CF7

Development

The first locomotive to go through the "Converted F7" Program was Santa Fe #262C, an F7A cab unit that entered the Cleburne shops in October, 1969. The unit was stripped down to bare metal, its sleek carbody removed and scrapped. Unlike hood units, cab units were structurally supported by their carbodies, so a new underframe had to be constructed. Next, a new road switcher carbody complete with walkways was manufactured and installed, along with numerous other upgrades traditionally associated with a comprehensive overhaul, including remanufactured prime movers, trucks, and traction motors (rebuilt at the San Bernardino, California shops), refurbished electrical systems, and enhanced brakes. #262C was the only CF7 conversion ever equipped with dynamic brakes, which were parted-out from the long hood of wrecked GP7B #2788A.

In order for the salvaged hood to fit, some 7" had to be removed from the bottom of the hood where it connected to the main frame and the running board (all other units had long hoods fabricated from scratch by the Cleburne shop forces). A new rounded-roof and low short hood were constructed, and a new control stand installed. To increase versatility, the unit could operate in either switching mode or road service mode. All CF7s were configured with a B-B wheel arrangement and ran on two Blomberg B two-axle trucks, with all axles powered. All but one CF7 utilized the F-units' sixteen-cylinder EMD 567 series diesel engines as their prime mover, progressing from model 16-567B through 16-567C (#2452 was tested with an EMD 645 series turbocharged engine, which produced 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW) — however, the greater availability of parts for the 567 series, coupled with the perception that CF7s would be engaged primarily in switching duties, resulted in the original engines being retained. The engines were removed from their frames, completely dismantled and rebuilt, then reinstalled.

Assigned #2649 and painted in Santa Fe's blue and yellow Billboard scheme, the locomotive was placed into service in February 1970 and put through its paces during a series of shakedown runs between Cleburne and Dallas. The unit was officially unveiled to the public on March 13. This initial conversion was considered a success, though several key modifications were incorporated into future units. Based on input from trainmen within the Santa Fe system, the steps on were lowered and enlarged to provide better footing for the brakeman. Additionally, the grab irons were repositioned to enhance crew safety during switching movements.

During the 8-year program period a total of 233 CF7 conversions were performed (the total number of suitable F-units available in the fleet, as 24 had been involved in wrecks and deemed unusable). EMD F3, F7, and F9 models were all modified under the program. All but the modifications to #262C required approximately 45 days to complete per unit. The average retrofit cost was $40,000 per unit, well below Santa Fe's original target estimate. The CF7s went through a limited evolution during this time, most notably:

• Unit Nos. 2649–2472 initially received rounded cab roofs (which, by preserving the contour left over from the F-unit roof, were expected to reduce costs — instead, it was found that the custom-fitted cab doors required by this arrangement were not economical, and many of the units eventually were modified with angled roofs), and Nos. 2471–2417 featured angled cab roofs from the onset;
• Unit Nos. 2649–2614 were outfitted with 2-stack exhaust systems, and Nos. 2613–2417 were equipped with 4-stack exhausts
• Most units converted beginning in 1973 had air conditioning systems installed at the Cleburne facility; eventually all CF7s received cab air conditioners.

Nos. 2649–2617 came out of the shops wearing Santa Fe's Billboard paint scheme, while Nos. 2616–2417 were decorated in the Yellowbonnet livery. CF7s were given road numbers in descending order, 2649 to 2417. This numbered them before Santa Fe's GP7 fleet which then started at 2650 and it gave the railroad a large group of unused numbers. In the event EMD switch engines numbered between 2416 and 2438 had to be renumbered 1416 and up in 1974 to accommodate the later CF7s

In service

The CF7s worked within all segments of the Santa Fe system. While most saw action switching cars and transporting local freight, others could be found in multiple unit consists hauling mainline drags. The units distinguished themselves working on potash trains between Clovis and Carlsbad, New Mexico; Nos. 2612–2625, all equipped with remote control equipment (RCE), were typically "mated" to road slugs (converted cabless F-units). CF7s also powered grain trains across the Plains Division.

The Santa Fe had planned in the mid-1980s to renumber its CF7 fleet from 2649–2417 to 1131–1000 and repaint the units in the new "Kodachrome" paint scheme, all in preparation for the upcoming Southern Pacific Santa Fe Railroad (SPSF) merger. However, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) subsequently denied the merger application, and no CF7s were decorated in the new livery. Amtrak used some of them with mixed results

Afterlife

Watco CF7 #5 at Pittsburg, Texas in August 2015

Changing philosophies regarding motive power expenditures led the Santa Fe to begin trimming its CF7 roster in 1984. The majority of the locomotives were sold for as little as $20,000 to short-line and regional railroads such as the Rail Link, Inc., the York Railway, and the Maryland and Delaware Railroad (6 were involved in wrecks and 3 others sent directly to the scrap yards), though Amtrak and GE Transportation Systems were among the major initial purchasers. By 1987, the company had divested itself of all of its CF7s. These locomotives have well withstood the test of time, and have long outlived their projected service lives, two times, both as original F-units and as rebuilds. As of 2017, all CF7s still in service are over 60 years old.

Preservation

At least two units have been restored and preserved. #2546 is preserved at the Kentucky Railway Museum and #2571 at the Oklahoma Railway Museum. Ironically, #2649 ended its days on the rails by contributing some of its parts toward the rebuilding of two F3 units owned by the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society. The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway, a popular California tourist railroad, owns and operates two CF7s, #2600 and #2641, and acquired a further two in 2018, #2467 and #2524. The Grafton and Upton Railroad, a short line in Massachusetts operates one CF7, #1500. The Pioneer Valley Rail Road operates CF7 #2558 (). The Maryland and Delaware shortline Railroad operates numbers 2628, 2630 and 2632 out of Federalsburg MD and Selbyville DE. The Illinois Railway formerly operated IR 5, which was ex-ATSF 2578. It has since been scrapped. CF7 #306, formerly of the Red River Valley and Western RR, is operating for Agtegra CO-OP in Redfield, SD. The West Michigan Railroad owns ex Clinton Terminal Railroad #2480 and stores it out of service.