Athearn Phase 1 Santa Fe EMD CF 7 with Tsunami sound.

I photographed this digital video last week Wednsday night, at the Oak Park Society
of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.

Seen here is my recently purchased Athearn DCC ready model, of an early 1970's era EMD
CF 7 light roadswitcher diesel electric locomotive, from the former Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railroad. I had the model modified with a Soundtrax Tsunami DCC sound decoder.

The prototype Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe had a large fleet of aging first generation EMD
F 7 cab unit streamlied diesel locomotives, which unfortunately had very poor rear viewing,
and were unsuitable for anything other than long distance freight or passenger trains. long since replaced by EMD GP 7's, GP9's and various other hood unit type diesel roadswitchers by the 1960's, the Santa Fe experimented with the idea of rebuilding the remaining EMD F 7's, which still had some good usable miles on them mechanically.

Beginning in 1969, the Santa Fe took one EMD F 7 out of service, sent it to their Cleburne Texas railroad shops facility stripped it down to the frame, added porches at both ends, rebuilt the electrical components and EMD 567 prime mover, and fabricated a "New" hood unit body style similar to the EMD GP 9's with a low front nose. The experiment was a success, and thus was born the EMD CF 7.

The unique model EMD CF 7 stands for Cleburne, and F 7 which is the model that this new and
practical locomotive that was rebuilt from useful but aging EMD F 7's. The Santa Fe had rebuilt several EMD CF7's until 1978,and they lasted in service until retired from the Santa Fe roster in 1987. These versatile locomotives did everything from yard switching, local freights, work trains, -
transfer trains, and even long distance road freights.

My locomotive shown here, is a "Phase 1" EMD CF 7 with a low cab. Later Santa Fe CF 7's featured a tall and angular cab. This model is painted in the Santa Fe's yellow bonnet freight color scheme that was introduced in the year of 1972.

After retirement, the Santa Fe sold several of these rebuilt locomotives to various shortline railroads, private industries,and Amtrak for terminal switching operations.

Thanks.
Eddie K.