North American prototype diesel locomotives are well represented in the hobby. Nevertheless, a variety of interesting and unique locomotives lend themselves to our product philosophy. The first of our releases will be the FL9, a group of 60-locomotives that were built by EMD, exclusively for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.

Though the B+A-1-A truck arrangement had already been used by Fairbanks-Morse, the FL9 was unique because it was designed to operate as either a conventional diesel-electric, or as a conventional electric. At a time when most railroads opted for road switchers, the New Haven purchased its new dual-service locomotives with full car bodies. As an historical footnote, that decision resulted in the New Haven’s #2059 being both the last FL9 and the last classic F-unit built by EMD.

 Our FL9 model will be the first of various unique diesel locomotives from our workshops. The FL9 models are scheduled for production in 2012, and like our other models, will be available authentically detailed complete with era appropriate liveries and graphics.