06-10-2010, 07:19 PM
Gary S Wrote:Charlie, I did not realize that it was a goverment regulation that prompted ATSF to convert all those F7s.
ATSF needed power for locals and switching. The government regulation was against using carbody style units for switching. Probably because of lack of appropriate footboards or places for trainmen to comfortably/safely ride the unit during those types of operations. They would have been fine as road units, but had out lived their service lives for that purpose.
The book "CF7s, From Cleburne to Everywhere" is a great read. Very interesting.
-Dave