Greetings All,
Seeing this photo from the Penn Central Frontier Yard on RR Picture Archives has inspired this PC F7A project.
Below is my attempt to replicate the RRPA consist in HO scale with PC U30B #2875 coupled up to the project engine, PC F7A #1728.
The donor shell for the projects is this Athearn BB Amtrak shell that I have had and barely used for over 25 years. 
My plan is to swap a dummy chassis with one of the power chassis from this seldom used set of Athearn Super Powered NH F7As that pretend to be FL9s. 
Newly painted, lettered and numbered F7A #1728 is ready for assignment. By swapping the shells I can now consist a powered F7A with other powered Athearn BB units and increase my Penn Central consist capabilities
The two powered BB units provide plenty of power for this empty hopper train coming out of Terminal Yard.
Later that week the 1728 is part of a five engine consist coming into the engine terminal under the watchful eyes of the NYCTL trainmen.
Sir Neal checks out his APRR GP38 on a long term loan to the NYCTL and calculates the miles he is due from EBRR GP38 #8163 working the APRR rails.
F7A #1728 at rest awaits it's next assignment.
F7 heaven!!! The NYCTL trainmen are back in the engine terminal checking out this six F unit consist while a traditional PC F7 A-B-A consist idles away on track #2. That PRR unit would be one of only two ex PRR F7A units that would make the Conrail roster.
The more I see of the Penn Central the more I believe their F7A and B fleet reached iconic status. Considering that many Class 1 RRs traded in their aging F units for newer and more powerful units the PC continued utilizing these twenty year old plus 1,500 HP units on a variety of revenue runs.
Decals for this project were from Microscale Penn Central Diesels and K-4 Decals Penn Central Diesels sets. The engine was painted with rattle can black paint and Testor's Dullcote was used to seal the decals and eliminate the shine.
Engine hostler Wet Willie has coupled PC F7A #1728 to PC SD45 #6190 making another interesting and prototypical consist.
My fleet of home painted Penn Central F7s have gathered in the engine terminal. The A-B-A set on track two are powered Bachmann Plus units. The 4348 is a powered Atlas FP7. The F7B is a dummy BB unit. The three F7As are dummy Bachmann trainset units. I owe a big thank you to 1:1 PC Ralph for yet another F7 project. Seeing his fleet in revenue service on the K.P.D. made me an F7 fan as you can see!
A week in the life of PC F7A #1728
When the Penn Central dust settled on April 1, 1976 ninety four ex NYC F7As, two ex PRR F7As and two ex DRGW / PC F7As were conveyed to Conrail. Also conveyed to Conrail were eight F7Bs (7 ex NYC, 1 ex PRR) and forty ex PRR FP7s.
Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See ya soon!!
Another iconic F7A joins the N.Y.C.T.L. roster! The often photographed units appear in so many prototype photos and videos. Great re-purposing of the Amtrak shell and NH chassis to create a versatile PC F7 to couple up to other First and Second Generation locomotives in consist! Thanks for the shout out! You now have more PC F7As than I do!
ReplyDeleteSo true Ralph! The F7s popped up everywhere on the system! You're kidding, the NYCTL has more F units than the KPD! Who woulda thunk that five years ago! Thank you for the compliments and the inspiration for my F7 fleet!
DeleteHi John! Nice repaint and decal job on your PC #1728. I see how the photo of the PC F7A #1729 could get one stoked into the project you just completed.
ReplyDeleteHey Robert! Thanks for the compliments! Originally I was going to number the unit 1729 but the 17 and the 28 were in sequence on the decal sheet making for an easier two decal placement in the number boards.
DeleteGreat job on expanding the fleet of F units! A grade of A+ is well deserved on the work. You would make the owners of the Penn Central proud and ragingly jealous of the way you run your railroad. That consist with the AP engine gives it some class! (smiling)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliments Sir Neal!!! You're right AP 358 is ALL CLASS!!!
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