I am still working on my fleet. I thought I would just start a thread with a bunch of facts, questions, etc. about these engines. This series is possibly the most complicated of all SP engine types. (GP9s and tunnel motors might be in there, too, as far as different variations.) Here are some things I have noticed that someone will please confirm or deny. Thanks. Cotton Belt Bloody Nose F7Bs (which, of course had no "blood") had engine numbers in the center of the car body; Espee engines had the number next to the rear end. OTOH, both companies had engine numbers in the center of the car body on Black Widow paint schemes. This Cotton Belt engine has a three chime horn. I didn't think any F7s had a three chime horn. They had the two single horns or a five chime horn. Only rebuilt F7s had Farr grilles; otherwise, they had horizontal grilles. In other words, part of the rebuild process was to always change the grilles? Maybe not. I know that no Cotton Belt F7As had lift rings or snow plows. Maybe some got snow plows after they were moved to the west? What determined whether any Espee F7 was fitted with a snow plow? Inquiring minds want to know...
Geez Flash, why don't you just open Pandora's box?!! All I can say is, lots and lots of pictures. I have a bunch on my site, Nor-Cal SP Connection Also try Richard Percy's site at espee.railfan.net for more details. I'd also recommend the F books in the Southern Pacific Historical Locomotives series. I believe one covers passenger Fs and the other covers freight Fs. Excellent for all those details and changes made per each order or during rebuilding. Richards site mentioned above may also have some of this type of info. For even more pics, try several of the links provided by my site or Richards. Several of them have some F pics. Hope this helps some since I can't answer anything directly off the top of my head.
