Chasing ATSF F7's on "The Texas Chief" - October 2016

On October 2nd, 2016 the Galveston Railroad Museum and BNSF Railway teamed up to run a special train called "The Texas Chief". The train carried executives from BNSF and the city of Galveston, first responders from cities along the train's route, and some members of the public that were lucky enough to purchase a ticket.
The train was pulled northward by a brand-new Tier 4 ET44C4, BNSF 3962, but returned under the power of the museum's two ATSF Warbonnet-painted F7A's, RPCX 316 & RPCX 315. Between the two consists of locomotives ran an eclectic mix of private cars, BNSF-owned cars, and cars belonging to the Galveston Railroad Museum.
The train's crew was provided by Amtrak, using one of the regular crews that normally handles the San Antonio to Beaumont run on the Sunset Limited. As usual, the crew was very friendly, giving a toot and or a wave at every location we saw them.
The train departed the Galveston Railroad Museum in the morning, running northward on BNSF's Galveston Subdivision 126 miles to Brenham, TX, where the crew changed ends and ran back southward to Galveston. Brenham is about 75 miles northwest of Houston.
I caught the train at Rosenberg (35 miles southwest of Houston & 65 miles northwest of Galveston) and chased it north to Kenney, then followed it back to Rosenberg before I let it go on its way back to Galveston Island. Here are my shots of the train:
11:34 - Rosenberg, TX
In Rosenberg, the Texas Chief rolls by on the main and passes a manifest stopped in the siding.
11:57 - North of Wallis, TX
This is a short pacing shot of the Chief along TX 36 a few miles north of Wallis, TX, which itself is 15 miles northwest of Rosenberg.
12:11 - Sealy, TX
The next shot is in Sealy, about 60 miles west of Houston. Here, the Chief passes some of the few remaining Santa Fe searchlights as it crosses the diamond with UP's Katy Industrial Lead.
12:28 - Bellville, TX
The next shot is in Bellville, 13 miles north of Sealy. Here, the tripod decided not to play nice, but the train can still be seen passing a number of locals with American flags that showed up to see the train and salute the first responders aboard.
After the train passed Bellville, we went ahead and stopped for lunch while the train headed on to Brenham and fresh Blue Bell Ice Cream (which met the train at the Brenham Depot). The crew swapped ends at Brenham and then took the train back southward for Galveston.
13:49 - Kenney, TX
We caught the train back on its southward run at the TX 36 overpass in Kenney, 10 miles south of Brenham.
14:11 - North of Sealy, TX
About two miles north of Sealy, the Chief races southward through a rural grade crossing.
14:32 - Orchard, TX
We finally caught up to the train near Orchard, TX, where we grabbed a quick pacing shot.
14:39 - South of Orchard, TX
In our final shot of the train, RPCX 315 leads the train through a gentle curve a few miles south of Orchard and about 40 miles west of Houston.
Galveston Railroad Museum's "Texas Chief"
BNSF ET44C4 #3962
WRHX 800148 "Warren R. Henry"
WRHX 800149 "Evelyn A. Henry"
BNSF 3 "Red River"
BNSF 41 "Flathead River"
BNSF 40 "Fox River"
BNSF 52 "Mt Baker"
AMTK 82500
RPCX 800861 "Alonzo H. Harter"
RPCX 800911 "City of Galveston"
RPCX 800882 "George H. Gould"
ATSF (RPCX) F7A #316
ATSF (RPCX) F7A #315
Videos taken in Rosenberg, Orchard, Wallis, Sealy, Bellville, & Kenney, TX on October 2nd, 2016.
Thanks for watching!

[@MilePost106]

I can still see the old Northern Pacific F7's hauling freight back in the 60's as a kid. I always loved these F units.

[@pretzelogic2689]

Took the Texas Chief to Chicago with Mom 3 or 4 times in the 1950s. I always watched intently for the Chief to come off of the T&P main, take the NE leg of the wye at Tower 55 and turn its red nose and headlight straight at me. I distinctly remember straining against Mom's grip as the Fs slowly rolled by the platform, trying to go and hug (I guess) those fascinating silver trucks. I was always amazed by the total separation from the Texas summer and Ft Worth traffic noise by the inside coolness and hum of the mechanical equipment. I was in a different world. My other major thrill was going through the Kansas City yards and watching the switches and crossovers flow back and forth as I looked straight down from the coach window. It was rather mesmerizing for a young boy. And then in Chicago it was time to ride the "L"! No wonder I'm a train freek.

[@anetajohnson8446]

Biggest model train set i ever seen! I( bet it costs a fortune! great detail , but kinda big to put indoors, !Q only kidding, Thanks for the memories if it wasnent for the many people who cared to preserve the train, theyed all be rusting away somewhere. Brovo' to the BURLINGTON NORTHERN AND SANTA FE for saving the beautiful Warbonnet F7s.

[@Jaydenxx-vp2ln]

The f7s are now in Galveston

[@jacobruiz97]

I know right?!! How’d they get all that detail on there? Athearn really outdid themselves here

[@Slipperyisimproving]

Not quite a model train. They're real F7s

[@missedshot9235]

BNSF (Big New Santa Fe)!!

[@normanmcgill2369]

Really nice to see the old War Bonnet's run again.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Hearing that original Santa Fe Leslie S5T horn on a Santa Fe f unit is the icing on the Santa Fe war bonnet cake

[@Legitcar117]

If only they were originally santa Fe though

[@Slipperyisimproving]

The warbonnet F7s are back. This time hauling excursions across Texas.

[@WideWorldofTrains]

That Chief is awesome, I want to see that unit some day

[@bboomer1948]

That horn mounting...…….enough said. Mars lights, anyone?

[@artfulldodger5597]

I agree, get the horn back where it belongs and put the main headlight in the door where it belongs. EIther make up one of the famous ATSF shop built rotating headlights or a proper Mars in the upper. Paint job looks great though

[@tomalcock620]

Wish Amtrak would bring back F units. They look much cooler than the resent locomotives and definitely more reliable!!

[@2244khan]

F7 units are the most amazing looking locomotives. Looking at them cruising past simply brings back all sweet memories of the past.

[@houstonrailfanproductions8191]

I heard that the Rosenberg Train Museum is trying to by some track to make a siding to run a train on the BNSF. And this train may stop there.

[@LJ_nowandalways]

F Units even look good as cabooses.

[@anthonyf.9170]

Great American railroad engines! Classic. 🇺🇸👍

[@chrismiller5198]

These are beautiful F units but it's too bad about the anachronistic ditch lights. There should be an exemption from that regulation for historical equipment.

[@fabriciobengozi9650]

Texas Chief Express Coming Through

[@waltonwarrior7428]

The Santa Fe “War Bonnet” is the best looking paint scheme on a locomotive in all of railroading.

[@anetajohnson8446]

A well designed and great color sceme was on the missoury pacific EAGLE also! . being raised in the north, i liked the Great Northern colors and designs, saw them many times in my youth! Love trains, but im an artist,so im aware of that stuff!

[@SuperChiefer84]

Yeah I agree the horns look bad right there. Plus they cast a shadow on the windshield.

[@ralfie8801]

I used to travel Hwy 36 every weekend between my job in Matagorda and home in DFW. I saw the Santa Fe GP-60M and GP-60B consists quite often on that track. They were almost new, bout 3 or 4 years old then, and they looked great in the red and silver Super Fleet colors. But in my book, they don't hold a candle to seeing red and silver F-7's running again. Thanks for posting this video. After riding the Texas Chief from Ft. Worth to visit Grandma in Chicago as a kid, I've been a fan of these units for more than 50 years.

[@UPRR11]

Good to hear this brought back fond memories!

[@paulmatulavich7321]

Does anyone know if these F7s will make any runs in 2021? Would love to see them once in my life.

[@TRAIN110ValleyProductions]

@Emmanuel Boi no your talking about the General Electric 80 Toner numbered 1983, they always give rides on that one on saturdays, unless if its a special occasion.

[@TRAIN110ValleyProductions]

@Emmanuel Boi its alright

[@joeyberry84]

My neck of the woods! I live in the Sealy subdivision

[@StarGalz_6689]

Awesome RS3L!

[@citxsd70m-2]

That’s an RS5T

[@cameraman655]

Gotta give you guys credit, I tried to follow here out of Galveston, lost her after she cleared the Causeway Bridge. Tried to make it Brenham but by the time I got there, she had begun making the run back to Galveston. Again kudos, some great vids, and pics, you obviously did your homework, planning this.

[@the_gp9_802]

I mostly love steam but I also love the F7 class!

Muito bom!!.. Parabéns,, Abraço do Brasil!!

[@UPRR11]

Thank you! Obrigado!

hug!!

[@Petemonster62]

Santa Fe War Bonnet F Unit - The engine that launched thousands of models; Lionel's O Gauge models were among the first!

[@Snookynibbles]

I’ve got one actually. It’s part of a sizable O gauge setup given to me by Santa circa 1958; I’m 66 now.

[@paulmatulavich7321]

@@Snookynibbles 1958 would make the Lionel F3 number 2383 if I am correct.

[@badingles735]

Ye big Chief is back

[@vettebecker1]

BNSF needs to lease these for their executive train

[@wcmodelrailroad]

Great video, love those Santa Fe F units.

[@nn-zh5to]

This locomotive was featured in the lyrics of an ATSF commercial

[@westernpacificrr]

Great video! Looks like an espee snowplow up front. Is the unit ex-sp painted into ATSF colors?

[@mgr_video_productions]

Great video!

[@UPRR11]

Thanks!

[@robertmoir5695]

You re welcome I like this video very much

[@cutecat8728]

This is the second time I've seen a passenger train in real life, since I never see passenger trains.

[@atharkhan3378]

Oh! Realy ? I don,t belive it

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

Thats sad.

[@thehernandezmediacorporation]

Unfortunately, there are busy lines that Amtrak doesn't take, such as the BNSF mainline (ex-ATSF) from Temple to Galveston.

[@AJ67901]

they did a nice job on those warbonnets, but for some reason they chose not to use the railroad roman font in the number boards. That sticks out like a sore thumb. I hope someone fixes that. I see they added ditch lights, pretty high up it seems.

[@sharkheadism]

I'm not going to complain too much but the ditch lights could have been done better.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Gotta have ditch lights. Everything built after December 1947 (I think) has to have ditch lights

[@janeordway4841]

Just wondering, do you think the BNSF could put engines in those F units and possibly find a couple of B units to make an ABBA lash up ?

[@nathanschmidt4889]

Cal state RR museum has a B unit pretty sure. Don't know if it works, but they have one

[@jarhead4God]

Does anyone know what kind of cars the "Flathead River & Fox River" are and who owns them?

[@A._Dot]

jarhead4God BNSF owns those cars is you don’t see the orange and black logo

[@HoboHeaven]

The Tracks are really scary, like a Rollercoaster.

[@psilvakimo]

Just curious. Has there ever been built a scaled replica of a bus that resembles the old Diesel Locomotives (e.g. 4:17)? With the same horn sound and the rotating front light?

[@TheBlueShark]

no

[@MrBnsftrain]

3:43 I'm glad that the Warbonnet F7s do have Leslie horns! A lot of EMD cab units that are used on the mainline today have K5LAs, which doesn't fit a 1950s locomotive! I also find it neat that an Amfleet and the Patrick Henry cars were on this train!

[@_chan.burn.21_]

It definitely is a pleasant sound to hear amongst the sea of Nathan K5LAs and P5s, but I don't understand why BNSF mounted the horns on these F7s above the cab like that, they aren't FL9s...

[@wtxrailfan]

@@_chan.burn.21_ BNSF doesn't own these F7s. They belong to the Galveston Railroad Museum. And these are not original ATSF F7s. When it comes to restoration, sometimes you have to settle for what you can find. Maybe hire on with the GRRM as a consultant. I'm sure they weren't aware of the historical deficiencies that you and other commenters have outlined ... LOL!

[@thehernandezmediacorporation]

​@@wtxrailfanThe museum stated that many of the parts on those F7s such as the horns were saved from their old Texas Limited F7s, which suffered substantial damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008 and had to be scrapped. They are aware that some of the features were never used on Santa Fe F-units such as a snowplow and ditch lights (a federally mandated requirement since the 90's with some exceptions).

[@jackyknr3320]

Ces trains comme ça C'est plus beau qu'un tgv

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Why is there an Amfleet coach on this train?

[@gracenauen9828]

Beautiful Color’s on the Engine ( the Chief )

[@Swygard]

Sounds like the ET44C was being used as a DPU on the return trip.

[@tex-hogger4974]

The F units do not have DPU controls. It was MUed thru the train. Each car has MU cables between them, then the Fs are MUed to the train, and the GVO is MUed to the train also.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

@@tex-hogger4974 The ET44C4 would have been set up as a DPU for the return

[@alcopower5710]

Nice hodge podge of cars....really like that dome car.

[@flyaround5953]

Wish the F7's didn't need he ditch lights but hey I understand why they had to do em for safety and we get to see 2 f7's running under their own power.

[@Random.Channel_]

Irk but in the olden days they had dome/Mars lights witch would flash

[@SouthCalifas619]

FlyAround5 yea the FRA wouldnt let a train without them set wheel on active rails now days.

[@southwestvirginiarailfan729]

SouthCalifas619 Historic units don't have to have them, Clinchfield f3 800 ran without ditchlights on the 2017 CSX Santa Train. Most steam engines don't have them either.

[@SndrewAonkin]

SouthCalifas619 No a branch line or a switching yard doesn’t need them only mainline locomotives do but I’m Canada mainline steam locos are required to have ditch lights

[@amtrakinoscale9811]

Steam engines are exempt from the rule in the USA. Mainline locomotives are not.

[@kevinhoward9593]

who owns the Santa fe engine? I absolutely love her.

[@stuartk.9104]

I really like that rs5t horn or is it something else

[@thomasgrosse3406]

Anonymous. I think that’s a rs3l

[@kansasstatealerting2874]

@@thomasgrosse3406 Nope, it’s a RS5T!

[@thomasgrosse3406]

@@kansasstatealerting2874 yeah that was a year ago I was a dumbass back then.

[@EdWhizAviationTrains]

Stunning footage - I Liked & Subscribed👍😎

[@tatersgonnatate5650]

Oh hell, someone made all those HO scale Bachmann Santa Fe trains a thing.

[@IronhorseRailProductions]

@@TheBlueShark i really hope thats a joke.

[@TheBlueShark]

@@IronhorseRailProductions it is a joke

[@IronhorseRailProductions]

@@TheBlueShark oh, thank God XD

[@garrettsubproductions8705]

This used to be in blue bonnet

[@elifalls356]

Does this thing still run?

[@raymondleggs5508]

Ex chicago northwestern bi-level coaches

[@War1109]

Why weren’t they using the mars light

[@SndrewAonkin]

wargreymon 1109 the FRA wouldn’t let them

[@bboomer1948]

I thought the same.

[@sharkheadism]

@@SndrewAonkin There's no FRA prohibition from using a Mars light.

[@oklahoma_railfan]

Who else noticed that amtrak car?

[@SndrewAonkin]

Luke's Railfanning me

[@bboomer1948]

Jersey Transit, I think.

[@tommythomason6187]

Are the F7s powered units, or are they just being pulled and pushed around as display pieces? If they are powered, what type of prime movers do they have? Norfolk Southern repowered their Fs to now make 2000hp, which is 250 more horsepower than they were with their original F9 prime movers.

[@darrellcollins2909]

The F7's are powered. Look at the video at 5:32 and you will see them puffing smoke.

[@concorde2003]

What's with the horns being located like it's an FL9? That's not where ATSF put them.

[@jacobwoods8738]

dtoeppen This is not an original Santa Fe unit. Those were damaged by flooding in 2008, so 2 ex-SP/TNO units were rebuilt in Greenville, SC.

[@Brandonvilches0721]

4:14 lol the train is jumping

[@sabsfabs4605]

@@W1nd0wz95 nooooooooo!!!!!!😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟

[@robertkosar7420]

I was on the car right behind the f unit

[@dulcegallardo7105]

Ferromex no fabrica ninguna EMD F3 de la serie 300😢

[@insomniacraft-xn1ez]

warbonnets whants again ride the rails sence 1990s

[@SndrewAonkin]

craig canterbury “whants” loo

[@MrLunchHour2]

I wish they would put the original horns on these. Every one I’ve seen restored has modern horns which ruins it for me

[@PG13hockeyman]

What type of horn was on the F7?

[@AbelG8781]

PG13hockeyman Leslie RS5T

[@PG13hockeyman]

Thx

[@bboomer1948]

Not that one.

[@capersbull8819]

An AirChime/Nathan M5 would be ABSOLUTELY the best!😅

[@rustylang8941]

Dose anyone else think that railfans speed doing something like this sometimes

[@UPRR11]

Haha that's common knowledge. During a chase the speed limit is simply a mere suggestion!

[@wiolettasawczuk8021]

Co ze

[@TrainsNStuff]

Amazing! As much as I love GEVO's and Tier 4's, it ruined the consist. They should've put an ex-ATSF GP60M or something rather than that.

[@UPRR11]

Thanks! And absolutely, it would have been amazing to have a warbonnet on the other end as well. But I imagine it was a BNSF stipulation that one of their newest units be on the other end of the train. That seems to be the norm on business trains.

[@garrettsubproductions8705]

I do agree it would be better

[@yamahaguy1732]

Why is it called war bonnet

[@ohioken1]

Yaboi Sugarnips because it resembles Indian war paint ... Face paint

[@sgt2dog]

No. It represents the Indian War Bonnet (The feathered bonnet) not the face paint, but whole paint scheme does represent a American Indian wearing face paint and wearing the bonnet, flowing back as he rides his horse hard and heavy. But it is called the war bonnet because it is a war bonnet.

[@hazybunk]

Passengers in the train I saw this car before

[@Lstangel727]

#EMDF7

[@Lstangel727]

#ATSFEMDF7

[@concorde2003]

Oh my god, what a terrible thing to do to pullman gallery cars. Yuck.

[@kurtarmbruster]

I don't understand why the nose herald couldn't have been done right; the curve is all wrong. And don't even get me started about that ridiculous horn mounting. C'mon, people!

[@UPRR11]

Is it perfect? No, not at all. But hey, I say we have more to be thankful for than to gripe about here. It's still a red & silver F7 plying the rails under its own power.

[@alcopower5710]

@@UPRR11 .....totally agree

[@cutecat8728]

Anyways, Great Video.

[@UPRR11]

Thanks!

[@raulpachecocardona668]

beriy naice horn trsin

[@chuckwellshier94]

BNSF really failed when it comes to restoration of their trains

[@SndrewAonkin]

Chuck Wells ???

[@A._Dot]

Chuck Wells exactly why SPSF should’ve been a thing, not BNSF.

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

Damn it get rid of the gevo

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

I believe that GEVO is probably used to supply electricity for the cars on the train

[@Lstangel727]

#ATSF

[@Greatdome99]

WRHX 800148 "Warren R. Henry"--ex UP dome lounge WRHX 800149 "Evelyn A. Henry"--ex UP sleeper BNSF 3 "Red River"--ex GN official car BNSF 41 "Flathead River"--ex SP commute coach BNSF 40 "Fox River"--ex SP commute coachBNSF has the worst looking business cars. . .

[@Lstangel727]

#Bnsf

[@ikhlisidruskusuma1868]

Jangan sok keras