EMD F-7
by
Mike Gerenday
The 1500 series was comprised of EMD F-7 locomotives with two orders from the factory in 1953 and 1954. The original F-7s had the EMD 567B while the three FP-7s would have had the 576BC. The FP-7s were the last F-7 models built by EMD. The original F-7s arrived to the ARR with no dynamic brakes, factory plow pilot, and wore the original passenger scheme. Since the ARR had both A and B units the even numbered units were the A (Cab) units and the odd numbered the B (cabless) units.
In 1969 and 1970 the ARR purchased second hand F units from the Great Northern (Burlington Northern) and Rio Grande Railroads. While the Great Northern units were repainted and "Alaskanized" right away, the Rio Grande F units stayed in their old scheme with patched ARR markings for a few years. All the second hand F units wore the freight scheme except 1517 which wore the freight, DOT, and Bold Alaska scheme, and 1530 wore only the DOT scheme after a complete rebuild.
While built by EMD all the F units had various differences such as the first of the two original ordered F units had larger fuel tanks like the Southern Pacific, one F unit was a Phase II F-3, and another an F-9A but all had the double stack winterization hatch, large snow plow built in the Anchorage shops, and depending on the unit the first radiator fan was blanked, this was for keeping the engine warm in the winter.
As I could write a couple of articles on specific details a link will be provided so you can read and look at photos. By the mid to late 1970s most of the ex Great Northern and Rio Grande units were traded into EMD for the new 3000 GP40-2 locomotives. Some were repainted in various schemes throughout their careers while other wore only one. The last of the F units were retired and sold in 1986 and only four all from the original orders operative today. Legend has it 1500 was the first and last F-7A to run on the ARR.
Two F units remain in Alaska today, the 1500 which is in the Museum of Transportation and Industry in Wasilla, and 1514 albeit a shell owned by Mary Krull of Soldotna now used as part of a restaurant. The Pentrex film The Alaska Railroad has tons of footage of the F units in the last summer of service.
Page created 11/15/20 and last updated 11/15/20