Diesel Locomotive Repair and Startup - 1949 EMD F7A - Topper Machine
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- Опубликовано: 17 ноя 2022
- With over 20 years' experience with EMD locomotives, I get a lot of calls for help. This particular locomotive holds a special place in my heart, as it was the second unit I ever worked on.
Having been out of service for 3 years with a bad main generator bearing, we finally got the other contractors together to get the job done. Having sat that long, problems were expected. Nothing I couldn't handle, worst part is waiting for parts.
Topper Machine LLC is an entirely manual machine shop located in Spooner, WI. Our videos will highlight some of our shop work as well as the sawmill we built in the shop and our A.D. Baker steam engine, and others we work on.
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Crazy how this design doesn't age. Doesn't look modern but not dated either.
I have worked on the Australian version of the SD 40 and they still make the same noises.
It's a handsome locomotive for sure!
The 710 series is relatively the same just bigger inside, electronic controls, turbo blowers. EMD (now Caterpillar owned) are still quite popular world wide and popular in marine engines.
Hm be sweet good ide and to put the engine into day and night excursion service
Roller rocker 1949!
What an endorsement to the men and women who designed, manufactured, and maintained a machine that, over 72 years, has logged millions of miles of duty and continues to operate as intended. With regular maintenance and care, this machine could last another 72 years or more. If anyone needs a reminder of what made America great, you are looking at it. Thanks to Topper Machine LLC for keeping these operational.
People throw around the word "awesome" WAY too much. A diesel-electric locomotive is absolutely AWESOME.
The 423 was the host for my first cab ride! As a kid in the 70's I rode my bike to the Des Plaines (IL) Coach Yard on a Friday evening to watch the guys gather up the commuter F7's to bring to Proviso for fuel and use for weekend freight duty. One of the guys recognized me and asked if I wanted to ride to Proviso. It was a great experience for a 14 year old! We took the crew van back to Des Plaines after dropping the half-dozen F7's at Proviso and I was home before the street lights came on. This was renumbered to 423 by the CNW sometime before the early 1970's, probably when it was converted to commuter service.
Those were days...
I used to live in Bellwood and I used watch switch operations by the yard off of Manheim Rd.
Anything that had a diesel engine in it,I was there.
My Grandfather worked for Yellow freight right around the corner.
In my 51+ year railroad career I have never seen a F7 set up with a bench seat set up for the 'fireman' and head end brakeman.
Set up for cab riders. Modern times there are no fireman or brakeman. Just an ornery conductor who doesn't share his seat. Bench works good for napping also.
I think this is the best looking locomotive ever designed & manufactured.
Agree. I love these old work-horses. An amazing piece of America.
I grew up watching and hearing NY NH&H, Penn central and Conrail f units, I lived 1/4 mile from the north east main. When I dream of trains and it's not steam it's an emd.
I don't know much about trains, locomotives, etc, but I saw the movie "Silver Streak" with Pryor & Wilder in the 80's, and that was the locomotive used.
I'm 80 years old. Have had fascination for Trains all my life. Traveled to every Trolley Museum and Train Museum just to experience these great units. I lived in Uptown NYC and watched the Trolleys in 1940's and the electric change over to Busses. Thanks. peter
Thanks for keeping this beautiful old girl up and running.
I am a merchant Mariner & have worked with the EMD 645s & 710s offshore in the oil fields & towboats on the rivers for the last 26 years after the Navy.
As someone who was born and raised in New Jersey and a railfan, I do remember seeing this unit in New Jersey in it's original colors.
I am 72 years old and come from Holland, the capital Haarlem, what my ancestors in your country called Harlem....I drove a truck around 1986 with Detroit diesel 2-stroke (FTF : nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_Truck_Fabriek ), unfortunately these engines are almost non-existent in our country (except perhaps at our Railways, an old locomotive).
Nothing beats the sound of a 2-stroke diesel, I wish my Renault with 1.5 DCI-82 hp (commonrail turbodiesel) had a 2-stroke diesel (There is a story going around that Renault is working on a 0.7 liter 2-stroke diesel for Hybrid cars, so purely to charge the batteries).... that's why I watch (and especially listen) to movies from the US of locomotives and trucks. thank you very much for this fascinating video.
600V at 800A = 480kW. WOW. And it just starts to push through the brakes. Closing in on 75 years old and still running. Awesome.
480kw? Not even close. These machines regularly operated at over a megawatt continuously. They were built to run wide open at single digit speeds all day. The main generators are constant kilowatt, not a constant voltage or current type, so referencing either doesn't give you a real figure since these might run as low as 100 volts or as high as 900 depending on conditions.
I was a journeyman locomotive electrician decades ago (running repair and depot back shop) and will never forget the joys of inspecting the main generator brushes and brush holders. The lower (6 o’clock) brushes would often be “pencil whipped “ during routine inspection by previous electricians and checked ok without actually inspecting the brushes. The brushes would eventually wear too short and cause arcing between the brush holder and the commutator. Little problem becomes major problem very quickly.
I had a ground relay go bad , bad coil, wouldn't trip. I was pulling a heavy cut and flashed the generator. Like a shotgun going off in the cab, then it filled with smoke. What an experience that was. Had a traction motor that failed, and never new it due to the GR being bad. Had to stone and undercut the commutator on the main gen, and then start searching for the ground. One armature winding on the #1 TM, had to move the locomotive a little at a time and MEG it until I finally found it. I've seen some weird stuff over the years.
So, that "pencil whipping" is not unique to air force aircraft? Well, always carry a pencil! 😁
@@joehead1294 It is way too common in all lines of work.
This happens on forklifts all the time
@@TopperMachineLLC Had ground fault on class 47 in uk , ground relay didn't detect it due to it been Neg ground on traction motor cable . I had it on load bank for unrelated low power fault , soon as you got 500 amps ground relay tripped while connected to load bank , foreman do whatever you can to get power readings . Screwdriver in relay worked (couldn't trip now) got to about 3000 amps massive bang loco jumped , fire in engine room Ground relay vaporise ,fortunately not much damage to Loco . We found cause of earth fault , looked on wiring schematic , the Neg fault turned into pos ground when connected to load bank (TM links out) we reckoned full traction power went through ground relay coil !
I love the looks and sounds of those old locomotives. A piece of history that could have easily been passed by
It is neat to see someone working on diesel locos as opposed to all the steam loco videos. I don't exactly get all the nostalgia for steam. It was fantastic technology for the time, but a huge amount of labor to start up, operate, and maintain. Imagine spending 6 to 8 hours to get a large steam loco fired and ready to go. You did that with the diesel in a few minutes.
not going to lie, but I would love to see more train repairs as I am a massive train nut hah. If you ever do another restoration make sure it's a series!
Keep up the great work :)
Usually when I go work on them, it's a rush to get done. But I am working on one with a video. Might be a while yet, as the railroad it is trapped on has been less than helpful. I will explain in that video, but may be a while yet.
I’m also a train nut!
@@TopperMachineLLC hey man just wondering what do you do for living
Is a great thing to keep historical Machine alive so the new generation can appreciate the great things from the past.. God bless You
I don't do it just for the future generations to enjoy. I do it mostly because the new modern garbage will be broken down, and these reliable dinosaurs will always be saving the day. I was actually involved in a working a deal with a Class 1 Railroad to lease older units to them when none of their modern stuff would run. The future is not in modern equipment, but old reliable equipment.
My Father worked at Pullman in Chicago during WWII. He had flat feet so he was 4F for the military. So he went to work at Pullman building their railway cars. He learned the electrical trade while he worked there and after the war he left to work in commercial electrical services.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO SAVE OUR HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LOVE, ENJOY, AND APPRECIATE.
You can see the high quality design and engineering in this engine, it's no surprise to see it still in service at 70+ years of age. If things were made to this high quality today, the environment would benefit greatly and so would people.
The 567B was not a particularly good engine when they were first made. EMD offered conversion upgrades to 567BC spec to fix the issues with them, provided this one has been upgraded to that standard it will remain in good condition. The modifications and upgrades to fix issues are what makes it good.
@@nzrailmaps very few companies would do that today unless they were seriously compelled to do so.
Worked on hood units for years. If you ever have a problem starting, crazy as it sounds, pull the 200 amp fuse, band it in the cabinet, turn over and do it again. Put it in and it may start. Worked for me more than once
Yes, more than once. But only if I don't have a new one handy.
I have never worked on an American locomotive. But you did exactly the same sort of things I do on the preserved diesel locomotives I look after here in the UK. Very interesting
Even we in Austria, Europe, know that the old EMD locos are the best ever built. We had 18 Diesellocomotives Series 2050 with EMD V12 engines.
They were 50 years in service and some of them are Museumslocos in fine running condition.
Some of the Danish MY V16 and MX V12, which look very much like double ended F7's, are still in use by private operators. Norway and Hungary also had them. I love the sound of them
I've always called those locomotives snoopy trains, haha. Love them
It's nice to see an engine that survived the early days of NJT and made it out in good enough condition to still be running!
All first and second generation EMDs are fixable. Just depends how much money you want to put in them. I honestly would not be afraid to tackle the one left in a park out there.
@@TopperMachineLLC Old EMD's will live forever if you take decent care of them. You can beat them half to death and they'll still pull a train.
Heard a story once about a Shortline that ran a 30-some odd car loaded coal train with a GP40-2 with 2 functional traction motors on a 1.3% uphill grade, and I believe it.
@@PowerTrain611 generator don't care how many motors work. As long as the engineer is competent and keeps an eye on his amperage. You can over power a motor. Most all GP and SD have motor cutouts. I've cut out motors in an emergency and pulled heavy cuts. Just need to be cautious.
@@TopperMachineLLC Head on a swivel and wits about you is the name of the game with railroadin'!
IMO that locomotive has the best styling of anything that has run on rails.
That last few seconds showing the governor feather the ley shaft when coming back down was pretty cool. Don't think i've ever seen that on video before.
Got old square hatches. I used to work at CEECO in Tacoma. We were doing 20 cylinder 645 models at the time for Morrison-Knutson line with a contract for 40(?) engines. Turned out 1 a week.
Great video JT. I'm not sure how many of your viewers know the extent of your knowledge and skills. The channel just keeps getting better and better. Manual machining, sawmills, trains, welding, fabrication, camping and Rocky. Who could ask for more.
Oh, there is more coming. Something for everyone. I've been working since I was 15 in all the fields I enjoy and continue to seek out the things I like. If you like the channel now, just wait! There will be more stuff coming.
@@TopperMachineLLC.... Great video & channel you have.. love your content & subscribed. Any idea what Month this F7 was built? I was born in 1949 as well.... would be nice to know how close "our" birthdays are. Thanks again for the video and all the others that you've done... always very informative & detailed, yet easy to understand and learn from.
I agree, awesome channel.
@@TopperMachineLLC does this F7A have a hep generator and what horn does old girl have
I worked on the EMD 12 & 16 567's in the navy. The 12's on LST's and the 16 567 was the emergency generator on the USS Camden AOE 2. Also went to GM Diesel C School at Great Lakes in 1977. Worked on an EMD switch engine for moving coal cars at a power plant after the navy. Also worked on 16V149TI driving generators on FFG's in the eighties. Retire in 1994.
Great to see the old engines still in service.
Good video.
I remember those B heads leaking water into the top decks . I would pull the heads ,couldn’t use a crane under those roofs , after heads were out I had to check out head seals and engine block for pitting to fix water leaking into oil thus ruining engine bearings. Sometimes blocks were pitted so bad we would clean block and use a liquid steel to fill pits then sand block to get good fit . A lot of work. Tom
Is this original B or modified BC engine? I was told the B engines leaked at lot and that's why EMD issued the conversion kit to turn them into BC series.
I used to ride GMD B12 model locomotives here in Bangladesh, from 1953-1956 period, as exports to Pakistan by US. They were made in London, Ontario. That model has most of the features of this F7 model, with a 8 cylinder EMD567.
What was great about a covered wagon in the old days was that up north you could service them and go through the locomotives without having to deal with snow and ice on walkways and jamming the doors like on a hood unit.
Oh wow, the memories! From retrieving it at Hayward Jct on the dead of winter to its first startup, using the resin chair for a seat, and working with an awesome group of people. Pardon me for a moment, there's something on my eye.
I get something in my eye everytime I work on it. The memories of all the great men I learned so much from. Especially your dad, I have so many great memories of him. Such great times before the FRA started to run a muck! When railroading was still fun.
@@TopperMachineLLC Ah yes, this ole gal brings back some memories. 😀
As an electronics tech, I greatly appreciate FINALLY seeing what's inside those 'Danger: 600 Volts' cabinets! 🙂
Having been a licensed aircraft mechanic for over 35 years I really appreciate your restorations of older equipment and your attention to detail! I know most people don’t realize how old most of aircraft still flying around today. Most of the ones I worked on were over 30 years old and still in an airworthy condition. I really like that you rebuild the components that are used for those engines and getting back in functioning condition. Thanks so very much for sharing your knowledge and the finished product of your rebuilds! Please keep putting more videos on this channel!
Thank you for your service also. I have always had a love for the Douglas DC3. If I ever learn to fly, that is the plane I want. It's guys like you that keep these old girls in the air. Thank you for watching.
@@TopperMachineLLC I’ve worked on and flown in both a military version of both a DC-3 and a DC-4. The military version of a DC-3 is a C 47. They are still a lot of them flying and are used for hauling freight all over the USA and foreign countries. Best Wishes my friend!
I worked for Honeywell fixing airplane electronics. flight management computer, and other things. 30 years. We still use floppy disk to load flight software. And xt computers to test, windows 98.
@@indybill4 Thanks for your years of service! I’ve always held avionics repairmen in high regards for their abilities and have asked for their assistance whenever I had a serious electrical problem through the years. We always worked together to keep ‘em flying!
oh, yeah- youre the guys who aren't allowed to overhaul propellers. thats when you call me.
Fs, the best looking locomotive ever made.
Reminds me of when I was a Great Northern switchman in 1959 at Interbay Yard in Seattle. Sure is good to see the old GN colors.
My uncle and Dad worked at C&NW - was nice to see this and it reminded me of the time I got to ride in the cab in the west freight yard Milwaukee - And I spent a lot of time at the Milwaukee passenger depot in downtown - I still have a picture that is actually an oil painting that has been passed on through the family - it hung in the depot - that depot no longer exists - way back in the day now - Thanks for sharing
I was just waiting for you to blow the horn! Music to my ears!
"More powerful than a speeding locomotive." Beautiful.
Nothing like a 2 Stroke Detroit Diesel!
I could listen to an EMD run all day long
I like these old ones. Sounds and look the same as the Norwegian Di3 locos.
I havent seen anybody work on an f 7 not seen the work was very nice to see
Nice job! Those old locomotives were built to last..just need a bit of regular maintenance especially with the electrics. She purrs like a kitten. Classic loco I hope she has many years left in her. You are a very skilled man.
Oh man, thank you for keeping these old ladies alive, I miss seeing the VIA RAIL FP9's up here, and here you are fixing up its older cousin from across the lakes.
wow!! Individual unit injection pumps for each cylinder .. I always liked unit pumps better than single high pressure pumps
I’m glad to see #423 is still alive and kicking! I used to see her all the time in Chicago commuter operations. I sure do miss those units.
J'ai travailler 18 ans aux Ateliers du Canadien National à Pointes-St-Charles Montréal Québec Canada . Au titre d'apprentis Machiste , à machiniste et appelation plus tard de Mécanicien de machinerie lourde . Ça reste gravé en nous le ferroviaire !!!
my dad worked for the Union Pacific in the 1960s I remember him starting them engines, not a sound like it his were gp-9s had a great start up.
I worked for 20 years inspecting and repairing older EMD locomotives from F3s to SD40s. Most of that was my retirement job.
I'm very much enjoying Your channel and have for a very long time. The current episodes encourage me to relate a story. I have been an executive in the National Auto Business for 53 years (General Motors Corporation / Toyota Corporation). Today when people discuss EV and Hybrid, I routinely correct them with the statement that Hybrid's have been around for decades. When queried ... I explain that every train past (give or take) the last 70 years has been a hybrid. Even today, most people don't realize the train's engine is a diesel powering an electric generator and motor.
Great and good work. Regards from Poland 🇵🇱.
Great to see the legacy of these trains being kept alive by the dedication of people like you.
What a wonderful machine. The supercharged 567 engine had the best sound of them all. (Well, perhaps tied with Alco.) In the 50s and 60s I used to hear long freights pull out of a yard about two miles from my parent's house, late at night, and struggle for miles to get up to speed. They'd usually go through transition about in the same place, half a mile from my bedroom. What a sound.
Thanks for the tour of all the magic that exists under that body shell.
This locomotive looks to be in great condition, seems much nicer than some you've shown that are half as old. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Shes a Beautyful Time Machine ready for action.
Working on the river I've really gotten to love the sound of emds
My earliest memory of a locomotive is this one. Great Northern at the old depot in Grand Forks, N. Dak. Back in the 1950s. My mother, two oldest sisters and I rode it somewhere, Minnesota? Minot ND? I remember it was Great Northern orange not Northern Pacific green. No photos.
Run-8, Baby! I got to run UP 951 and 949 on an Operation Lifesaver reposition train back in the mid 1990s. Sweetest ride ever, just like a baby buggy. SD60s and SD90s on the other hand, are the worst rides ever. I could never figure out why EMD went from such great suspension on the E-units and the SD40-2s, and went downhill from there. UP had a few SD50s for a while, and they rode pretty well, but things went all to Hell when those SD60s showed up.
Great inspiration Brother. I am drawing a Railroad Retirement Disability Pension in my late 50s, and have discovered the joys of RUclips videos, and online auctions finding all kinds of amazing deals on used woodworking and machine shop equipment. I just need to have a place to put all this stuff...
Never ran any of the new stuff, just poked around in the electrical cabinet. But, I agree, those 6 axle units ride so nice.
Wow! First time I've ever been "under the hood" on my favorite loco! Sure is dark in there. I do admire your skills for all you know. Sure wish there were more channels that showed conditions under the hood and underneath the F-series locos. I would love to be able to crawl around one of those to see how it's laid out and how it works "virtually." (I'm too old and infirm to really crawl about any loco these days.) Thanks for the show.
I used to write power management software for deep sea drilling rigs. Saw lots of EMD V20s. Good engines.
Josh I am amazed at your vast knowledge of things.
Now your expertise includes Diesel Locamotives.
Very impressive.
Maybe some day do a video talking about your history and background.
Very interesting.
Take care, Ed.
Locomotives repair is the rocket science of the industry.
What a great paint scheme on the old girl👍
Been some time since I've seen and heard that locomotive run. I miss volunteering up there on the WGN RR.
I have a cabin out in Wisconsin about 30 minutes away from this tourist railroad. Its the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. They offer a variety of train rides and do freight operations on their ex CNW tracks. Ive been riding their trains since I was very young and I had my first cab ride in their switcher locomotive.
I'm a classic car guy, but LOVE anything mechanical. This is some amazing piece of hardware. I love that the engine is just a huge Detroit Diesel. The rocker box looks so similar. I bet with some basic care, this engine would run for millions of miles.
On average an EMD will go 25 years of nonstop service before needing a full rebuild. You will have Minor repairs in there like water pumps, power assemblies, injectors, etc.
@@TopperMachineLLC sounds like my daihatsu- i would still have it if toyota would bring us parts
Thank you! I've always wondered what it looked like in the motor compartment of that model of locomotive.👍👍👍👍
An emds 16 cylinder engine has a beautiful sound
This reminds me of when I was 13, my grandfather worked for Erie Lackawanna and he walked me thru the engineers cab and engine compartment of an EMD E8 locomotive with two 567B prime movers resting in the Hoboken station awaiting passenger service to Port Jervis. Just climbing up the ladder felt intimidating and felt scarier in the engine room which was loud and dark inside. E8's hold special memories for me!
My town has two of these F7As and an F7B for passenger service. Royal Gorge Railroad it's called. Never been on one of the trains but it's on my to-do list.
EMD F7 such beautiful locomotive! 😎
Greetings from Germany! 👍
Nice! It was interesting to watch the rack handle moving up and down from the governor doing its thing as you revved the engine up and down.
What a gorgeous looking locomotive. As a kid in Britain, of course I loved model steam locos... but i always had a longing for this model.
Absolutely primitive compared to the aircraft I work on...and I love everything about these classic EMDs.
Thumbs up! I find locomotives and railroads fascinating, but I only every get to see it from a distance or via a video like yours. There is nothing like the sound of those 2 stroke EMDs. It will be a sad day when those power units no longer roam the U.S.
I had this in HO scale with the Santa Fe paint scheme. You get to do the real ones! Glad to see that there are still people that do honest work. I won't mind seeing more of this type of stuff!
I have this exact paint scheme in n scale. My favorite locomotive. What a beautiful machine.
What a nice big piece of machinery.. never seen the inside of a locomotive... very cool..
Old paint scheme was so badass. Wish it still looked that way.
Great Northern, Northern Pacific where my flags of interest. Thank you for sharing!
Man must really like locomotives, enjoying the video, thank you.
I actually don't, I like the challenge and the pay.
@@TopperMachineLLC understood, retired gye here, I am greatful for your efforts.
Good morning to all from SE Louisiana 17 Nov 22.
Loco and me are same age . Looks like it’s runnin better than I am . Worked on many locos , was fun doing so . Thanks for going back to yesteryear , really appreciated it ,,, nice loco !
I can remember riding in Q E models when young too
Spooner, WI. It’s a tourist museum. I’ve passed this place hundreds of times and I’ve seen this very locomotive every time.
Not a museum. It's a class III railroad. Museums acquired equipment to rot away, railroads put it to work.
@@TopperMachineLLC that is very true, last time I checked a website I was using, it had this as a tourist museum smh. Thanks for clarification, and btw, you should convince them to get and repaint a Missabe engine 😂 there isn’t many of them left, and I’d love to see one running in tip top condition lol
EMD567 still gives me goosebumps. I've even run one a few years back. Very fun.
I'd like my future electric car to have artificial engine sound like an EMD
EMD is the best sound in the world In Ireland we have had EMDs since 1961
Alco is actually the best sound, of course :), but listening for E and F units accelerating out of Winnetka in Chicago commuter service, is what I blame my mediocre grades on, as I spent more time staring out the window, than anything else!
I love that air horn, as all train buff should.
Great yo see EMD run I welded counter weights on 645 and 710 crankshafts for these motors
I came across this video on accident while looking for other EMD content, but glad I did. We live in MN and frequently drive up hwy 53 to hayward and I see this F7 all the time sitting there along the road. I've been driving truck for 20 years and always wanted to operate a loco. I'd love to bring my 2 boys over to see it up close. Thanks for the interesting video!
I have always loved the look of these locomotives. I remember sitting at rail crossings with my dad in the early 60s seeing one go by on the Milwaukee Road tracks.
Awesome vid. I worked 8 years as an EMD electrician and 4 years with GE. I miss those beasts sometimes. Certainly don’t miss the railway though)
The FRA is what has really driven me away. The gross incompetence of the inspectors combined with their arrogance has been a major problem in my area.
I know) looks like an ST relay. I used to rebuild a lot of that stuff as well. Just enjoy the work. That’s all you can do.
I absolutely love Detroit Diesels.
Outstanding Topper !
Thank you for a great in depth look! Love these locomotive videos
My favorite locomotive!
I love the truck bench seat for the conductor.