the first to order 2 sets of FTs in 1939 for testing. Between 1940 and 1945 more than 1000 FTs were sold to different railroads. This type was also provided in cabboostercab (A-B-A) arrangement with 3312 kW output.

This model features:

* 8 wheel drive

* Knuckle couplers

Goes GREAT with our FT-A unit for even MORE pulling power!

Photo may or may not show actual road number you are purchasing. Photo for visual reference only!