"Kitbashing" Full scale

[modelmaker51]

I believe they rebuilt/reenforced the frames with new I beams to beef up the frames.

[Anonymous]

There's a bit more to a CF7 than that - they're a completely new bodyshell on an F unit frame. I'm not sure how they got around the structural problems though - the strength of the F unit and other carbody designs was from the whole shell (much like a modern car or aeroplane) while hood units have stronger frames - the hoods are just there to keep the weather off. Lopping the bodywork off an F unit would cause the frame to buckle under the weight - I've seen locos being scrapped where this has happened after the body sides were cut off before the power unit was removed. I do recall reading somewhere that the CF7 couldn't be operated in large MU lashups for this reason, though I may be wrong.

[tjsmrinfo]

Santa Fe also took old F units and put a GP long hood on them in their Cleburne,Tx shops
These are called CF7's.

Tom

[JohnT14808]

Looks like a fun diesel to put together! I havn't done one, but putting them together is half the fun!!

[SpaceMouse]

Cute lil sucker.

[Bill H.]

Santa Fe Beep. Anybody ever build one? (Model version)

http://atsf.railfan.net/beep/

QUOTE: There have been occasional rumors of the unit's imminent demise, but as of early 2005, the 1460 was still at Topeka. The locomotive's three decades of service make it easily the longest lived Santa Fe rebuilt locomotive still working for BNSF.