E7A (EA7) - Unit Model Nomenclature Difference - Unit Retirement Dates - Inquiry

Discussion in 'EA7' started by 12-567C, Oct 10, 2016.

  1. 12-567C

    12-567C Member

    Why are SLSF 2000-2005 often referred to as "EA7" and not E7A?

    I have not seen this designation anywhere except at frisco.org

    What are the retirement dates for SLSF 2000 thru 2005?

    I know SLSF 2000 and SLSF 2002 went to L&N but not when.
     
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  2. Oldguy

    Oldguy Member Frisco.org Supporter

    As to your first question, the Frisco locomotive diagram for those units showed those units as EA7 and not E7A.

    Why? Cannot really say. Must have been a Frisco thing.

    Interestingly enough, the E8As were listed as E8's and not EA8's

    Dates Locomotives Retired:

    E7A (EA7) SLSF 2000 - Fair Play - October 1965 - Sold to Louisville and Nashville, L&N 782
    E7A (EA7) SLSF 2001 - Ranger - January 1966 - Traded into EMD
    E7A (EA7) SLSF 2002 - Comanche - October 1965 - Sold to Louisville and Nashville, L&N 783
    E7A (EA7) SLSF 2003 - Steel Dust - January 1966 - Traded into EMD
    E7A (EA7) SLSF 2004 - Dan Patch - October 1965 - Sold to Louisville and Nashville, L&N 784
    E7A (EA7) SLSF 2005 - Winchester - January 1966 - Traded into EMD
     
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  3. 12-567C

    12-567C Member

    Many thanks.

    Do you also have the retirement dates for the E8As?
     
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  4. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    According to EMD documentation, the original designation given the E series passenger A units up through the EA7s by EMC was EAx where x was the series number.

    Beginning with the 8 series, EMD changed the designation to E8A for A units and E8B for B units.

    I refer you to Ken Wulfert's (meteor910) post in this thread:

    http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/whats-the-difference-between-the-e-a-7-and-e7.3849/

    I think that most of the rest of people want a nice continuity in designations and since everything from E8s, to E9s and F units follow the Alpha, Numeric, Alpha format, they refer to the predecessors likewise, despite EMD documentation to the contrary.
     
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  5. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    No less a diesel expert than Louis Marre referred to them as EA's in his Frisco Diesel Power book.

    Tom G.
     
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  6. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    What is really confounding is that Louis Marre, in his 2012 book The Diesel's First 50 Years published by Stephen Priest's Paired Rail Railroad Publications, refers to these EMC E units as E7As.
     
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  7. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    I was just looking at my copy of Frisco Diesel Power and Marre uses BOTH designations, EA7 and E7A!?

    Tom G.
     
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  8. Oldguy

    Oldguy Member Frisco.org Supporter

    E8A Retirement Dates

    E8A SLSF 2006 - Traveller - October 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2007 - Whirlaway - October 1965 - Sold to Louisville and Nashville, L&N 787 - Resold to Amtrak, AMTK 226
    E8A SLSF 2008 - Messenger - February 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2009 - Jet Pilot - October 1965 - Sold to Louisville and Nashville, L&N 785
    E8A SLSF 2010 - Count Fleet - October 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2011 - Gallant Fox - February 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2012 - Flying Ebony - October 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2013 - Sea Biscuit - February 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2014 - Truxton - October 1968 - Sold to Louisville and Nashville, L&N 788 - Resold to Amtrak, AMTK 227
    E8A SLSF 2015 - Twenty Grand - October 1965 - Sold to Louisville and Nashville, L&N 786
    E8A SLSF 2016 - Citation - February 1967 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2017 - Pensive - October 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2018 - Ponder - February 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2019 - Cavalcade - October 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2020 - Big Red - October 19 68 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2021 - Gallahadion - October 1968 - Traded into EMD
    E8A SLSF 2022 - Champion - October 1968 - Traded into EMD

    The above information came from a spreadsheet posted on this site, but darn if I can find it now. I wanted to credit whomever posted it and where it is located.

    I also updated my original response as to what L&N numbers they became.
     
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  9. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Shows how observant I am. I had never noticed the EA7 orientation.

    I think I had just assumed that they, too, were E7A. To my eyes and brain, EA7 probably looked too akin to FA-1.

    I do not know much about when Alco rolled out their FA-1s and FB-1s, but would that have potentially been a mitigating factor in EMD's decision to reorder their designations?

    Something new for me to learn every day around here.

    I have learned that I cannot completely eliminate my ignorance, but only strive to reduce it. :)

    Best Regards,
     
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  10. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    The MKT used the EMD classification, EA-7, in its diagrams as well.

    IMG_7347.JPG
     
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  11. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Ah, Chris, how nice it would be if we all strived to reduce our ignorance instead of being satisfied with it.

    There is nothing wrong with ignorance, simply a lack of knowledge of a subject, but staying in it is inexcusable.

    Terry
     
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  12. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    As my mother used to say, the day you cease to learn is the day you die.
     
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  13. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    And as my Father used to say, "I count that day lost that I do not catch hell about something".
     
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  14. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I believe EMC also wanted some common terminology for their new models.

    As the FT, F2, F3, F5 (unofficial), F7 series came along with their immense popularity, to be followed by F9s, FP7s and FP9s

    EMD lost their affinity for the term "EA-whatever" for their popular E-units, so the E8 and E9 terminology was adopted.

    Ken
     
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  15. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Do any of you have a decent picture of E7A (EA7), take your pick, SLSF 2002 in its original Meteor paint scheme or livery?

    This would be the original E7A (EA7), not the later modification to a "Racehorse" to match the E8As.

    Thanks.

    Ken
     
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  16. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Ken,

    I believe this is the best we can do.

    Two Mike Condren photographs in black & white, SLSF 2002 and SLSF 2005.

    One of SLSF 2002 from the Stuart Kurth collection

    A Hallmark E7A (EA7) decorated as SLSF 2002.

    SLSF #2002 EMD EA7 Meteor 7-1946 Mike Condren.jpg

    SLSF #2002 EMD EA7 Tulsa OK 05-1949 Stuart Kurth Collection.jpg

    SLSF #2002 EMD EA7 Meteor Hallmark Models.jpg

    SLSF #2005 EMD EA7 Meteor Mike Condren.jpg
     
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  17. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Thanks Keith!

    The first one of 2002 is just what I needed.

    Terrific.

    K
     
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  18. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    OK, I need to come back to the well for another picture of SLSF 2004.

    I am trying to prove a point, so I want a picture of all six E7As (EA7') in their original colors, two for the Texas Special and four for The Meteor.

    So
    I need a nice legible picture of SLSF 2004 in its original paint scheme to add to the other five I have. Black & white is fine.

    This is what you have to do to prove something simple to a northeast railroad fan, although he is a nice guy.

    He knows the MKT also had two units for the Texas Special.

    Thanks in advance if you can help.

    K
     
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  19. gna

    gna Member Frisco.org Supporter

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  20. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    What is the point?

    GS
     
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