E7's that got away...

davew833 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 25, 2011 1:21 pm

It's common knowledge that of the 428 EMD E7's built, only one escaped the torch, PRR #5701 at RRMPa. I was reading last night in Rock Island in Color Vol. 2, by Morning Sun Books, that three RI E7's, #641, #642, and one other, lasted right up until the railroad ceased operations in 1980 but sadly escaped preservation. Does anyone know of any other E7's that survived into the '80s only to be scrapped?

FLO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:07 am **Posts:** 328

Related question: Were all the Burlington Northern E7's scrapped in the 1970's?

From what I read on-line, BN E7 #9920 was the only E7 that BN repainted into its green color scheme. Kind of interesting looking with the stainless steel side panels:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=2149

PS. The BN later reused the number 9920 on an E9.

railfan44 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:08 pm

This page on THE DIESEL SHOP shows all preserved diesels:

http://www.thedieselshop.us/PRSVD.html

This page should answer your questions on BN E-units:

http://archive.trainpix.com/BN/ROSTER.HTM

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

Now I have to go on a slide hunt, but I believe that at least one E7 of PRR/NYC heritage languished at the Elizabethport, NJ shops into the early 1980's.

Rob

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

davew833 wrote:

It's common knowledge that of the 428 EMD E7's built, only one escaped the torch, PRR #5701 at RRMPa. I was reading last night in Rock Island in Color Vol. 2, by Morning Sun Books, that three RI E7's, #641, #642, and one other, lasted right up until the railroad ceased operations in 1980 but sadly escaped preservation. Does anyone know of any other E7's that survived into the '80s only to be scrapped?

Dave -

I believe that the other E7 was actually a B unit; 610 is the number that sticks in my mind. I also think that it was actually the last of the Rock Island E7's to remain in active service. Someone please correct me if I have that information wrong.

I also seem to recall seeing photos of a fantrip over the Rock using the B unit with one of the E7 cab unit's. I can't recall the particulars right now, including the destination of the trip (perhaps Peoria?). I seem to recall that they stopped and took photos of Pacific #887 (renumbered as 886) at one of its old display locations. Maybe someone can give particulars as that may very well have been the very last operation with two operable E7's on a train.

Les

Chemungvalleyrail · **Joined:** Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:12 am **Posts:** 90

I recall reading somewhere, possibly RYPN magazine in the early 1990's that a PRR E7 A and B survived until 1986 as did the RI E7B. Imagine the PRR units mated with the surviving unit at Strasburg (sigh). If the RI B had survived, it could have been run with the two survivng Rock E units to make an interesting E6A - E7B- E8A lashup...