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| E7 (diesel locomotive) | |
|---|---|
| Name | E7 |
| Powertype | Diesel |
| Builder | Electro-Motive Division |
| Builddate | 1945–1946 |
| Prime mover | Two 567B V12 |
| Poweroutput | 2,000 hp |
| Totalproduction | 160 |
| Operator | Pennsylvania Railroad, Santa Fe Railway, New York Central Railroad, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad |
E7 (diesel locomotive) is a streamlined passenger diesel-electric built by General Motors's Electro-Motive Division for post‑World War II American railroads. Introduced to succeed steam on flagship services, the E7 combined Art Deco styling with electrical systems derived from wartime experience and early diesel pioneers. Its deployment reshaped long‑distance passenger operations on routes radiating from hubs such as Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C..
The E7 originated within the design lineage that included the EMD E-unit family, influenced by earlier models like the E3 (diesel locomotive) and E6 (diesel locomotive), and contemporaneous competitors such as the ALCO PA and Fairbanks-Morse, with coach styling cues from industrial designers who had worked with Raymond Loewy and firms linked to Pullman-Standard. Development teams at General Motors collaborated with railroad procurement departments at Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central Railroad, and Santa Fe Railway to meet specifications for high‑speed, long‑distance schedules on trains like the Super Chief, Twentieth Century Limited, and Broadway Limited. The dual‑engine configuration used two EMD 567 series powerplants, leveraging advances tested in General Motors' wartime production and lessons from operators including Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad.
The E7 employed twin EMD 567B V12 two‑stroke diesel engines mated to DC generators and traction motors derived from earlier EMD designs used on locomotives ordered by Chicago and North Western Railway and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The locomotive produced 2,000 horsepower, driving a A1A-A1A wheel arrangement suited to high‑speed passenger duty on routes maintained by agencies like the Interstate Commerce Commission and inspected under standards referenced by the American Railway Association. Auxiliary systems included steam generators for train heating common on Pennsylvania Railroad equipment, dynamic braking adaptations explored by New York Central Railroad engineers, and AC generator experiments later seen in units ordered by Southern Railway and Burlington Northern Railroad. Typical specifications addressed dimensions, weight, fuel capacity, and electrical control systems comparable to units rostered by Long Island Rail Road, Rock Island Line, and Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Upon entry in 1945–1946, E7s were assigned to premier trains on carriers including Santa Fe Railway's El Capitan and Super Chief, Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited, and New York Central Railroad's 20th Century Limited. The units operated on mainlines linking Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, D.C., displacing steam fleets from manufacturers such as Baldwin Locomotive Works and influencing fleet decisions by Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway. During the transition to dieselization, E7s interacted with regulatory and labor frameworks involving entities like the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and agencies such as the Office of Defense Transportation. Over decades, many E7s were reassigned to shorter schedules, midwest corridor services, and commuter runs on lines controlled by Metropolitan Transportation Authority predecessors and regional carriers like Conrail.
Railroads and industrial shops performed modifications including cab signaling retrofits used on Pennsylvania Railroad territory, HEP conversions inspired by experiments on Amtrak predecessors, and repaint schemes reflecting marketing by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. Some units were rebuilt with later EMD 567C components or adapted by shops associated with Kansas City Southern Railway and Seaboard Air Line Railroad for freight transfer or branchline service. Leasing and trade movements involved companies such as National Railways-era registries and shortline operators including Delaware and Hudson Railway and Reading Company, producing variants that served commuter networks in New Jersey and Connecticut corridors.
A number of E7 units survive in museums, excursion service, and static display, curated by institutions like the National Railroad Museum, Illinois Railway Museum, California State Railroad Museum, and regional historical societies connected to Santa Fe Railway heritage groups and Penn Central archives. Survivors have been restored with authentic liveries commemorating trains such as the Super Chief, Twentieth Century Limited, and Broadway Limited, often through partnerships with organizations like the Railroaders Memorial Museum and volunteer groups from Association of Railway Museums. Ongoing conservation involves sourcing components from donor E‑units, coordination with preservationists at Smithsonian Institution affiliates, and efforts by state agencies in Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas to secure operational and interpretive funding.
Category:Diesel locomotives of the United States Category:Electro-Motive Division locomotives