EMD F7 A-B-A Set w/Proto-Sound 3.0 - 3-Rail - Premier(R) -- Southern Pacific 352, 543, 354 (Black Widow, black, red, orange, silver)

The F7 was the zenith of the covered wagon, or carbody-style diesel. With 3,849 units built between 1949 and 1953, the F7 was both the most popular carbody diesel and its last hurrah. By 1954 U.S. railroads had virtually stopped ordering F-units in favor of hood units like EMD's GP9 and Alco's RS-3. The side walkways of hood units offered better access for maintenance and better visibility for backup moves, making them truly universal locomotives useful for both mainline runs and road switching. Externally the F7 was very similar to the earlier F3. The key spotting features that distinguished an F7 were its stainless steel upper body grilles that replaced the chicken wire worn by most F3s, and the rooftop dynamic brake fan that replaced the F3's rectangular roof vents just behind the cab. Internally the F7 was also an evolution of the F3. While horsepower was the same, new D27 traction motors allowed the F7 to handle a heavier load. Capture the excitement of the fir