CF7 locomotive

[strikefour]

I recently spotted a unusual locomotive on commonwealth railway. i figure it is EMD CF&7 locomotive. does anybody know the history of this locomotive?

[edblysard]

The Santa Fe rebuilt a large number of their F7s into CF7s at their Cleburne Texas Shops.
They have been sold, and resold many times over, but they all started life in Santa Fe paint.
Type CF7 into your search engine and you will find a lot of other info.
Ed

[samfp1943]

Strikefour:
http://www.kyrail.org/images/2546e.jpg
Here is the address of the CF-7 preserved at the KY Railway museum in original Santa Fe Blue and Yellow.. Shows the cab modification which I think contained a station for the Conductor to work his paperwork at, this was about the time that cabooses were done away with, which is why that mod was included.
Sam

[mudchicken]

Round wagontop or Topeka Cab?

Probably either 2512 or 2517 (Topeka Cabs) that came off TennKen...

[strikefour]

thanks, i was thinking that maybe possible with the shape of the fuel tank. with the info, the locomotive at the museum in crewe, va is the same type. lady there told me it was a former santa fe locomotive that was restored after being found left on a siding in the middle of nowhere in the blue ridge mountains. i have a few photos but not sure how to post them.

[NscaleMike]

Here is one I took in Bakersfield CA 22yrs ago at their roundhouse.

Mike

[nanaimo73]

Here are some pictures of Commonwealth CF7 517-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=19448

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The CF7 was the output of one of the most thorough rebuilding programs ever devised. Santa Fe had an unusually large number of carbody units on its roster and was using them on local freights and branches, service for which they were poorly suited. Apparently, Santa Fe did not view trading them in on new GP38's as financially justifiable since they would be putting a brand-new locomotive in branchline and local service.

Because of the change from carbody to hood design, the frame had to be beefed up with heavy side sills since the bridge-truss carbody of the F unit was no longer available to support weight. A lot of sheet-metal work was also involved since the cab and hoods had to be fabricated virtually from scratch.

After all was said and done, Santa Fe rebuilt 233 F7A's and F9A's into CF7's (2649-2417), and got about 15+ years of additional service out of them before they were retired and sold to a collection of shortlines, equipment dealers, Amtrak and industrial operations. Here's a link for who got what.
http://rosters.gcrossett.com/atsf/CF7dispos.htm

[edbenton]

Most of the CF-7's are still in service were tehy were sold. I know here in Streator every now and the the Illinios Railnet sends theres down with the local.

[Anonymous]

the only 2 i have ever seen, were both working in Beardstown, IL. one in ex-ATSF colors, but different lettering, and the other in a very dark blue or black color(IIRC, ive only seen them about 3 times, and all from the river, out on tow, so no camera with me. ed, i ddnt know there was another around in service "near" Streator...

[adrianspeeder]

Looks like the ole bulldogs got roughed up square...

[Soo6049]

The first CF-7s had rounded cabs. They went to square cabs later when air conditioning units were added. Many that were originally built with the rounded cabs had square cabs installed later with the A/C. Never saw a CF-7 with any kind of conductors work station. I can't say I was to impressed with them. Santa Fe put a switch gear in them so they would load fast when switching, but took the clasp brake shoes off of them so they didn't have enough brakes to stop quick when switching. Every one I ever saw had oil leaking down into the #3 traction motor too. They all kept the F unit electrical equipment so there are plenty of electrical problems with them as would be expected out of 55 year old electrical parts.

Soo6049

[JoeKoh]

strikefour
welcome to the forums! the maumee and western shortline here in defiance has one in service.if you would like a pic just email me.
stay safe
joe