Santa Fe F-Units

Footnotes:

01. Athearn Ready-To-Roll. Athearn's Santa Fe freight F7A and B units are closest to units 200 Class 202LABC through 258LABC as is. Steam generator (S/G) fittings need to be removed from the A-unit, but the castings could be left on the B-unit if model is numbered 254AB through 258AB as those units did have S/G. Originally available in a mid-1950's freight scheme with passenger style nose emblem ("cigarband"), the paint contours on the cab roof and on the top of the nose are incorrect.
     Athearn's Santa Fe passenger F7A and B units are available as 37 Class A-B sets F7A 39L,A and 41L,A(Oct 2011); and single F7As 39C and 41C(Apr 2011). Horizontal-slit grilles makes these models incorrect for Santa Fe 37 Class passenger F7's 37LABC-41LABC because they had vertical slit grilles. The F7A has dual-headlights but incorrect S/G fittings. The F7B unit has S/G fittings, the Indian head medallion and "SANTA FE" lettering.
     Athearn's Santa Fe freight F7A is also available as 200 Class number 271C and 281 Class 289C painted in the 1972-era freight blue/yellow warbonnet scheme but the 271C was a Phase II F7 and the 289C was a F9. Athearn's models are incorrect for these units in many respects including EMD F-unit model, different airhorn, side grilles, louvers, front pilot, different fuel tank and skirting arrangements, and incorrect S/G fittings. The 289C paint scheme is incorrect as there should no blue strip covering the headlight casing or above the headlight.

02. Stewart's Santa Fe freight F3A represents cab units 200L and C and 201L and C as delivered with the "catwhisker" paint scheme. As delivered the two Santa Fe freight F3's indeed had black roofs (see the revisions noted on the styling diagrams and the modeling notes). Nose emblem color is incorrect and the roof stripe contour is also slightly incorrect. Much detail work could be done to the model if you decided to repaint it such as adding diaphragms, number plates, hoses. etc. However the model is a vast improvement over what previously was available. This model also available as undecked.

03. Athearn's RTR and Stewart's F7 passenger units are closest to units 326LAB through 331LAB out of the box. Horizontal-slit grilles makes these models incorrect for most other Santa Fe passenger F7's because most had a vertical slit grilles. Steam generator fittings need to be removed from Athearn's A-unit and added to the Stewart B-unit (such as Details West part 118).

04. Stewart's "Phase I" passenger F3A has been available in two versions. The single headlight version is correct for the as-delivered appearance of units 16LABC through 21LABC. The dual headlight version may be incorrect on a "Phase I" carbody as those units may not have received the lower headlight until they were rebuilt to "Phase II" appearance.

05. Athearns's RTR undecorated(No Longer Available from Athearn) single headlight F7A is useful for modeling cab units in the 202-258 number series. S/G fittings should be removed from the roof as a basic first step and the modeler can add or remove other details as appropriate to the specific units he is modeling.

06. Athearn's RTR undecorated(No Longer Available from Athearn) F7B needs only removal of S/G fittings to make it close to the appearance of most boosters in the 202-258 number series. S/G fittings can be left in place for modeling units 254 through 258 as those units were so equipped as built. As with the A-units, the modeler can carry detailing out to whatever extent he wishes.

07. Stewart's undecorated "Phase II" dual headlight F3A and F3B could be reworked to represent units 16LABC through 21LABC as rebuilt to "Phase II" appearance in the late 1940's. Addition of S/G fittings on the B-unit and a paint job is required.

08. Stewart's F9A and B is incorrect for Santa Fe appearance as is. Reworking of the fuel tank and skirting would be required as well as the addition of roof air piping. Not a difficult job considering the side grilles and filter panels are of the correct vertical-slit type. Factory painted in the B/Y cigar band scheme or undecked.
High-Tech Details makes a 1500gal fuel tank (Part Number: HTD-6024) for the SF 200 Class Phase II number series 269LABC-280LABC F7s and 281 Class F9s.

09. Highliners' F-series body shell kits have components to build up any Santa Fe F3, F7 or F9 A or B unit variant. The modeler can detail and paint it for passenger or freight (as the kit has come either in plated or plain finish) as desired.
Features:
They are for use with powered or unpowered Athearn F7 chassis, or Stewart Hobbies/Kato F Unit drives. Includes molded plastic detail parts: four versions of the dynamic brake hatch, tall and short roof fans, five sets of side panel inserts, steam generator parts, two styles of sand filler hatches, flush-mounted porthole "glass", photo-etched stainless steel fan grilles, door handles, lift rings and other detail parts. Also features true-to-scale headlights, three styles of number boards, two styles of pilots, two styles of cab and nose doors (with and without light), horns, five types of side porthole arrangement inserts, photo-etched stainless-steel windshield wipers, windshield and porthole "gaskets," cab side-window "wind wings," cab door "kick plates" and pilot corner steps.
Athearn purchased Highliners' F-series tooling in July 1998. See Footnote 15 as Athearn GENESIS has released many variations of factory painted Santa Fe F-units from the Highliners F-series tooling.
High-Tech Details makes a 1500gal fuel tank (Part Number: HTD-6024) for the SF 200 Class number series 269LABC-280LABC Phase II F7s and 281 Class F9s.

10. Athearn's undecorated(No Longer Available from Athearn) dual headlight F7A would be useful for modeling passenger F7s in the 326LAB through 331LAB number series with removal of the S/G fittings.

11. Stewart's undecorated dual headlight F7 phase I is basically the same as Athearn's in appearance and is also useful for units 326LAB through 331LAB with the addition of S/G fittings to the B-unit.

12. Hallmark's various brass FT imports with carbody side number boards on the A-units are useful for Santa Fe FT's number 118 and up because of the dynamic brake (see modeling notes). Modelers can add whatever level of detailing to the units as they were imported in as delivered appearance.

13. Hallmark's brass F3 was basically a "Phase I" unit and useful for Santa Fe passenger units 16LABC through 21LABC in their as-delivered appearance.

14. Stewart FT's have been delivered in the dual HL Passenger Warbonnet scheme (numbers 158LABC - 168LABC) and the single HL Freight Catwhisker scheme in LABC. The CW scheme has been released in the full red stripe, the cab only red stripe, and the "no red stripe" versions by Stewart. The kits come with different variations of the dynamic brake housing for you to decide which is appropriate. Santa Fe FT A-B sets in the blue/yellow "cigarband" and solid blue with yellow "cigarband" freight units have also been released.

Summary of the Bowser Manufacturing Santa Fe F-unit Releases
Bowser Manufacturing purchased Stewart Hobbies in 2005.

Class/ Model	Road Numbers	Paint Scheme	Release Date	Model Detail Notes
100/FT	NO#²	Creamy yellow "catwhisker"	Released	No red stripe Black roof Bronze painted Santa Fe square nose badge plate with the Santa Fe emblem painted in the dark blue paint A-unit has bronze "SANTA FE" lettering B-unit has no lettering
100/FT	118L² 140L²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	B-unit number not specified.
100/FT	185L²	Soild blue "cigarband"	Released	B-unit number not specified.
100/FT	163L² 167L² NO#²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	Dual headlights B-unit number not specified Before purchase by Bowser, Stewart released an un-numbered FT A-B set with different variations of the dynamic brake roof housing.
200/F3	NO#²	Blue/yellow "catwhisker"	Released	Both A and B-unit with no road number. Powered A dummy B. Chrome yellow with black roof, and incorrect narrow yellow frame stripe A-unit has yellow "SANTA FE" lettering B-unit has no lettering
200/F7	NO#²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	Both A and B-unit with no road number. Powered A dummy B. A and B-unit have yellow "SANTA FE" lettering
281/F9	NO#²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	Both A and B-unit with no road number. Powered A dummy B. Incorrect fuel tank and fuel tank skirting - should have 1500gal and abbreviated skirting.

¹ Single A-unit ² A-B set

15. The Athearn GENESIS non-"modernized" and "modernized" F units have been available in numerous variations of the passenger and the freight schemes. They use the Highliners F-series tooling and are finished beautifully. The passenger red/silver A and B units are finished to distinguish the difference between the silver painted areas and the stainless-steel side panels. F3's in several phases and F7's in several phases, both freight and passenger schemes, have all been offered. No undecked are available due to the partnership with Highliners, which has the exclusive on the undecked units.

Summary of the Athearn GENESIS Santa Fe F-unit Releases (non-"modernized")
All Athearn GENESIS F-unit models made from the Highliners F-series tooling.

Class/ Model	Road Numbers	Paint Scheme	Release Date	Model Detail Notes
16/F3	19L¹ 34C¹ 21L-21A² 21C-21B² 32L-32A² 32C-32B²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	Santa Fe modified appearance - horizontal upper body side air grilles 19L, 21L, 21C have the "long" version of the Red/Silver Warbonnet paint scheme, two side window port holes, Mars light in upper nose casing and headlight in upper portion of nose door 19L, 21L-21A, 21C-21B have F3 slit-type dynamic brake roof openings and four high profile roof cooling fans 19L has the Phase I horizontal side louvers 21L and 21C have the Phase II vertical side louvers
37/F7	37L-37A² 37C-37B² 42L¹ 43L¹ 46L-46B² 46C-46A² 47L-47A² 47C-47B²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	All - as-built appearance 42L, 47L, 47C have Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn 37L, 37C, 43L, 46L, 46C have twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns
300/F7	304L¹	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	As-built appearance
300/F7	NO#³	Red/silver	Released	Single B-unit with Indian head medallion - no lettering Athearn includes a small decal sheet with road numbers and the "SANTA FE" lettering that was applied to the B-units in later years Phase I Late (306A,B:1-316A,B:1 or 325A,B-335A,B) S/G fittings
200/F3	201L¹ 200L-200A² 200C-200B²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	All - as-built appearance with A-unit nose number plate below headlight
200/F7	205L¹ 212L-212A² 212C-212B²	Creamy yellow "catwhisker"	Released	All - as-built appearance 212L and 212C have correct "passenger pilot" A-unit nose number plate on nose door just above the nose badge plate A-unit has gold "SANTA FE" lettering and bronze painted Santa Fe square nose badge plate with the Santa Fe emblem painted in the dark blue paint B-units have no lettering A and B units have black roof and wrap-around yellow striping
200/F7	226C¹ 263C¹ 217L-217A² 217C-217B² 260L-260B² 260C-260A²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	All - as-built appearance with A-unit nose number plate below headlight A-units have incorrect "passenger pilot" 263C, 260L-260B, 260C-260A no upper body side air grilles (as-delivered).

¹ Single A-unit ² A-B set ³ Single B-unit

     Athearn GENESIS has done a nice job of releasing Santa Fe F-unit HO models in "modernized" versions that represent Santa Fe's F-unit fleet in their final years during the early 1970s. As it applies to the Athearn GENESIS F-unit model, "modernized" means applying all the modifications made to the F-units over the years to keep up with federal regulations and industry standards in order to model the locomotive as it looked in its later years compared to its "as-built" appearance. All Athearn GENESIS "modernized" versions have the inertial air filter (housing behind the dynamic brake fan just in front of the first cooling fan). They are also equipped with either a "can"-type or "firecracker"-type radio antenna; and the proper prototype airhorn is also provided. Athearn has photos of all the "modernized" Santa Fe F-unit GENESIS releases on its Web site www.athearn.com. Most of these Santa Fe F-unit models indicate "Sold Out" on Athearn's Web Site.

Summary of the Athearn GENESIS "modernized" Santa Fe F-unit Releases
All Athearn GENESIS F-unit models made from the Highliners F-series tooling.

Class/ Model	Road Numbers	Paint Scheme	Release Date	Model Detail Notes
281/F9	281C¹ 286L-286A² 286C-286B²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	A-units have incorrect "passenger pilot" A-unit nose number plate below headlight No roof-top spark arrestors F9A and F9B have 1500 gal. fuel tanks with abbreviated skirting and air pipeing on roof 286L and 286C have twin single Leslie model S-25 type horns each on a single bracket mount - right facing forward, left to the rear 281C has a single as delivered Leslie model S-2M type horn - two bells on a two horn manifold on the right side.
325/F7	332L¹ 329L-329B² 325L-326A²	Blue/silver "Bluebonnet"	Released	All - equipped with two roof-top spark arrestors and have correct "ARGENTINE" maintenance stencil. 329L has incorrect "passenger pilot" 332L has incorrect square end door window A-units not supplied with radio antennas B-units have "SANTA FE" lettering and no Indian head medallion.
300/F7	311L¹ 303L-304B² 310L-312A²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	All - equipped with two roof-top spark arrestors A-units have a Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn and "firecracker"-type radio antenna B-units have "SANTA FE" lettering, Indian head medallion, and S/G fittings. 310L represents ATSF F7A 310L:2, 312A represents ATSF F7B 312A:2.
300/F7	304L-319B² 315L¹	Yellow/silver "Yellowbonnet"	Released	All - equipped with two roof-top spark arrestors and A-units have a Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn. Silver trucks, pilot and ends 304L and 315L detailed for F7 Phase I early with rear roof overhang 304L has a "can"-type radio antenna 315L has a "firecracker"-type radio antenna 319B is an F3B (nee-24A) and has "SANTA FE" lettering, Indian head medallion, S/G fittings, and has incorrect 48" dynamic brake fan - should have 36" fan. Renumbered into 325 Class as 345B in August 1973. Assigned to Amtrak service - 315L and 319B Chicago-Texas and 304L Chicago-California. 304L and 315L were the only F7As painted in the "Yellowbonnet" scheme while in Amtrak service.
325/F7	330L-339B² 341¹	Yellow/silver "Yellowbonnet"	Released	All - equipped with two roof-top spark arrestors. 339B is a Phase II F7 that has "SANTA FE" lettering, Indian head medallion, and S/G fittings 341 detailed as Phase II F7 that has blue "passenger pilot", solid blue nose stripe and blue "cigar band" nose emblem, no nose lifting lugs, and Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn and "can"-type radio antenna 330L detailed as Phase I Late F7 that has twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns and "can"-type radio antenna, no nose stripe and yellow "cigar band" nose emblem
37/F7	42C¹ 44L-44A² 44C-44B²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	Detailed for F7 Phase II A-units have a Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn and "firecracker"-type radio antenna B-units have "SANTA FE" lettering, Indian head medallion, and S/G fittings No roof-top spark arrestors.
200/F3	200C¹ 201L-201A² 201C-201B²	Creamy yellow "catwhisker"	Released	Detailed for F3 Phase IV as-delivered appearance 200C and 201C are correct to not have "C" in the nose number boards A-unit has gold "SANTA FE" lettering and bronze painted Santa Fe square nose badge plate with the Santa Fe emblem painted in the dark blue paint A-unit nose number plate on nose door just above the nose badge plate B-units have no lettering A and B units have black roof and wrap-around yellow striping

¹ Single A-unit ² A-B set

With clean paint and recently washed, Santa Fe dual-service 325 Class F7A 327L and unidentified B-unit are on assignment to Santa Fe's Texas Chief train No. 16 at Union Station Houston, TX on December 12, 1970. This photo represents the 327L in its "modernized" appearance, and clearly shows the difference between the silver painted areas and the stainless-steel side panels. The 327L is a Phase I Late F7 that has a "freight pilot", twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns, 36" D/B fans, and stainless-steel horizontal slit side air grilles. Both the A and B unit have "SANTA FE" lettering and are equipped with two manifold spark arrestors. These 325 Class F-units have only about five months remaining in regular Texas Chief passenger service before being assigned exclusively to freight service in May 1971. Santa Fe's dual-service 325 Class consisted of F7s Phase I Late 325LAB-335LAB and Phase II 336LAB-340LAB, 341LA-344LA. Some 325 Class A-units had "freight pilots" and some had "passenger pilots". The entire class was retained by the Santa Fe for freight service and not used by Amtrak. The 327L would get the blue/silver "Bluebonnet" paint scheme before being remanufactured to CF7 2442 in August 1977. Athearn GENESIS has yet to announced "modernized" Santa Fe 325 Class F-units in the passenger red/silver Warbonnet scheme. —Ralph Back

MODELING NOTES - LETTERING: Santa Fe Maintenance Shop Assignment Stencils.

300 Class "modernized" ATSF "Yellowbonnet" F7 315L, with a "CLEBURNE" maintenance stencil, on assignment to Amtrak's Texas Chief train No. 16 at Union Station Houston, TX on December 31, 1972. The 315L was a Phase I early F7 built as Santa Fe 37 Class 40L in September 1949. The Farr vertical-slit stainless steel side grilles replaced the horizontal-slit grilles early in its career. ATSF 40L was renumbered into the 300 Class as the 315L in June 1971, and assigned exclusively to Amtrak Chicago-Texas service. The 315L was painted in the "Yellowbonnet" scheme in August 1972 at the Santa Fe's San Bernardino, CA shops with a "BARSTOW" stencil, and then returned to Amtrak's Texas Chief service in September 1972 when the "CLEBURNE" stencil was applied for its maintenance shop assignment at Cleburne, TX. The Athearn model has the correct details for the "modernized" prototype but should have had the "CLEBURNE" maintenance stencil rather than the "BARSTOW" stencil. The Athearn model retains the rear roof overhang, but has the two top door frame lift lugs just below and under the roof overland. The Santa Fe removed the roof overhangs on its F-units when lift lugs were added in later years. The 315L was assigned to freight service in July 1973 (retaining its "CLEBURNE" maintenance stencil), retired in March 1974, and remanufactured to CF7 2517 in June 1974. —Ralph Back

In their later years after May 1971, Santa Fe's F-units were stenciled with their maintenance shop assignment either "ARGENTINE", "BARSTOW", or "CLEBURNE" in small upper-case letters on or above the frame at the designated front of the unit. The stencil color varied: black on red, white or yellow on blue, and black or blue on yellow. The "BARSTOW" stencil was only used for Santa Fe's 300 Class F-units in Amtrak service and assigned to the Barstow, CA maintenance shop. Athearn GENESIS has started putting the maintenance shop stencil on some of its "modernized" Santa Fe 300 Class and 325 Class F7 releases; but in some cases they are not correct.
     If you model any Santa Fe 300 Class F-unit assigned to Amtrak service during 1971-1973, it should have either a "ARGENTINE", "BARSTOW", or "CLEBURNE" maintenance shop stencil. Check prototype photos for these "modernized" Santa Fe F-unit releases for the correct maintenance shop stencil. Determining the correct maintenance shop assignment stencil can be difficult for some F-units due to the Santa Fe 300 Class renumberings and maintenance shop assignment changes.
     In general after May 1971, Santa Fe F-units had the following maintenance shop assignment stencils:

200 Class and 281 Class "CLEBURNE" (Some "ARGENTINE" but most "CLEBURNE") 325 Class "ARGENTINE" (Some not stenciled until repainted "Bluebonnet" or "Yellowbonnet") 300 Class "ARGENTINE", "BARSTOW", or "CLEBURNE" (In Amtrak service May 1971 - July 1973) 300 Class "ARGENTINE" or "CLEBURNE" (When assigned to freight service beginning July 1973, "BARSTOW" re-assigned to "ARGENTINE")

MODELING NOTES - PILOTS: Freight and Passenger.
The "passenger pilot" is identified by a notch step on both sides of the pilot. A "freight pilot" has a small metal step mounted outboard above the rail on each side of the pilot and the pilot has no notch. "Passenger pilots" and "freight pilots" can be found on A-unit members of all Santa Fe F-unit Classes. Athearn GENESIS Santa Fe A-unit models all have the "passenger pilot", but in some cases they are not correct. Athearn does not make a Santa Fe style "freight pilot". Check prototype photos for the Santa Fe F-unit releases for the correct A-unit pilot.

MODELING NOTES - 325 CLASS FREIGHT ASSIGNMENT: "Bluebonnet" and "Yellowbonnet" Paint Schemes

Santa Fe 325 Class F7A 332L just out of the paint shop at San Bernardino, CA on May 6, 1972. Athearn GENESIS did an excellent job of correctly detailing the "modernized" "Bluebonnet" ATSF 332L. It has the correct details: black outline around the yellow "cigar-band" nose emblem, yellow nose stripe up and over the headlight with two vertical blue stripes between the nose door headlight and Mars light and below the nose emblem, yellow side body hand railings, blue nose-side grabirons, black "passenger pilot" and anti-climber, blue end, black trucks and fuel tank, "ARGENTINE" stencil, nose lift lugs, small "L" below the yellow "cigar band" nose emblem, twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns, Farr vertical-slit stainless steel side grilles, and detailed as a Phase I Late F7. The 332L was remanufactured to CF7 2458 in May 1977 —Joe McMillan, Ralph Back collection

"BLUEBONNET" - With their freight assignment after May 1, 1971, changes came to Santa Fe's classic red and silver Warbonnet paint scheme. In July 1971, almost a year before adoption of Santa Fe's "Yellowbonnet" scheme, Santa Fe began painting some members of the 325 Class F7s in a freight "Bluebonnet" paint scheme. Seven F7As were painted - 325L, 327L, 329L, 332L, 335L, 338L and 343L - with variations of nose stripes and emblems applied to them. The F7A paint scheme replaced the original red Warbonnet with freight blue retaining the Warbonnet design, silver painted and stainless steel sides, the yellow "cigar-band" Santa Fe nose emblem with the black outline and five-inch "SANTA FE" letters on the carbody sides. The F7A variations were mostly in the nose vertical yellow stripe above and below the Santa Fe "cigar-band" nose emblem, and color of the front anticlimber above the pilot that wrapped around the nose of the F7A. The 325L did not have the two vertical blue nose stripes between the nose door headlight and Mars light, and it had a blue painted anti-climber. The 327L and 335L had a yellow anticlimber while the 329L, 332L, 338L and 343L had black painted anticlimbers. The 338L had yellow nose side ladder grabs as the other six all had blue. The 335L and 338L had yellow painted eyebrow grabs while the other five were all painted blue. The 343L's "Bluebonnet" paint scheme varied the most from the other six. The 343L did not have the outer black separation stripe along the Warbonnet contour or above the stainless steel frame sidesill, the black outline around the Santa Fe cigar-band nose emblem, the two vertical blue stripes between the nose door headlight and Mars light or below the Santa Fe "cigar-band" nose emblem. Seventeen F7Bs received a blue stripe which replaced the red, and both ends of the unit were painted blue. The 6-foot long Santa Fe Indian head medallion was not present on any of the 17 F7Bs, but the "SANTA FE" letters were applied offset toward the rear of the unit - applied to B-units beginning in early 1954. The carbody side hand railings were all painted yellow. The trucks, fuel tank, frame sidesill steps and A-unit front pilot were painted black rather than silver. These units all have blue ends.

Santa Fe 325 Class F7A 341 at HB&T's Milby St. in Houston, TX on December 22, 1972. Athearn GENESIS did an excellent job of correctly detailing the "modernized" "Yellowbonnet" ATSF 341. It has the correct details: solid blue nose stripe up and over the headlight, yellow side body hand railings, yellow nose-side grabirons, blue "passenger pilot", blue end, black trucks and fuel tank, "ARGENTINE" stencil, no nose lift lugs, no small "L" below the blue "cigar band" nose emblem, Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn, and detailed as a Phase II F7. The 341 was remanufactured to CF7 2468 in March 1977 —Ralph Back

"YELLOWBONNET" - After the F7 "Bluebonnet" scheme was discontinued in June 1972, Santa Fe started painting the 325 Class F-units in a "Yellowbonnet" scheme. The "Yellowbonnet" scheme was more simplified than the "Bluebonnet" scheme. No need for a yellow separation stripe as only a narrow black stripe separated the yellow Warbonnet contour from the silver carbody side. No black stripe above the frame sidesill either. Eight F7As were painted - 326L, 328L, 330L, 334L, 339L, 340L, 341 and 344L - with variations of nose stripes and "cigar-band" nose emblems applied to them. Four units - 334L, 340L, 341 and 344L - had a solid blue "cigar-band" nose emblem with a blue stripe running up and over the headlight to the base of the windshield as well as below the emblem. Two - 326L and 339L - had a yellow outline type "cigar-band" nose emblem with solid blue stripe up and over the headlight. The 330L had a yellow outline type "cigar-band" nose emblem but no blue nose stripe. Another variation was found on 328L with a yellow outline "cigar-band" nose emblem and blue stripe above the emblem but not below it. These units all have black trucks and underframe, and blue pilot and blue ends. The "Yellowbonnet" scheme B-units received a yellow stripe which replaced the red, and both ends of the unit were painted blue. They retained the Indian head medallion along with the five-inch "SANTA FE" letters on the carbody sides.

Three F7A members of the 325 Class never received either the "Bluebonnet" or "Yellowbonnet" paint scheme: the 336L, 337L and 342L retained their red/silver Warbonnet paint scheme, although in pretty bad condition, until remanufactured to CF7s. After July 1973 twenty-one 300 Class F3s and F7s, A and B units, were renumbered into the 325 Class and painted in the "Yellowbonnet" scheme.

16. Stewart's F7 freight is a Phase I early unit, and was painted in both the Cat Whisker and the Cigar Band paint schemes. As with all Stewarts, they come un-numbered, so you can model which ones you desire. These units are best suited for numbers 202LABC - 258LABC, pre-1952 for the CW, and post 1952 for the Cigar Band scheme.

17. Model Rectifier Corp. makes 300 Class F7 A and B passenger units with and without a DCC decoder installed: F7A numbers 314C, 300L, and 300C; F7B numbers 312A. The A-unit models all models have S/G fittings and 47" dynamic brake fans. These models are no longer shown on their Web site.

18. Intermountain Railway Co. has offered the F7 phase I in several paint schemes. Both A and B units are offered. They have a unique unpowered chassis that is called a "Smart Dummy", that has power pick-up trucks so that you can more easily add sound to a multi-unit consist. These are nicely detailed units, and IM continues to bring out more variations of the F7. The passenger Warbonnet, the Catwhisker freight, and the Cigar Band freight have all been offered. They have also offered the "Yellowbonnet" scheme. The IM F7 Phase I undecorated kit models have a separate pilot, so the correct "passenger" or "freight" pilot can be applied where needed. These are offered separately as detail parts, as are their Farr or horizontal grilles for both the A and B units.

Summary of the Intermountain Railway Co. Santa Fe F-unit Releases

Class/ Model	Road Numbers	Paint Scheme	Release Date	Model Detail Notes
16/F3	16L¹-19L¹	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	Detailed for Phase II F3 with etched metal “chicken wire” applied to the body Santa Fe modified appearance - F3A Models feature the "long" version of the Red/Silver Warbonnet paint scheme, Mars light in upper nose casing and headlight in upper portion of nose door, four high profile roof cooling fans, twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns, and two side window port holes. B-unit has no number only the Indian head medallion and S/G fittings.
37/F7	39L¹ 39C¹ 40L¹ 41C¹ 39A² 39B² 40A² 41B²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	All - as-built appearance. A-units have twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns B-units have "SANTA FE" lettering and Indian head medallion and S/G fittings
300/F7	315L¹	Yellow/silver "Yellowbonnet"	Released	Assigned to Amtrak Chicago-Texas service 315L has a Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn
325/F7	326L¹ 328L¹ 334L¹ 338A² 342B²	Yellow/silver "Yellowbonnet"	Released	326L and 328L have twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns and incorrect "passenger pilot" 334L has a Leslie 5-Chime S5TR airhorn and "passenger pilot" B-units have "SANTA FE" lettering and Indian head medallion
325/F7	332L¹ NO#²	Blue/silver "Bluebonnet"	Released	332L has twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns and correct "passenger pilot" B-unit has S/G fittings, "SANTA FE" lettering, and no Indian head medallion
200/F7	202¹ 206¹ 218¹ 220¹ 220A²	Creamy yellow "catwhisker"	Released	Detail for F7 Phase I early as-delivered appearance All - incorrect blue roof (should be black) 220 has correct "passenger pilot" A-units have gold bronze color "SANTA FE" lettering and bronze painted Santa Fe square nose badge plate with the Santa Fe emblem painted in the dark blue paint A-unit nose number plate on nose door just above the nose badge plate B-unit has no lettering
200/F7	228L¹ 228C¹ 235L¹ 235C¹ 228A² 228B² 235A² 235B²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	All - as-built appearance All A-units have incorrect "passenger pilot".
100/FT	122L-122A³ 122C-122B³ 127L-127A³ 135L-135A³	Creamy yellow "catwhisker"	Released	w/Red separation stripe separating the blue and yellow colors - "as-built" appearance Both units powered. Models are factory ready to run on DC or DCC with optional SoundTraxx® Tsunami® Sound and are equipped with Kadee® couplers Nose herald is a separate bronze plate with the herald painted on in blue Number board below the nose badge plate Body side number boards are molded as appropriate to the prototype Roof mounted dynamic brake housing on A and B unit FTAs have gold bronze color "SANTA FE" lettering above the body side number boards FTBs have no letterring
100/FT	158L-158A³ 160L-160A³ 166L-166B³ 168L-168B³	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	FTA has Mars light in upper nose casing and headlight in upper portion of nose door. FTB has S/G fittings and no lettering or Indian head medallion. Both units are powered, with DC and DCC function; and are also available with optional SoundTraxx® Tsunami® sound. Kadee® couplers are included. Model photos on the Intermountain Railway Co. Web site.
200/F7 37/F7 325/F7	NO#¹&² NO#¹&² NO#¹&²	Undecorated Shell kit	Released	Detailed for Phase I F7A and B A-unit kits with freight or passenger pilot A and B kits with horizontal or Farr vertical air grilles.

¹ Single A-unit ² Single B-unit ³ A-B set

19. Overland, Division Point, Oriental, Pacific Fast Mail, and Challenger have all offered brass F units over the years in painted and unpainted versions. Overland and Division Point are still in business, and more variations might be expected in the future. It is beyond the scope of this chart to give a detailed listing of all the different models that they have offered over the years. The "X19" mark in the box indicates that one of these have been offered at some time, in some variation. PFM has offered almost every variant (FT, F3, F7, and F9; A and B) at one time or another. Hallmark's offerings are discussed in other footnotes. Please reference The Brown Book, The Brown Book of Brass Locomotives, and the Brass Model Trains Price & Data Guide for production statistics.

Brass Santa Fe F-unit Releases - 2010 and Later
Listed here are brass model releases after the publication of Brass Model Trains Price & Data Guide 2009 Edition.

Class/ Model	Road Numbers	Paint Scheme	Importer/Builder	Catalogue No.	Year	Model Detail Notes
200/F7	263L,A¹ 263C,B¹ 265L,A¹ 265C,B¹ 260A² 260B²	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Division Point/Ajin	DP-2144¹ DP-2144B²	2010	Santa Fe EMD F-7 A-B sets and single B-units Factory painted "modernized" A-units have correct "freight pilot" No upper body side air grilles (as-delivered)

¹ A-B Set ² Single B-unit

20. Model Power has offered a Santa Fe 16 Class F3 16L,C-21L,C A unit only. It's listed as an F2A. Red/silver Warbonnet paint, three side port-hole windows, high fans, all metal model, see thru vents and lighted number boards. The model has these incorrect details: S/G fittings, single headlight, FT-style nose number boards, and too small yellow "cigarband" nose emblem.

21. Stewart's SHL undecked F7 phase II is like the Santa Fe's freight units 269LABC thru 280LABC. Their undecked DHL units are like passenger units 42LABC thru 47LABC +48A, 306LAB thru 314LAB, and 336LAB thru 340LAB, and 341LA thru 344LA. Some Santa Fe details will need to be applied.

22. Factory painted Passenger F3s and F7s are part of the release with the Walters Proto 2000 Name Train series for Santa Fe's Super Chief and El Capitan. Walthers indicates these Santa Fe passenger F-unit models are "Limited Run". Undecorated models can be configured as any Phase F3 or Phase I F7 - Santa Fe 16, 37, 300, or 325 Class passenger F3s/F7s and Santa Fe 200 Class freight F3s/F7s.

Summary of the Walthers PROTO 2000 Santa Fe F-unit Releases

Class/ Model	Road Numbers	Paint Scheme	Release Date	Model Detail Notes
200/F3	200L-200A³ 200C-200B³ 201L-201A³ 201C-201B³	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	200L-200A, 200C-200B w/Sound & DCC and 201L-201A, 201C-201B standard DC Both A and B units powered Full cab interior w/crew figures Working headlight Rear-Mount wagonwheel radio aerial or firecracker antenna as appropriate Etched metal horizontal slit type "Stainless" side air grilles Partial fuel tank skirting
200/F7	233L-233A³ 238C-238B³ 251L-251A³ 258L-258A³	Blue/yellow "cigarband"	Released	Both A and B units powered Full cab interior w/crew figures Working headlight Etched metal horizontal slit type "Stainless" side air grilles All have partial fuel tank skirting 233L and 251L have "wagon wheel" radio antennas 238L and 258L have no radio antenna 258A has S/G fittings
16/F3	31L¹ 31C¹ 33L¹ 33C¹ 34L-34A³ 34C-34B³ 36L-36A³ 36C-36B³	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	16 Class F3 F-units for Super Chief. W/Sound & DCC and Standard DC. Plated Metal Finish Leslie 5-Chime S5TR Airhorn Working Headlight and Mars Light "can"-type radio antenna Inertial Air Filter Etched Metal Vertical Slit Farr Type "Stainless" Side Air Grilles No fuel tank skirting A-unit has nose lift lugs B-unit has Indian head medallion and "SANTA FE" lettering (1954 and later), and S/G fittings No roof overhangs PROTO-Max™ Metal Knuckle Couplers
37/F7	38L-38A³ 38C-38B³ 39L-39A³ 39C-39B³ 40L¹ 40C¹ 47L¹ 47C¹ 40A² 40B² 47A² 47B²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Apr 2012	37 Class F7 F-units for El Capitan - detailed to match 1956-1960 era. Both A&B units powered. W/Tsunami® Sound & DCC and Standard DC. Full-Feature Tsunami® Sound & Control Decoder in DCC versions only! Plated Metal Finish Leslie 5-Chime S5TR Airhorn Working Headlight w/Bezel & Recessed Lens and Mars Light Inertial Air Filter 36-inch Dynamic Brake Fan Etched Metal Vertical Slit Farr Type "Stainless" Side Air Grilles Metal Grab Irons, Ladder Stand-Offs, Handrails & Lift Rings Complete Scale Fuel Tank w/Hangers, Battery Box, Air Tank & Underframe Detail PROTO-Max™ Metal Knuckle Couplers "Most Authentic Bulldog Nose Ever Done" - that's what Walthers says.
16/F3 200/F3	NO#³ NO#³	Undecorated	Released	Detailed parts for any F3 Phase Both A and B units powered Full roof overhang Several types of radio antennas Working headlight - Mars light as appropriate Etched metal chicken-wire, horizontal, or Farr vertical grilles Full fuel tank skirting Dynamic brake roof vent Freight or passenger pilot A and B S/G fittings Cab nose lift lugs as appropriate
200/F7 37/F7 325/F7	NO#¹&³ NO#¹&³ NO#¹&³	Undecorated	Released	Detailed parts for Phase I F7 Both A and B units powered Full cab interior w/crew figures Working headlight - Mars light as appropriate Etched metal Farr or horizontal grilles Full or partial fuel tank skirting With or without dynamic brakes to match prototypes Freight or passenger pilot Nose lift lugs as appropriate

¹ Single A-unit ² Single B-unit ³ A-B set

23. Broadway Limited Imports. Photos of the BLI Santa Fe F-units are on the BLI Web site.

Summary of the Broadway Limited Imports Santa Fe F-unit Releases

Class/ Model	Road Numbers	Paint Scheme	Release Date	Model Detail Notes
37/F7	38C¹ 37L-37A² 37C-37B² 38L-38A²	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	As-built appearance 37L-37A and 37C-37B are Paragon(TM) Series w/Quantum Sound(TM) 38C and 38L-38A are BlueLine series sound/DCC ready Operating headlight and Mars light Twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns Separately applied handrails, windshield wipers, and brass bell B-unit has Indian head medallion and S/G fittings Yellow "cigarband" nose emblem oval contour not accurate
325/F7	327LAB³	Red/silver Warbonnet	Released	As-built appearance Paragon(TM) Series w/Quantum Sound(TM) Twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns Powered A and B units and one dummy B-unit B-units have Indian head medallion and no lettering
37/F7	NO#¹	Undecorated	Released	Detailed for Phase I F7 early BlueLine series sound/DCC ready Twin Leslie A200-156 airhorns Dual headlights Single A and B unit

¹ Single A-unit ² A-B set ³ A-B-B set

24. Bachmann Trains has Santa Fe FTA and FTB models in the freight blue/yellow "cigarband" scheme, and FTA only model in the red/silver Warbonnet passenger scheme. These models are unnumbered and do have either nose or body side numberboards. The passenger FTA only has a single headlight, and has incorrect yellow nose stripe and incorrect "SANTA FE" lettering position.

First Compiled by Lee Berglund and Jay Miller with assistance from John Moore, Bryan Moseley of Abajo Depot and Guy Middlebrooks of Bobbye Hall's Hobby House. 2004 revision by Paul Brown. 2011 revision by Ralph Back. Please consider this a work in process. It has been over 10 years since its creation. Much has happened since then. The brass listing alone is daunting.

Feel free to make suggestions/corrections. Send to atsfpb1@comcast.net. Thank you.

Question: Please refer to footnote 09. Was the Highliners A unit ever available in plated kit? (yet?) I know the B unit was.

Model and Prototype References:

Brown, R.A. The Brown Book. 2nd ed. Darwin Publications, 1982.
Glaab, John. The Brown Book of Brass Locomotives. 3rd ed. Chilton Book Company, 1994.
Glasure, Dan. Brass Model Trains Price & Data Guide. Volume 2, 2009 ed. Publishing Partners International, LLC., 2009.
Bergland, Lee. "Forty Years of Santa Fe Covered Wagons." Santa Fe Modeler. Third Quarter 1991: 7-41.
"F-UNIT UPDATE." Santa Fe Modeler. Fourth Quarter 1991: 7-9.
"Santa Fe F-Units." The Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society. Online. Available http://atsfrr.net/resources/funits/index.htm.
Thompson, John. "Santa Fe's F-units (1940's-50's)." The Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society Convention. 2001, July 20-21: Kansas City.
Priest, Dr. Cinthia. The Santa Fe Diesel Volume One: Dieselization-1960. Paired Rail Railroad Publications, Ltd., 1997.
"Santa Fe's F-Unit Fleet - The Final Years." Diesel Era. March/April 2001 Volume 12 Number 2: 9-24.
McCall, John. "Athearn Genesis F7 Passenger Service "yellowbonnet"." The Warbonnet. Volume 17, Number 1 First Quarter 2011: 38.
Back, Ralph. "A Yellowbonnet in Texas." The Warbonnet. Volume 9, Number 1 First Quarter 2003: 29-31.

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