F7 question

[IronHoarse]

Hi Guys,

Were F7's used for freight as well as passenger service? I was thinking of getting a Lionel F7 ABA set, but I do not have the room for O 54 curves which O scale passenger cars seem to require. Thanks in advance for your responses

[lionelsoni]

I would say that they were better suited to freight than passenger service, which was more a specialty of the E units. By the way, the "F" stood for "fifteen" (hundred horsepower), not "freight" as is often assumed.

[IronHoarse]

lionelsoni,

Thanks. And congrats on that fifth star!

[Anonymous]

There were "stretched" versions of the F7 and F9 (designated as FP) that were modified for passenger service. These units were geared for passenger service and the extra length housed a steam generator and additional water tankage.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I'm fairly sure that this is an F unit that I'm about to board in Hawk Jct., Ontario in 1997.



A good page about F units. Note the comment about the Sante Fe.
http://exotic.railfan.net/F.htm

[4kitties]

The various models of Funits (FT thru F9) were used by nearly all major railroads to power freight trains. Lionel took some poetic license in putting Santa Fe passenger F's in their freight sets, and in so doing they set a precedent that many model train makers followed. But F's are definitely at home on freight trains, and that's how I use mine.

Joel

[Anonymous]

It is my understanding that ATSF's F freight units were painted in the blue livery, which distinguished them from the war bonnet red and silver units

[DCmontana]

The Milwaukee used them for both freight and passenger service. F-7s probably pulled the last Hiawathas.

[ARRCDSPR]

Alaska Railroad used them for both services many years with several different paint schemes...







and the Bicentennial Special


and lastly here is one leaving Denali Park over Riley Creek Bridge.


Unfortunately we got rid of them all and replaced them with the GPs and then the SD-70MACs. But there is still one retired at the Alaska Transportation Museum in Wasilla. If you ever come up to visit it is worth the trip.

SMK

[IronHoarse]

Wow! That is a great picture of a train on a bridge. Thanks for sharing.