Santa Fe F7

[Paul K]

Santa Fe F7



Greetings

I’m new to your forum and the hobby.



I would like some information about buying a good F7. I’m looking for one in Santa Fe silver and red Warbonnet colors.

I see the Athearn Genesis on eBay but do they still sell them new and is the Athearn Genesis a good brand?

 

[Gary Pfeil]

Yes, the Athearn Genesis is a very good product, and yes, it is still sold new, tho availability of the warbonnet scheme you'll have to check.

 

[Dick Elmore]

:thumb: Paul...The Genesis engines are a nice choice. If you can't find any, you might try Intermountains F7. It's every bit as detailed and while it doesn't have
an interior, it does have lighted number boards. I believe they still make them and they also make a beautiful F3 in the War Bonnet paint. Whichever one you decide on, you can get it cheaper by going to the discount houses like Trainworld,
Toy Train Heaven, M.B. Klein (Trainstuff.com) or HObbiesUSA.com. Good to have you aboard.

Dick
Texas Chief

 

[Russ Bellinis]

The Athearn Genesis is probably the best F7 on the market. The intermountain is probably its equal, but here in Ca. the hobby stores just carry the Athearn Genesis.

 

[Chessie6459]

Paul those are some beautiful F Units :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Still wish the old 1st generation diesels were around though. They all were beautiful.

 

[Russ Bellinis]

Paul those are some beautiful F Units :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Still wish the old 1st generation diesels were around though. They all were beautiful.

Two of the highlights of our vacation to Sedona last fall were riding the Verde Canyon Railroad behind a pair of Fp9's and then riding the Grand Canyon behind a pair of Alco Fa's.

 

[Dick Elmore]

Russ...I'm very curious, what was the road name on the FA's? I ask because the
"Grand Canyon" was a Santa Fe passenger train from days gone by and they didn't own any Fa's. Thanks

Dick
Texas Chief

 

[Gary Pfeil]

I had posted a photo of these Alcos a couple years ago and someone informed me they were not FA's, and I do not remember what the proper model designation was, but it was the Canadian version by MLW (?)

Gary

 

[Dick Elmore]

:thumb: Probably PA's. Santa Fe used them to pull the Grand Canyon quite a bit
and they bear a family resemblance to an Fa except considerably longer.

Dick
Texas Chief

 

[Gary Pfeil]

No, they weren't PA's, I know them. They look very much like FA's bu were simply a Canadian version. I found the thread where I posted their photo, but I didn't see the post there about what model it is. Must have been in another thread about the same line.

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=4145&highlight=grand+canyon

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

They are MLW FP4A's, Canadian Passenger versions of FA's. Bought From Via Rail when Via upgraded it's fleet to F40PH's in 1986. orgininaly built in the late fifties for the CNR
Aparently they were kept in storage for quite awhile but maintained si they could go back in service if needed and capable of 90 MPH.

 

[Greg Elems]

An additional note about the Grand Canyon FPA4's. Part of their fleet, an A and B unit came from the Portola Railroad museum. They were operable when they arrived in Portola IIRC and need little work to get up to speed. At one time Portola had them and an ex-Long Island FA-1 which was an exx-L&N unit. Since Portola is primarily a Western Pacific Museum it was felt that the Grand Canyon would be a good home for the FPA/B4's and it has. Santa Fe ran their passenger F units to the Canyon till that service ended. The PA's from Santa Fe made it there too, but were retired in 1969, IIRC. If you ever make it there, do ride the Grand Canyon Railway. Well done restoration of equipment, trackage and professionally operated. A step back into time, whether you ride behind the steam or diesel trains.

Greg