Same Engine More Than A Few Years Apart

If you think that is bad, try an ATSF CF7 conversion.

Dominic, Years ago I would see those every day driving to work by the Richmond, Ca. yard. Wondered what they were tell I asked a ATSF worker one day.  Its all very sad but the railroads sure go their monies worth on those engines. Don

First, I love the CF7.  So ugly that it's beautiful.

Second, the very first CF7 converted, ATSF #2649, gave it's trucks and innards to restore CNJ F3A #56D to operable condition.

Stuart

How sad to see SP 4435 covered in rust and graffiti, windows boarded up, oscillating headlights long gone.  It's like seeing an old friend emaciated and in a coma, on life support and with almost no hope for recovery.  

Remember those SD9's when they were first-line Espee freight power for sugar beet trains and Kaiser ore drags?  Four on the head end, four mid-train helpers, and another four cut in ahead of the caboose, all in Run-8, with the cooling fans whining -- that was something to behold.  There was even a very clean pair in San Francisco commute service, and I rode behind them in a Harriman coach once.  Every so often I listen to Brad Miller's wonderful recordings of them on Mr. D's Machine, and get lost in another era for a few minutes.  If you lived in California in the postwar years, you saw a lot of SP SD9's.

They paid back their purchase price, many times over.

Thanks for posting, Don.

I actually got to see some of the last CF7 conversions in Cleburne TX.  Took the LONE STAR from Houston, and too a chance That the ATSF would let me tour the shops.  Guess what?  They did.  Still remember the trip.  Too bad the shops are not in use.