EMD E7's

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I’m looking at adding an E7 passenger train to my layout. My prototypes are the NYC and the PRR. I know the NYC ran E7a’s, but not sure if they had B units as well or what the configurations they ran (A, A-A, A-B, etc). I’m not even sure PRR had any E7’s, but if so same questions apply. Thanks for the help.

2

I am not all that familiar with the E7 locomotives but here is a picture of a NYC E7
http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/northeastern/pc4034.jpg

2 PRR E7a
http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=200202171336171167.jpg&byrail%3A6%3APenn_Central

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2002021713324432012.jpg&byrail%3A7%3APenn_Central

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2002021713291330172.jpg&byrail%3A7%3APenn_Central

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2001010910010212016.jpg&byrail%3A11%3APenn_Central

hope this helps

ShaunCN

3

Both NYC and PRR had lots of E7 As and Bs. On NYC the E7As were #s 4000-4035; the E7Bs were #s 4100-4113. On the Pennsy, the E7As were #s 5840A-5883A and 5900A-5901A; the E7Bs were #s 5840B-5864B and 5900B (even numbers only).

On both roads the E7s (both As and Bs) were freely mixed with E8As (neither road had E8Bs). A, A-A, A-B, A-B-A, and A-A-A combinations were common.

–John

4

PRR and NYC had tons of E7s. I saw a picture in a book in fact, of two Centurys leading two E7s on the Manhattan Limited

5

If I am not mistaken (and I don’t think so) the PRR owned the largest number of E7’s but some things to consider about them:

  1. Shortly after pruchasing them the PRR determined they required additional cooling and added one panel of vents in the top back of the carbody and three air filiters - all square - in front of the front engine compartment window in the stripes. You will also need to add the nose lift rings on either side of the nose door and the MU door in the nose.
  2. Several sets of E7s used the five Alco P5b’s as boosters and not E7b’s. The E7b’s weren’t all that common on the PRR.
  3. Dependent on the time you are modeling you will need one of the following paint jobs
    Green with five stripes
    Tuscan with five stripes
    Tuscan with one solid stripe
    As much as I hate the NYC and don’t even allow their cars on my layout the wise choice may be to model the NYC engines in my opinion as they didn’t have the PRR modifications.
6

Stupid question: Why are all the photo’s label E8’s, just under each PRR photo? Are E8’s and E7’s the same?

Tom

7

Nope! E7’s are E7’s and E8’s are E8’s. The primary spotting difference is that E7’s have square windows in the carbody and E8’s have portholes. As I remember the horsepower is the same and the changes are internal as well as the window change. I think to most of us the E8 is a much better looking locomotive but they are definitely not the same thing.

8

E3 thru E7 - 2000 hp, E8 2250 hp, E9 -2400 hp.
The factory dynamic brakes, if so equipped were different, the E8/9 having an external fan like most locomotives we are familiar with, while the E7 had two rows of vents, like the FT thru early F3.