EMD F 7 at LGB --- Part 2

The EMD F 7 was/is a standard gauge locomotive. As such it wasn't the perfect fit for another LGB loco family member. The F7 is a heavy engine with all the characteristics of  standard gauge long-haul heavy machinery. The wide body, the booster engine to be added to the A type, the ABA versions for  trains with 150 freight cars or more. Made for long range hauling, cross country freight and any type of consists if need be. None of that is anything remotely close to what characterizes narrow gauge.  Nothing could be more removed from the little cozy, chuffing-puffing Stainz. The little engine that made LGB in the first place.

But here she came. In 1996 to be offered on the LGB Gauge II rails with their 1:22.5 scale. Fit to match the real world width of narrow gauge track of 600 mm (= 1ft 11 5/8 inch) to 1,067 mm (=3 ft 6 in) and the corresponding locos. Standard gauge tracks have a width of 1,435 mm (= 4 ft 8 1/2 in) with some Railroad lines going up to  1,588 mm (broad gauge) (= 5 ft 2 1/2 in) like the Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania RR - by the way- had a total of 299 F 7 A and B units built for them.

The first F 7 LGB offered to the ever-expecting-more-new-items crowd was the 20570 Santa Fe A unit and the LGB # 21576 NYC F 7 A unit.

Courtesy of Only Trains

Courtesy of Only Trains

Shown above is actually the #21576, the US specialty series. Since catalog and brochure pictures only show the hand model with the number "329" which was then also used on the US specialty series - it is hard to tell what number the European version of the 20570 had. YT has seen the number "311" on a Santa Fe F 7 as well as the number "300". The only thing safe to say is that the F 7 B unit was not offered until 1997. Price wise , the F 7 unit was first offered for DM 900.00 and US$ 550.00. Fun fact: even the LGBoA price lists for dealers listed the # 21576 as the # 20570.

1997 saw the B units being offered for the Santa Fe  LGB # 20582, for the NYC the LGB # 21582 and a sound unit F7 B # 21586 for the Santa Fe line.

LGB 20582 Courtesy of Only Trains

LGB 21586 Courtesy of Only Trains

LGB 21582 Courtesy of Only Trains

The B units came without motors. It came with an installed loudspeaker  controlled by the soundboard in the A unit to simulate a separate Diesel engine in the B unit. Basically there was no need for additional motors in the B unit as it was pulled by the leading A unit. So to keep the price down LGB decided not to install motors in the B unit. Resourceful people  always could retrofit with motors. However to have a realistic sound  smart retrofitters would utilize two separate sound units.

The sound unit LGB # 21586 started out as a special edition for a US-dealer and had an initial volume of 57. YT does not know if that held true in later years.

In 1998 the Union Pacific version was added to the F 7 series. This time the A and B unit was offered at the same time. The 1998 catalog also displayed the previously offered F 7 units Santa Fe and NYC. This time they introduced the A-B-A versions - a realistic loco consist. Even though - in real life - precisely the Union Pacific RR ordered A-B-B and A-B-B-A F unit sets for freight service. All in all 18 A units and 36(!) B Units (see http://utahrails.net/articles/up-f-units.php for detailed information). Here are the LGB Union Pacific versions

LGB 23570 Courtesy of Only Trains

LGB 23582 Courtesy of Only Trains

Price wise the F7 A and B units stayed at the same level as their initial price scheme was.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++to be continued.........................