Old Stuff On The MARC, Part Two: The F-Units

The MARC Commuter Rail system in the early 1990s was loads of fun for railfans. We've already covered the rickety old RDCs. Tonight, we'll take a quick look at some of the F-units MARC employed during the period leading up to their mid-90s fleet upgrade. These classic locomotives from a bygone era in rail travel are extremely photogenic. Dating back to the late 40s and early 50s, they're streamlined and elegant and with the right paint scheme can appear to be smiling. Enough said. The CSX F7 (A-B) set above, followed by one of MARC's own F7 A units, is seen crossing the Monacacy River near Dickerson, MD in 1992.

MARC #7100 at Brunswick, MD in 1994, awaiting repainting in the silver/blue/orange scheme.

CSX #116 and MARC #83 in the yard at Brunswick, MD in 1991.

CSX #116 pushes its train east past Point of Rocks, MD in 1992.

MARC #'s 85 & 7100 on the west end of Rail Appreciation Days special train at Brunswick, MD in 1991.

CSX #118 and MARC #7100 approaching the Thomas Viaduct en route to Baltimore on MARC's Camden Line in 1992.

MARC #85 approaching Metropolitan Grove Road in Gaithersburg, MD in 1994.

MARC #83 races west past eastbound auto-racks near Derwood, MD in 1993. For the record, I would recommend against trying to cling to the top of a barbed-wire fence to shoot two high-speed trains heading in opposite directions within seconds of each other in insufficient light. Just sayin'.

THANKS FOR LOOKING. MUCH MORE TO COME...