I have a question for any Fairbanks-Moorse afficianados (anybody really) out there. What was the m.u. capability of these units? I have heard several stories one was that they could operate only with other F-M units and the other is that they could operate with Baldwins as well because the Baldwins had what I've heard refered to as "air throttles" as did the trainmasters. Yet I have seen pictures of trainmasters with EMD products trailing (dead maybe?). I have also seen a photo of one trainmaster with lower end platforms that would mate with more conventional units. Can anybody out there help clear this up? Also any info on air throttles would be quite great. Thanks in advance, Dave Crosby<br>



bing@epix.net

Train Masters as well as FM switchers were available with either air or electric throttles. When equipped with air, they would only MU to other FM products as the air throttle operated on specific air pressures to change the engine RPM. Most if not all FM's not equipped for MU had air throttles. To quote an FM Train Master manual from 1953, "Units can be operated in multiple with each other, with other F-M units, or with certain units of other manufacture. Inter-unit control jumpers must match." From what I have seen, the word "certain" excluded Baldwin air MU.<br>