B&LE F7's

[BleBob]

A thread for the B&LE’s first mainline workhorses the EMD F7s

[BleBob]

The Bessemer had a roster of 28 F7As 701-728 and 26 F7Bs 701B-726B. These units came to the B&LE from 1950 through 1953

[URR566]

The Bessemers F7s were indeed workhorses-they went everywhere and did everything. Some of these venerable engines served the B&LE for nearly 50 years-a record that no other locomotive model on the Bessemer has yet to surpass. Their 54 F7s came from EMD in four separate orders. The orders are as follows-
First order- seven A units numbered 701A-707A and seven B units 701B-707B.
Second order- seven A units numbered 708A-714A and seven B units 708B-714B.
Third order-ten A units 715A-724A and eight B units 715B-722B.
Fourth order- four A units 725A-728A and four B units 723B-726B.

The Bessemer typically ran these units in A-A, A-B-A, and A-B-B-A sets, however by the 1960s they were mixed with 6 axle units on road trains. During the winter months, the F7s could be seen wandering around on other railroads on lease. One railroad that leased some F7s was sister US Steel road Duluth Missabe & Iron Range. Starting in 1954 they leased four A units and B units numbers 723A-726A and 723B-726B. These locomotives received a Missabe Safety First herald over their Bessemer logos on the sides and the Bessemer logo on the nose was parched out but the wings were left intact. In 1958 eight more F units joined them- numbers 719A-722A and 719B-722B. This second batch of leased units did not receive Missabe logos and were left in full Bessemer paint. All sixteen F units were returned in 1959. Other roads, such as New York Central and Canadian Pacific regularly leased these units during the winter months when the Bessemers mainline traffic slowed down, which meant that B&LE F7s could be found as far away as Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Vermont, and even throughout Canada.

As the Bessemer acquired more and more 6 axle SD power, the F7s became surplus and were sold off to other roads. The Baltimore & Ohio acquired the largest number of F units from the Bessemer, getting 701A-711A (B&O 4644-4654-not renumbered consecutively) and 701B-711B (B&O 5527-5537). The next F7s to leave were a batch that went to US Steels Atlantic City, WY ore hauling railroad. Three F7A (723A, 724A, and 726A) and B’s (723B, 724B, and 726B) were leased in 1962 and later sold to the line. A fourth B unit (712B) was sent there in 1975. In 1970 locomotive leaser Precision National picked up five A units (712A-714A, 716A, and 717A) and six B units (714B, 717B, 718B, 720B, 722B, and 725B). At least one of these PNC F units was leased back to the B&LE during a power shortage in 1971. By the 1970s only eight A units and five B units were left. By then they were regulars on the P&C Dock and Western Allegheny operations.

By the 1980s, the F units were only found on the WA on P&C dock. Also at this time, the Bessemer rebuilt these surviving locomotives at their Greenville shops with new electrical equipment and 645 power assemblies installed in the original 567 engine block. They were still rated at 1500 horsepower however they were technically GP38s on the inside. Some of the units assigned to the docks were equipped with remote control. Engines 727A, 721B, and 728A became the standard power for the WA with 715A, 715B, 719A, 719B, and 722A being the regular Conneaut dock switchers.

The 1990s were the end times for some cab units. In October 1992, the Western Allegheny units were retired. The 727A and 728A were sold to the Southern Railroad Company of New Jersey and are still there to this day. The 721B was sold to a scrap yard near Youngstown, OH and cut up. With their withdrawal from service, only the P&C dock F7s were left, with only two of them still in Bessemer orange and black. The year 2000 saw the end of the P&C Dock F7s-they were sold to LTEX-with the last few of them departing the B&LE in late 2001/early 2002. Fortunately all four have since found homes.

A good number of former B&LE F7s are still alive today on shortlines and tourist railroads. I’m still working on researching F7s that are still alive today so I should be able to post that info in the next few days.

[mikeenssle]

Great info Bob.

[dieseldetailer]

I saw a photo of 725 in EL paint today, and they said it's going to be scrapped.

[URR566]

715A, 715B, 719A, and 719B are now owned by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. While they are all painted in the Louisville & Nashville purple scheme, 715A is now renumbered as L&N 819. 718A and I believe 716B are now in Napa California. I have no idea who owns them now and where they’re at now maybe someone here does. 720A is currently owned by the Grafton & Upton Railroad as their 1501. It was previously owned by the Adirondack Railway Preservation Society and before that was part of Toledo Peoria & Western (numbered 1500 on those two roads). 722A works for the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway. It retains its 722 number and is accompanied by former B&LE SD9s 844, 845, and SD18 853 which are owned by the South Branch Valley Railroad. The US Steel F7s that went to Atlantic City all found a home after that line shut down. They were all sold to the Texas Southern dinner train where they worked out of San Antonio TX. From there, they split up-723A 723B, and 724A went to Transisco Tours as 100 101 and 102. In 1993 they were sold to the Washington Central Railroad (same numbers) They then were sold to the Spirit of Washington dinner train in 1996(same numbers). In 2001, they were sold to the Carrizo Gorge Railway (again retained their same numbers-and the 101 ex BLE 723B seems to have disappeared). 726A became Texas Southern 104 before coming back east to the Gettysburg Railroad as their 401. Now Pioneer Rail Lines 401.The last I heard this locomotive was out of service. 712B, 724B and 726B also seem to have vanished. I could not track them down past their US Steel and Texas Southern days.
725A went to Coe Rail Incorporated (CRLE) and is painted in Erie Lackawanna inspired colors. It was the regular power for the Michigan Star Clipper Dinner train. 725A is currently owned by Michigan Air-Line Railway and is still wearing the same number and paint scheme. Last info I heard on this unit was that it was for sale but needed new wheel sets(?).The two former Western Allegheny A units-727A and 728A were sold to the Southern Railroad Company of New Jersey. They are also painted in old fallen flag schemes-727A is painted in a Rock Island scheme while 728 wears New York, Ontario & Western colors now. From what I hear they’re for sale now.
As for all the locomotives that went to the B&O and PNC they none of them survive today.

[nate]

B&LE F7s #720A/722A + Texas #643: ca. 1960...& 2012‏

It is hard to believe, but this scene of 'the vanquishers bracketing the vanquished' at Greenville, PA from the early 1960s would still, with some orange and black paint, be repeatable in 2012! A half-century after this photograph was recorded at the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad's Greenville Shops complex, all three of these elder statesmen freight haulers of the Bessemer are still extent! The two EMDs, ironically, are now seen most often pulling passengers in adjacent states, while the steam locomotive is stored in its home state of Pennsylvania:
gelwood.railfan.net/ble/ble-s643br.jpg
gelwood.railfan.net/ble/ble-s643ar.jpg

B&LE F7A #720A is employed pulling sightseers through the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, and was dressed as "TP&W #1500" on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad at McKeever, NY on October 02, 1999:
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=53141

Though not in the shiny B&LE orange and black of her original owner, #1500 was indeed shiny...in a new Adirondack paint job at Utica, NY on August 16, 2002:
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=100399&nseq=30

B&LE F7A #722A is now power for Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway's tourist trains on the South Branch Valley Railroad, along the South Branch of the Potomac River in West Virginia, operating as "PEX #722":
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=116654&nseq=25
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=123648&nseq=16

#722 has even got eagle wings, again, on her nose, which were nicely displayed here on August 20, 2005 at Petersburg, WV, when she was posing as part of yet another trio of classic, now-vintage locomotives, one other of which (as in the 1960s Greenville view) is also an EMD F unit:
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=116614&nseq=26

B&LE 2-10-4 'Texas-type' #643 was outside the ex-P&LE Rr shops in McKees Rocks, PA when this picture was taken by Bill Navari in July of 1999. The engine has since been moved to a nearby site to await restoration for museum display or (remotely possible) operation. The bell, headlight, gauges, rods and other removable artifacts have been taken off of the engine and stowed for safe keeping:
gelwood.railfan.net/ble/ble-s643na.jpg

Just for perspective, here is sister Texas-type #609 in what I think is one of the most dramatic image records of a B&LE 2-10-4 doing what they did best: moving long strings of hopper cars on the main line:
gelwood.railfan.net/ble/ble-s609x.jpg

I know that the likelihood of ever again reconvening this 'tempting trifecta of tractive effort' just south of the Greenville Roundhouse, is very low, but it is nice to know that one can tease the imagination with the relative 'do-ability' of this trio gathering in 2012, if the planets ever lined up to make it happen.

[BleBob]

Anybody have the dates for the F7 orders?

This information could be important for modelers looking at the different phases of F7s

[dmirble]

From the May/June 2012 Diesel Era article:

Road #, Builder, Model, Builder's #, Builder's Date, Frame/Order Number, Remarks

701A EMD F7A 11809 6/50 6118-A1 To B&O 4644, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 5/7/68.

701B EMD F7B 11816 6/50 6118-B1 To B&O 5527, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 1967.

702A EMD F7A 11810 6/50 6118-A2 To B&O 4645, mid-1962; leased to CP, 2/72-5/72; traded to EMD 7/17/72.

702B EMD F7B 11817 6/50 6118-B2 To B&O 5528, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 3/6/68.

703A EMD F7A 11811 6/50 6118-A3 To B&O 4646, mid-1962; leased to CP, 2/72-8/72 ; to Naporano Iron & Metal, 11/26/73.

703B EMD F7B 11818 6/50 6118-B3 To B&O 5529, mid-1962; leased to CP, 2/72-7/72, 11/72-4/73; to Naporano Iron & Metal, 12/28/73.

704A EMD F7A 11812 6/50 6118-A4 To B&O 4647, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 2/3/68.

704B EMD F7B 11819 6/50 6118-B4 To B&O 5530, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 2/3/68

705A EMD F7A 11813 6/50 6118-A5 To B&O 4652, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 10/3/72.

705B EMD F7B 11820 6/50 6118-B5 To B&O 5531, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 5/7/68

706A EMD F7A 11814 6/50 6118-A6 To B&O 4653, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 1967.

706B EMD F7B 11821 6/50 6118-B6 To B&O 5532. mid-1962; renumbered B&O 5490:2, 4/70; to M-K (D), 4/4/75 ; scrapped 8/75.

707A EMD F7A 11815 6/50 6118-A7 To B&O 4654, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 4/5/68.

707B EMD F7B 11822 6/50 6118-B7 To B&O 5533, mid-1962; leased to CP, 2/73-8/72; traded to EMD, 7/5/72.

708A EMD F7A 13678 2/51 3085-A1 To B&O 4648, mid-1962; to Naporano Iron & Metal, 8/5/75.

708B EMD F7B 13685 2/51 3085-B1 To B&O 5534, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 5/7/68.

709A EMD F7A 13679 2/51 3085-A2 To B&O 4649, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 11/18/70.

709B EMD F7B 13686 2/51 3085-B2 To B&O 5535, mid-1962 ; traded to EMD, 9/30/68.

710A EMD F7A 13680 2/51 3085-A3 To B&O 4650, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 4/14/70.

710B EMD F7B 13687 2/51 3085-B3 To B&O 5536, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 11/24/72.

711A EMD F7A 13681 3/51 3085-M To B&O 4651, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 2/27/68.

711B EMD F7B 13688 3/51 3085-B4 To B&O 5537, mid-1962; traded to EMD, 7/10/72.

712A EMD F7A 13682 3/51 3085-A5 To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970.

712B EMD F7B 13689 3/51 3085-B5 To USSX 712B, disposition unknown.

713A EMD F7A 13683 3/51 3085-A6 To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970.

713B EMD F7B 13690 3/51 3085-B6

714A EMD F7A 13684 3/51 3085-A7 To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970.

714B EMD F7B 13691 3/51 3085-B7 To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970; to C&NW 330, 2/72; retired 12/1/75; traded to EMD, 12/75.

715A EMD F7A 16587 6/52 3105-A1 To Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Co. 715A, 1968; to L TE (D), 2001; to Tennessee Central Railway Museum, Nashville, Tenn., 12/01.

715B EMD F7B 16598 6/52 3105-B1 To Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Co. 715B; 1968; to L TE (D), 2001; to Turnage/Thompson, 12/01 ; Tennessee Central Railway Museum.

716A EMD F7A 16588 6/52 3105-A2 To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970.

716B EMD F7B 16599 6/52 3105-B2

717A EMD F7A 16589 6/52 3105-A3 To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970.

717B EMD F7B 16600 6/52 3105-B3 To Precision Engineering Co. (D) , 1970; to C&NW 327, 5/71 ; retired 4/12/; to PNC (D), 6/76, scrapped.

718A EMD F7A 16590 6/52 3105-M To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970.

718B EMD F7B 16601 6/52 3105-B4 To Precision Engineering Co. (D) , 1970; to C&NW 331, 2/72; retired 12/1/75; trade-in to EMD , 12/75.

719A EMD F7A 16591 6/52 3105-A5 To Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Co. 719A, 1973-1998; to LTE (D) ; to TCRM 719A, 1/01.

719B EMD F7B 16602 6/52 3105-B5 To Turnage/Thompson, 11/02; to Tennessee Central Railway Museum.

720A EMD F7A 16592 6/52 3105-A6 To U.S. Steel, Pinnacle Mine, W.Va., 720A; to TPW 1500; to Adirondack Scenic 1500, 2001.

720B EMD F7B 16603 6/52 3105-B6 To Precision Engineering Co. (D), 1970; to CNW 328, 4/71; retired 6/26/73, scrapped 1974.

721A EMD F7A 16593 6/52 3105-A7

721B EMD F7B 16604 6/52 3105-B7

722A EMD F7A 16594 6/52 3105-A8 To Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Co. 722A, 6/87-1998; to L TE (D) , 2001; to Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad 722, Romney, W.Va., 8/02.

722B EMD F7B 16605 6/52 3105-B8

723A EMD F7A 165951 6/52 3105-A9 To U.S. Steel 723A; to Texas Southern 100; to Transcisco Tours 100; to WCRC 100, 1993; to CZRY 100, 2001; to Carrizo Gorge Railway 100.

723B EMD F7B 17913 2/53 3158-B1 To U.S. Steel 723B; to Texas Southern 101; to Transcisco Tours 101; to WCRC 101, 1993; to CZRY 101, 2001; to Carrizo Gorge Railway 101

724A EMD F7A 16596 6/52 3105-Al0 To U.S. Steel 724A; to Texas Southern 102; to Transcisco Tours 102; to WCRC 102, 1993; to CZRY 102, 2001; to Carrizo Gorge Railway 102.

724B EMD F7B 17914 2/53 3158-B2 To USSX 724B; to Texas Southern 105; scrapped.

725A EMD F7A 17909 2/53 3158-Al To Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Co. 725A, 8/83; to MAL 725, 3/12.

725B EMD F7B 17919 2/53 3158-B3 To Precision Engineering Co. (D) , 1970; to C&NW BU-39, 10/22/71 ; retired 9/23/80.

726A EMD F7A 17910 2/53 3158-A2 To U.S. Steel 726A; to Texas Southern 104, 7/87-10/88; to FWWR, 11/95; to Pioneer Rail Corp.; to PRC/Gettysburg Scenic Ry. 401, 2001; to NRE (D)

726B EMD F7B 17920 2/53 3158-B4 To USSX 726B; to Texas Southern 107; scrapped.

727A EMD F7A 17911 2/53 3158-A3 To SRNJ 727.

728A EMD F7A 17912 2/53 3158-M To SRNJ 728.

[Jon]

That info is great! Thank you!

[URR566]

There were several major production differences car body wise. The most noticeable differences are the side louvers, dynamic brake fan, and side grilles.

Lets start off with the side louvers (in between portholes):
701A-714A built with horizontally slotted louvers:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble714aga.jpg

715A-728A built with vertically slotted louvers:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble725adc.jpgh small 36in dynamic brake fans.
As for which locomotives were delivered with 48in dynamic brake fans, I’m having trouble with this. I thought that change occurred somewhere between 715A -720A, but when I look back at different photos at different angles I can’t say for sure. To make this even more complicated, some of the P&C Dock F7’s had their dynamic brake fans removed, hiding what sized fans they had.

The air grilles saw change as well:
701A/B-714A/B were built with horizontal grilles.
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble702jpa.jpg

715A-728A, 715B-726B were built with Farr grilles.
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble716ads.jpg

There were two other changes during production of F7’s that were not as noticeable.

EMD eliminated the rear overhang from F7’s starting October 1952, and 725A-728A, and 723B-726B would have been built accordingly.

The early F7’s were built with the older round sand fill hatches. Exactly which units were built this way, I don’t know. Apparently the Bessemer went back and replaced them with the newer style rectangular sand hatches early in their careers.

If anybody has any corrections feel free to post them.

[URR566]

I just noticed that when I typed the info about production differences there were several sections missing. I actually type stuff up in Word, proof read and spell check it there, then post it here, and during the cut & paste process, several sentences were lost:

The side louvers changed during production. 701A-714A were built with horizontally slotted louvers:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble707jpa.jpg

715A-728A were built with vertically slotted louvers:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble725ags.jpg

The dynamic brake fans saw changes. 701A -714A were built with 36 inch dynamic brake fans.

As for which F7s were built with 48 inch fans, I can't seem to find out when this change first took place. I assume that would have taken place somewhere between 715A-719A, but I cannot locate any top down views of the F7's from this series. In addition to that, the Bessemer went back and removed the dynamic brake fans from the majority of the units that worked the P&C Docks.

[EllArrire]

Viagra Senza Ricetta Germania Pharmacy Online Without Prescription <a href=http://6drugs.com>cialis without a doctor's prescription</a> Amoxicillin Appearance Where Do I Buy Cialis No Perscription Need Paxil Fast Comprare Priligy In Farmacia Propecia Male Fertility Sperm Count <a href=http://propecorder.com>buy finasteride 5mg online</a> Lilly Cialis Preis El Cialis Hace Efecto

[Tissoge]

Приветствую Вас! Мы команда СЕО экспертов специализирующиеся раскрутки и продвижения интернет-ресурсов во всех типах поисковых сервисах, а также в социальных сетях. Меня зовут Антон, я основатель группы копирайтеров, линкбилдеров, маркетологов, оптимизаторов, link builders, профессионалов, разработчиков, рерайтеров/копирайтеров, специалистов. Мы — команда амбициозных экспертов с 10-летним практическим опытом работы в сфере фриланса. Мы поможем вашему вебсайту завладеть ТОП 5 в выдаче поиска каждой системе. Для вас мы предлагаем лучшую раскрутку вебсайтов в поисковых системах! SEO-специалисты которые задействованы в команде прошли громадный профессиональный путь, мы чётко знаем, каким образом грамотно формировать ваш web-сайт, выдвигать его на 1 место, конвертировать трафик в заказы. Мы вам предоставляем бесплатное предложение по продвижению любых интернет-сайтов. Ждем Вас.

бесплатное сео сайта <a href=https://seoturbina.ru>бесплатное сео сайта</a>

[SprinTissoge]

House maid near me Flatiron : <a href=https://cleanings.pro>maid to maid cleaning services</a>

Trained specialists production company Prospect Lefferts Gardens can hold spring cleaning site urgently.

We hold spring cleaning 2019 in areas , but with pleasure we will help clean .

Our Limited liability Partnership cleaning company Arden Heights CHARITY, is engaged spring cleaning cottages in Kips Bay under the direction of SALINAS.

Spring cleaning the premises is a good case implement cleaning the house, on the street, at home.
Roads, courtyards, gardens, squares and urban square not only required clear from dirt accumulated in snow Spring cleaning work is a good case to do cleaning the house, private households and offices, apartments.
Roads, courtyards, gardens, squares and other urban areas should not only clear after last winter, take out the garbage, and also prepare the territory for the summer. For this need to be restored damaged bardyurfs and pavements fix broken architectural small forms sculptures, flowerpots,artificial reservoirs,benches, fences, and so on, refresh fences, painting and other.
Our enterprise does spring cleaning site urgently in the district, we can put in order private households and cottage districts .
Trained specialists firms Steinway can hold spring general cleaning.