I am looking to do an article for my local NRHS newsletter on the ex-CN F7 re-painted for Santa Fe at the Museum of the American Railroad in Dallas. Can anyone give details on when it was acquired, when it was repainted, and/or pictures of it?

Thanks.

Chris J.

I saw this engine some years ago, looked really nice. Seems strange that more from the Santa Fe weren't saved. In any case here is a photo I found on the web: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mojavegirl1216/2884030233/

David Farlow

I think that the answer to that question is called "CF-7"

Gary,

I think you are right about that, the recycling program cleared off the fleet before the preservation era. Aside from the F in Sacramento, are there any others out there or E units from the Santa Fe (not including FP45's)?

David Farlow

Santa Fe didn't have a lot of E-units and didn't buy any 'brand new' ones after the E3. Their early AA's, E1's and E3's got rebuilt into 8 "E8Am"s and 3 "E8Bm"s in the early '50s by EMD. None of the E8Am's were preserved either. I believe they were off the roster by 1970. Amtrak didn't get any of them. Santa Fe was a great example of "repurposing" as their CF7 and similar programs demonstrated, but that didn't leave much for the preservationists. I'm not aware of any other F-units preserved in original condition besides the pair in Sacramento. It's regrettable that the only PA that has a chance of returning to ATSF colors in the forseeable future remains an unrestored wrecked shell in Oregon (ex-D&H #16, owned by the Smithsonian.)

Chris, check your PMs regarding the "Santa Fe" F7.

Regards,
Ben Kroger
Dallas, Texas

It's an interesting story, although I don't quite understand what the advantage was in cutting down the F7 bodies to create a Geep. Visibility? Complete unit renewal and refabrication? The F7A was a symbol of the Santa Fe. I just seems odd that they'd all get cut down for the amount of time they continued on AT&SF tracks. A few wound up here in Maine, on the Bangor and Aroostook. I don't think any survive today.

The full-width carbodies were not suitable for switching duties because of visibility. Santa Fe was able to remanufacture the F7's into hood switchers for about $40k each, vs. spending $150k for a new unit. Ultimately 233 units were converted.

Visibility was part of the reason, but the need for end platforms and steps for switching operations (in place of the footboards installed on F7s used in local service), plus a desire to simplify access to the prime mover and other components also promted the decision to convert the F7s and F9s into CF7s.