4 Unit F7 Brass Diesel set -Central Locomotive Kits

Completed these Central Locomotive F7 units (2 As and 2 Bs) in August of 2006 after having them half
done for 10 years or so.  The trucks on these units were the upgrade units that Bob Smith brought out
late in his tenure of being in charge of Central but found at the O scale shows that they were not as
popular as he would have expected.  To me they were more than just a step above the previous units
in that they had more detail on the underside and were a more solid truck. Comparison pictures are
provided below to illustrate the differences.

Three of these units are powered and th fourth was left so a sound system could be added is such was
desired.  They have considerable drawbar pull for the nearly 2% grade on the layout on the south end
when proceeding in a counter clockwise direction.  The grade in a clockwise direction uphill is less than
1%.

Click on pics for a larger view

Below is a comparison between the rubber mold Blomberg trucks which were the standard for Central
Locomotive for most of their years (left) and the new die cast ones announced in June of 1989.  The
new ones had all the cross members on the front, rear and center and also had the leaf springs
extending to the inside as well as the outside of the truck.  There were yet to be instructions made on
how to assemble them so a little innovation was necessary, but they were beauties when completed.

Click on pics to enlarge                                                                   
         Rubber Mold Blomberg truck                         Die cast Blomberg truck