Sunset 3rd Rail ATSF F7's

On Santa Fe passenger diesels, there were some changes in minor details of paint over their service life.

The 47L-A-B-C was delivered in 1952.  At that time, the C unit (the rear cab unit) would only have been identified by a small letter C below the nose emblem, and by the small 47C painted in black in the red stripe, at the rear end of the locomotive.  The 47L (the front cab unit) would have had a letter L beneath the nose emblem, and the small number 47 painted at the rear corners.  Both cab units would have had only 47 (with no letter L) in the number boxes because they were kept coupled as a consist.  In the mid-1950's, Santa Fe began to add the C suffix to C-units' number boards.

Check the small black number at the rear to see if they are the same or different units.

Sunset GGD uses sequence numbers (1-2-3-4) to designate the variations in the assigned numbers on the models they produce.    For example I have 2 PRR F7s and are Sunset #1 and #2 for PRR.    And I have a set of coaches that is labeled Set #2.  

It their way to quickly keep identify the different numbers on products without having to check long numbers when packing for shipping.     Most engines have 4 digit numbers and most cars at least 4.      My F7s are 9764 and 9765.     When I ask for 2 different numbers it is easier for their packers to figure out 1 and 2 rather than 9764 and 9765 or some other 4 digit number.   

Mojave Mike posted:

Just picked up my F7 ABBA set from UPS last night.  Very Very nice.   Was puzzled by the numberboards though.  The boxes were labeled Road #1 and Road #4, but both A units numberboards were labeled simply "47".  Does this indicate a train number instead of a locomotive number?  If so, where is the cab number located?  Is it in small print where my tired old eyes can't see?  There are no letter suffixes after the 47.    Also, does any parts manufacturer produce the raised exhaust extensions seen on the ATSF F7's?

Tee Hee.  That numbering scheme makes sense to the Chinese folks who make them and package them up and not many others. 

First of all it says number 1-5, or whatever, not road number.  The road name has nothing to do with the number.

In this case there are A units and B units and there are two different numbers of each to get a matching set.  So, Warbonnet 47L is A unit SFWB number 1, 47C is A unit SFWB number 4, 47A is B unit SFWB number 1 and 47B is B unit SFWB number 4.  Marci had to explain it to me about 5 times before I got it on the FTs.

Scott says it will be changed in the future to minimize confusion all over the place.

Number 90 posted:

On Santa Fe passenger diesels, there were some changes in minor details of paint over their service life.

The 47L-A-B-C was delivered in 1952.  At that time, the C unit (the rear cab unit) would only have been identified by a small letter C below the nose emblem, and by the small 47C painted in black in the red stripe, at the rear end of the locomotive.  The 47L (the front cab unit) would have had a letter L beneath the nose emblem, and the small number 47 painted at the rear corners.  Both cab units would have had only 47 (with no letter L) in the number boxes because they were kept coupled as a consist.  In the mid-1950's, Santa Fe began to add the C suffix to C-units' number boards.

Check the small black number at the rear to see if they are the same or different units.

Okay, finally had a chance to examine the locomotives more closely.  The Santa Fe 47L does indeed have the L to the rear of the red stripe, and an L on the nose.  The 47C however, although it does have a C to the rear of the red stripe, it has the same L on the nose as it's sister unit.  I assume the L may be the designation used for the whole consist?  The B units are numbered completely different.  I have 336 B and a 307 B.

The 47C ought to have a small C instead of an L on the nose.  Apparently this was overlooked at the factory.

As information, back in the days of operation by timetable and train orders, Santa Fe train orders omitted the L but added the C when engine numbers were specified.  Example:

ENGINE 47C RUN EXTRA SAN BERNARDINO TO WATER STREET. ENGINE 47C WAIT AT KAISER UNTIL 2:01 TWO NAUGHT ONE FOR EXTRA 36 EAST.