Nostalgia & History > Help restore the GN 598 & SP&S F7-A 804

The Inland Northwest Rail Museum in Reardan, WA has acquired these two locomotives and is now out to raise funds.  I think this is a great save and a worthy cause..   Arlen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/23 22:11 by asheldrake.

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I do believe the goal is to make BOTH of these historic locomotives operational.

The SP&S F-7A B-B No. 804 was built by EMD with serial Number 17916 and delivered in January 1953. One of four such locomotives delivered at the same time to SP&S.

Each had a working weight of 249,000 lbs. Engine was 2 cycle 16 cylinders delivering 1500 hp. It held 900 gallons of fuel and 1430 gallons of water, since it contained a steam generator. The locomotive was 50 feet 8 inches in length.

These were purchased to replace steam power and SP&S Trains 3 and 4 and to complete dieselization of passenger service. From 1953, worked in pool with E-7A and F-3A on SP&S trains 1-2, 3-4, 5-6.

Locomotive became BN No. 9756 in March 1970, and later assigned to Amtrak from May 1, 1971. Later sold the RailCar Corporation in Feb. 1981

NOTE: This information from Locomotive Diagrams of the SP&S Ry. compiled by Paul Hobbs, (c) 2011 , page 78. Locomotive Diagram also enclosed from same source. (Diagram Restored by Paul Hobbs, Sep. 20, 2010)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/23 14:32 by TTStetz3.

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Listing of Roadnames and Numbers for the SP&S F-7A No. 804:

 CLK 716(F7A) MNZX 787(F7A) BN 9756(F7A) SPS 804(F7A) COE 716(F7A) BN 716(F7A) SLRG 787(F7A) SDCX 787(F7A)

Information above from: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopicture.aspx?id=145435

This locomotive was used in the Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train. That 6 mile heritage railroad shut down in 2008 (and became stationary restaurant). The Zephyr ran for 23 years, carrying and serving more than 1 million customers. Over its two-decade run hauling dinner theater patrons up and down the St. Croix River, the Minnesota Zephyr has left the station in Stillwater thousands of times.

In early 2013, Iowa Pacific Holdings purchased the train (five dining cars) to use on their Rio Grande Scenic Railroad subsidiary. In March 2013, the dining cars were shipped by rail to Colorado for overhaul. In November 2014, it was announced that Iowa Pacific had also purchased the two F7 locomotives (which included the previous SP&S No. 804, now numbered 787) and would be moving them in December 2014.

Also see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Zephyr



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/23 14:51 by TTStetz3.

Also see previous Trainorders thread at: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3694022

A photo of the SP&S No. 804 in passenger service.  From the Walt Ainsworth collection, held at Pacific Northwest Rail Archives in Burein, WA. Image Number: WWASPSD-02-029. Photo date unknown.

http://research.spshs.org/Lists/WaltAinsworthSPSDieselDataBase/

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I know people are gonna throw tomatoes at me but I would like to see the 804 in the "broad stripe" scheme! Definitely a worthy cause, glad to see they have a good home. Just curious it says 598/599. I thought the 599 was a goner and to be cut up in Skykomish?

The No. 599 is on its way to Reardan WA now. (It was in Cheney on Jan 31st). It is my understanding that the No. 599 will undergo a "cosmetic" restoration, with it parts being transferred to the No. 598 to help make that locomotive operational. I believe that both locomotives are SD9s.

See their Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/InlandNorthwestRailMuseum/

More info on the No. 599, from: http://rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=253248

Owner: Great Northern  Model: EMD SD9
Built As: GN 599 (SD9)  Serial Number: 24101 Order No: 5577
Frame Number: 5577-2   Built: 6/1958 

Other locos with this serial:  GN 1731(SD9) BN 6126(SD9) BNSF 6126(SD9) GN 599(SD9)



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/23 17:56 by TTStetz3.

TTStetz3 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The No. 599 is on its way to Reardan WA now. (It
> was in Cheney on Jan 31st). It is my understanding
> that the No. 599 will undergo a "cosmetic"
> restoration, with it parts being transferred to
> the No. 598 to help make that locomotive
> operational. I believe that both locomotives are
> SD9s.
>
> See their Facebook page for more
> info: https://www.facebook.com/InlandNorthwestRai
> lMuseum/
>
> More info on the No. 599,
> from: http://rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.as
> px?id=253248
>
> Owner: Great Northern  Model: EMD SD9
> Built As: GN 599 (SD9)  Serial Number: 24101
> Order No: 5577
> Frame Number: 5577-2   Built: 6/1958 
>
> Other locos with this serial:  GN 1731(SD9) BN
> 6126(SD9) BNSF 6126(SD9) GN 599(SD9)

Yes they both are SD9's. Well that's good news. Thanks for that!