Minuteman Diesels Episode 1: The F7s

The incredibly popular EMD F7 helped solidify the transition from steam to diesel power in the post-war United States. On the Boston & Maine, these units served for over 25 years, becoming a staple in photographs and vintage film. In this first episode of Minuteman Diesels, we take a look at the arrival, service life, and amazing modern revival of these classic "Covered Wagons".
Special thanks to:
Cory Fothergill and the 470 Railroad Club
Ben Bourrie of Merrimack & Saco Productions: / @merrimacksacoproducti...

[@HunterLohseRRVideos]

As another railroad archival film KZbinr, this is more of exactly what the railfan community needs on KZbin! Just fantastic!

[@hbengineer]

Rick, the more of these you do, the better they get. Wow. I can’t thank you enough for putting this history out on KZbin for everyone to see. I hope more people get to know about the B&M because of this work. It truly is amazing to watch. And who doesn’t love that old footage of Dwight Smith… High Green!

[@news603redux]

Fantastic production, thank you! My father was on the B&M from 1918 to 1962, the majority of those years as an engineer. There's no doubt in my mind that he was at the controls of 4266 at one time or another. Toward the end of his career, he was on Buddcars {WRJ to Boston} and then, finally, on the yard switcher here in Concord {1127, 1129 and others}. I rode with him every Saturday and the memories are still some of my best.

[@avlisk]

My Grandfather was a conductor on the B&M those same years. I know he ran on the Fitchburg line into Boston, and lived in Acton. A cousin was an engineer in Western Mass, working out of Greenfield as I recall. My Dad worked in Boston and commuted 6 days a week from South Acton until 1965, sometimes taking us with him on Saturdays. Every once in a while, an engineer on the RDC would let us ride up in the cab with him. Great locos. Great memories.

[@robertblack906]

Coming from the United Kingdom, this is a beautiful piece of historical railway that's well loved and respected here. 👍😎

[@Thunder_6278]

Rick, so nice to see a machine once dead and ready to scrap brought back to life. The B&M lives!

[@NorthmassRails]

OMG! My hometown is Billerica, and seeing these beautiful units in their golden years in my town is insane! Great work with this documentary!

[@FreihEitner]

I appreciate the discussion of the differences between EMD F3 and F7 units, both in technical terms and in terms of real-world use.

[@JH-qi7fz]

Well done! Love the F7 model. Thank you for bringing the B&M to those of us who've never visited that region.

[@edog7059]

Really nice video. Beautiful F units!

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

I enjoyed the video. Interesting history on the F-7 "A" and "B" units. I came here because I was looking for ideas for my recently acquired Overland Models lnc HO Scale Brass F-7 A-B-A set and a future layout. Once again, I enjoyed watching the video, and I was able to come up with some ideas for a layout. The video is inspiring. 😊

[@winstonstone]

Rick out did yourself excellent presentation and video!!! Can't wait for the next one!!!

[@malcolmmarzo2461]

Your conversion of tonnage rating (abstract numbers) into visual (tangible) form is an example of great teaching.

[@PharaohDeathMask]

Excellent video. Thanks for making and uploading it.

[@user-ih1mo8vv7o]

❤❤❤❤❤ fantastic video

[@davidmorris7696]

Awesome video, very well edited and produced! New sub from WV!

[@jameskoskinen6763]

Wow this is a really great production!

[@raycooney7632]

Nice to see B&M diesel power it’s due. Hopefully you’ll be able to get enough material to cover the E7s too.

[@sethsimmons5845]

By far one of my favorite channels on KZbin. Your series on B&M Steam is unparalleled. Can’t wait for subsequent diesel episodes.

[@bostonkid1979]

Great work. Thank you.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

Why couldn't the shop find out and stop the problems with #4267 many fires !! I am one that fondly remembers these F units in the Boston area when I started Railfanning with my Father & older Brother in the late 1960s at 9 yrs old and right up to the final days of #4267B on DOBO in 1979' then going to Billerica to see the many dead units behind the shop. I fan for life moving to Exeter, NH right on the mainline off Main St. seeing the trains daily since 1994' !! Now sadly CSX but still a bunch of Pan Am Blue around while it last !! I very much miss my B&M as I'm 65' now.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

@Birch Hill Subaru Guy ?

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

@Birch Hill Subaru Guy Oh Hi Stephen I hope your doing well 👍😊

[@vinsonfamilycollectibles8213]

Enjoyed the video...thanks!

[@kevincurtis6550]

Rick, thanks for a great production piece & video. Loved the intro, still photos & older & modern film.

[@tooling_engineer]

The chase produced great shots of the F7’s in blue on the Northern Route for us to see decades later.

[@jeffmech600]

As a Massachusetts resident im about 3 hrs from these units. 4265 is in a sad state in Gorham, i last saw her in 2023. But at least she didn't go to scrap. They are huga locomotives. The video and pics here dont scale. Awesome trains

[@johnuhelski8613]

Very well done production on my favorite locomotive . Must get back up to Conway Scenic and see this great pair on service.

[@baker3person]

Great job, love the end. Looking forward to the next ones

[@MillersRailfan]

Hi Baker!!! It’s Stephen Demboske Formerly Birch Hill Subaru Guy Back with a new channel!! Third time is the charm!!!!!

[@dhdisprsmith2296]

Great video and history of the B&M Fs. I had the privilege of riding the F7A 4266 and 4268 a couple tim s on freights between Mechanicville and Boston. Such great memories!!

[@treyn3655]

These videos you’ve produced are absolutely outstanding! The organization of content, footage, and narration all go together to make such a great series!

[@tooling_engineer]

My thoughts as well. 👍

[@duncanholden2826]

Might be my favorite video on the channel. Can you do an in depth video on the Hillsborough?

[@EastEndProductionsArchiv-lm3lq]

Excellent program! Great footage and stills.

[@rickcowan7527]

Thanks to all who contributed their time and talent to create this superb video!

[@MISINGINACTION]

Amazing, love the history. Can't wait for more of this series!

[@trainglen22]

Thank you for an amazing video on the history of the B&M F-7 units.

[@aceadman]

So good! Thank you!! 😊👍👍

[@tooling_engineer]

This was fantastic. I’m looking forward to the next episode 😊.

[@theatomicmanman544]

Can't wait for the next episode

[@richardjahn2160]

Both 4265B and 4267B suffered major engine failures (connecting rods out the side of the engine), which took them out of service. This was discovered during the inspection of the three B units at Billerica by ARHS representatives in 1988. 4268B shown no evidence of any reason for retirement thus 4268B was selected to be the one ARHS purchased. Rhode Island shredding chopped the other B units, several GP7's and some MBTA E8's in 1988.

[@bmrrhs]

Thanks for the info Rich! You guys are doing wonderful things with the Fs down your way.

[@gregleuze6657]

The video is fantastic and I can’t wait to watch part two. Great photo’s and video’s with great information. I could watch this video multiple times and probably will. Will subscribe and I always like.

[@gtheodora]

Thank you for your hard work creating these great shows.

[@turbod1]

amazing! thank you so much

[@gabrielwathne1068]

Another excellent video Rick!

[@anthonyhunt701]

Great F story here👍🏻

[@stephenpowell5912]

❤❤❤

[@panamrailfan]

Episode 2 when

[@dirtywaterfab1695]

is that North Station at 7:09?

[@bmrrhs]

It is!

[@stuew6]

What About Locomotives BL-2s

[@tedfisk1211]

That was a great video. The B units would show up on the West End once in a while. I remember 4267B on the Bennington branch a couple of times. Thanks for assembling this video.