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APPN F9A US Early

Unlike the previous F3 and F7 locomotives, the F9s demonstrated a paradigm shift in the Appalachia Northern. Only four of the locomotives were purchased by APPN, and no cabless B units were obtained. This is because APPN, being a railroad with no small number of grades, found the 6-axle heavy duty locomotives introduced by locomotive manufacturers to be more attractive. Still, the four F9s faithfully performed long tours of duty for the APPN, and all four made it into the F38 rebuild program later in life. Perhaps most significantly, the locomotives would play a part in the APPN ordering Australian-inspired 6-axle A7 locomotives, combining the traditional F unit carbody with the lugging power of Flexicoil C trucks.

The F9s were given the designation "RFD-175-4", denoting a Road Freight Diesel locomotive with 1750 Horsepower and 4 powered axles. The locomotive sports the "orange arrow" paint scheme used after the mid 1950s until the mid 1960s.