Athearn HO Scale F7 Locomotive - Rock Island

Athearn HO Scale Modernized F7A Locomotive w/DCC & Sound, Rock Island /Frieght #111

Product Features

Researched from the prototype to match specific units
Factory installed onboard sound and DCC decoder
Individual sound boards installed in both A and B units
Genesis driveline with dynamically balanced five pole skew wound motor and dual flywheels
Directional constant lighting

Product Description

Features / / * Researched from the prototype to match specific units / * Factory installed onboard sound and DCC decoder / * Individual sound boards installed in both A and B units / * Genesis driveline with dynamically balanced five pole skew wound motor and dual flywheels / * Directional constant lighting / * Screw mounted chassis / * Individual window 'glass' / * Detailed battery boxes/air tank with brackets / * Detailed 1200-gallon or 1500-gallon fuel tank (as appropriate) / * Partial or complete de-skirting (as appropriate) / * Front and rear lift lugs (as appropriate) / * Front and rear MU hoses, coupler cut levers and air hoses / * Equipped with some or all of the following parts (as appropriate): eyebrow grabs, sunshades & mirrors, cab interior, nose-side ladder grabs, ladder rest grabs and SP snow plow / / Overview / / Athearn Genesis F units are now available in 'modernized' configurations and with an improved / factory installed onboard sound and DCC decoder. / / / / DC Functions: / / / / / / * All sound features are operated by a wireless handheld remote. No additional control box is required to operate advanced sounds. / / * Six-button wireless remote control allows control of the horn, bell, coupler crash,brake / squeal, dynamic brake and brake air release. / / * Additional programmable features allow for different bell and horn tones, coupleron/off, bell rate, directional lights on/off and volume control. / / * Creation of multiple unit lashup with horn, bell and lights on the lead unit only / / / / DCC Functions: / / / / / / * Compatible with all NMRA standard DCC systems / / * Programable for either 2 digit or 4 digit address / / * Programable start voltage / / * Programable acceleration/deceleration rate / / * Programmable top voltage / / * Programmable speed steps / / * Programmable individual unit sound volume / / * Factory equipped

The EMD F7 was a 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) Diesel-electric locomotive produced between February 1949 and December 1953 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) and General Motors Diesel (GMD). It succeeded the F3 model in GM-EMD's F-unit sequence, and was replaced in turn by the F9. Final assembly was at GM-EMD's La Grange, Illinois plant or GMD's London, Ontario facility. Although originally promoted as a freight-hauling unit by EMD, the F7 was also used in passenger service hauling such trains as the Santa Fe's El Capitan.

A total of 2,366 cab-equipped lead A-units and 1,483 cabless booster or B-units were built. The F7 was the fourth model in GM-EMD's successful line of F-unit locomotives, and by far the highest-selling cab unit of all time.

Many F7s remained in service for decades, as railroads found them economical to operate and maintain. However the locomotive was not very popular with the yard crews who operated them in switching service because they were difficult to mount and dismount, and it was also nearly impossible for the engineer to see hand signals from his ground crew without leaning way outside the window. As most of these engines were bought and operated before two-way radio became standard on most American railroads, this was a major point of contention. In later years, with the advent of the “GP” type “road switchers”, Fs were primarily used in “through freight” and “unit train” service where there was very little or no switching to be done on line of road.

The F7 can be considered the zenith of the cab unit freight Diesel, as it was ubiquitous on North American railroads until the 1970s (longer in Canada). The F7 design has become entrenched in the popular imagination due to it having been the motive power of some of the most famous trains in North American railroad history.

The F7 replaced the F3, differing primarily in internal equipment (mostly electrical) and some external features. The F7 was eventually succeeded by the more powerful but mechanically similar F9.

See Other HO Scale F7 Locomotives: Athearn HO Scale F7A Diesel Locomotive - Burlington Northern / Proto 2000 HO Scale EMD F7A-B Locomotives - Canadian Pacific / Proto 2000 Diesel EMD F7A-B Set Powered - HO Scale - Santa Fe / Walthers HO Scale F7 Locomotive - Santa Fe

See Other Rock Island Items: Bachman HO Scale 2-6-0 Mogul Locomotive - Rock Island / Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation HO Scale Locomotive - Rock Island