According to the surviving F-units list the history of the unit is:
F7A 8479 12/48 ex CSX 116, ex SBD 116, ex FL 800, nee CRR 800 rebuilt by CRR in 1952 from an F3A)
Note, some rosters refer to this unit as an F3u
The photo below was taken by J. Alex Lang on October 18, 2003
> I posted last week about riding the Potomac
> Eagle pulled by F7 C&O 8016. This engine
> was in beautiful full C&O paint. I was
> told it was authentic. Perhaps I
> misunderstood. The paint scheme is authentic
> C&O. But it is numbered one higher than
> the C&O FP7s. I have learned that it is
> ex CSX #116. I believe it might have
> originally been a Clinchfield F7. At any
> rate it is a great looking, great running
> diesel. It will be there for railfan day on
> Nov 1st.
> Tom Parkins
Link to photo on Railpictures.net
rrhistorian@hotmail.com