L.I.R.R. FA's - Trains Magazine

None of the FA's were locomotives on the LIRR. All were bought at just above scrap value to be made into head-end-power cab cars. Not much money was spent on them, because (1) they could always be replaced by other diesels saved from scrapping and treated similarly, and (2) the plan always was to eventually buy diesels that would provide head end power in addition to traction and also use cab-car coaches. (Now the Kawaski double deckers) There were also some EMD F-7's (possibly some F-3's, too) that got similarly treated, used interchangeably.

In the era these cab-car ex-locomotives were used, almost all the coaches and parlor cars were de-motored Post WWII mu cars replaced by the M-1's that started to arrive around 1969 and are now being replaced by the M-7's. They were similar to the "ac-mu's" the 1000 and 1100 green cars of Metro North. Some were actually owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and leased to LIRR.

These de-motored mu's replaced a lot of second hand lightweight equipment and some remaining p-70's, and p-54's (ping pongs for their rough riding qualities) that had survived since the 30's and '40's. This was mostly steam heated equipment. And the LIRR did have road-switcher diesels with steam boilers. Also DD-1 electrics that retained their steam boilers from their Manhattan Transfer PRR days.