This Kader-made HO-scale Electro-Motive FT diesel locomotive model first appeared in AHM’s product line in the early/mid-1970s. The model joined Bachmann’s catalog in the late 1970s. This uncommon road name is a Canadian market offering that presents Canadian National’s (CN) 1960s livery on this early F-unit.
ABOVE: At a glance this white with yellow cardboard window display box looks like a typical 1970s era Bachmann package. Look closely in the upper right and you’ll see bilingual English/French for the hobby maker’s “Quality Since 1833” slogan.
While General Motors found many buyers in the U.S. for its legendary first regular production F-unit, the FT was skipped by Canadian roads. FT production began in 1939 and continued through late 1945. Combing A-units and B-units, FT production numbers topped 1,000 examples.
The prototype came equipped with a 567-type prime mover providing 1,350 horsepower for this four-axle diesel locomotive. While all F-units share a similar appearance, the main spotting feature for the FT is the closely spaced set of four portholes on the sides of this cab unit.
ABOVE: The real FT had EMD’s 567 prime mover under its hood, this late 1970s Bachmann release possesses a pancake-type motor mounted over the rear truck.
Early releases of this Kader HO-scale FT came with 8-wheel drive mechanisms and those included AHM’s releases of 1974. By the time this FT joined Bachmann’s line, a single-truck drive mechanism was common. In addition, Bachmann offered non-powered dummy FTs in the late 1970s and into the early 1980s.
The model made a 21st century comeback to Bachmann’s line and has available since the early 2000s with all-wheel drive, refined design truck sideframes, a new chassis, and knuckle couplers. The A-unit was joined by a B-unit with these 2000s production runs. In recent years an E-Z App FT has been offered, along with Digital Command Control-equipped FTs.
