THIS FP7 IS STILL WORKING REVENUE FREIGHT SERVICE (SWITCHING) | Jason Asselin

I managed to catch this EMD FP7 of the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad in Randville where they service a logging yard off of M-95. They had one car on the back of this long train they needed to set in the yard. It sure seems like a lot of work just to place this lone car to be loaded of pulpwood. This is only the second trip I've seen ELS 600 on after coming back into service. Its always awesome to see and hear it!
This EMD FP7 was purchased in 2005 and numbered "ELS 600", its a 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW), B-B dual-service passenger and freight-hauling diesel locomotive that was produced between June 1949 and December 1953 by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division and General Motors Diesel.
Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad (Wikipedia) - en.wikipedia.o...
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[@vraisa2]

Looks like they have taken good care of their FP7. Some sense of pride owning a vintage classic, I suppose

[@PlanetMojo]

I used to hang out on a Milwaukee Road line (in Milwaukee) when I was a kid in the 70's. That boxcar looks like it is from that era 😉-- they were still using the F-Units at the time, but also had brand new engines. At the time, I thought the F Units were newer because of their sleek look, but wondered why they were so gritty looking. The F units are an amazing looking train! Thanks for the video!

[@alan6832]

I like E and F bodies too, but can see why their visibility isn't as good for switching. They could, and in a few cases did, make general purpose locos that were both sleek and had direct rear visibility. I'm glad to see one still in use.

[@PlanetMojo]

@@alan6832 Same here. Beautiful train 😊

[@chrisholmes6311]

Those streamlines are still in high use through eastern Australia hauling grain mostly. Awesome sights

[@Scioneer]

About 80% of the HO scale sets are modeled after this design, and most of those are in Santa Fe colors with the iconic Warbonnet. Beautiful old loco still getting the job done.

[@chief1b]

Loved seeing that old EX Conrail still working as well.

[@JawTooth]

Fedex guy didn't realize how lucky he was to get there when the train arrived. He missed getting to watch those awesome locomotives. He didn't appear to be a railfan. lol

[@jasonasselin]

Yes, true.. ha ha

[@jasonasselin]

You got to see that other one of them ROCKING hard again.. Thought for sure a car was going over.. lol

[@johnclark2958]

fp7 is that a beautiful thing----cant stop looking at them

[@talkartoons]

That is a rolling museum piece for all to see!

[@phoenicianlocal2363]

I still love that old Conrail unit and the whole Train by itself, but I think that high-rail was my favorite part of this video!

[@robertf3479]

As old as that loco is it still sounds good. I grew up with F and GP 7 and 9, the sound of that prime mover takes me back.

[@dustinriddle7449]

This is incredible! It’s always great to see old boy locomotives in action!

[@nonameinfl]

I love to hear those wheels pinging on the jointed rail. That's a sound that you don't hear as much anymore with welded rails.

[@2flyabove]

That is one heck of a heavy load to pull, with all those logs. I'm amazed those older locos could pull it so well.

[@robertf3479]

The tractive effort of those two put together is not to be taken lightly (pardon the pun, or not … your choice.)

[@robertf3479]

@@cdavid8139 I do understand why they aren't easy to use in switch service, you've either got to use that little 'rear view mirror' I've seen on some or stick your head out of the side window to see the hand signals from the conductor or brakeman working the rear. Two way radios do fail after all.

[@churrodead7191]

an f unit and a former conrail geep what an interesting combo

[@richardking2762]

The track isn't as bad as it looks. You don't see the cars rocking. If you use a telephoto it compresses distance and it looks worse than it is. You want to see bad track look at some of Jason's videos by his house. The cars rock so hard that they look like they'll fall off the tracks, and sometimes do.

[@LeeDfined]

Am I the only one somewhat more excited when I see "the old Blue?" I grew up in the Conrail Era.

[@beebop9808]

Haven't seen one of those engines since I was a kid in the Carolina mountains. Those were the standard Southern engines and I saw several a day with all the trains going back and forth past the farm. West bound pulpwood trains headed over to the paper mill. And east bound Tennessee coal trains. All day everyday 24/7 trains trains trains......

[@paulseifert6598]

Growing up as a kid along the tracks near Harrisburg, PA, I'll take a sighting of any of the fast-vanishing Conrail legacy equipment anytime I can get it ....

[@nethalus]

Here in the UK due to a rolling stock shortage, preserved diesels have been leased to operators for freight duty, including Royal Scotts Grey, the infamous EEast Coast racehorse Dtwin Napier Deltic powered 55022, she still grets the odd 100mph blasts on the mainline and has to be heard to believed. a 60 year old beast still working for a living, and we still have lots of 1960s built class 37s and 47s knocking about on thre mainline. Even the humble HST is passing 44 years of passenger service. . Even GBRF have a pair of class 50 locos freshlu painted in livery and in use for freight, deputising for troublesome class 66s. Too many ECUs throwing wobblies no doubt. . Google 55022 for an eargasm LOL

[@georgewilson1184]

Those F model diesels are awesome I am glad when I grew up in early 70s they were still in service

[@None-zc5vg]

How old was the FP7 seen in this clip ?

[@georgewilson1184]

Anon Anon I don’t know the exact age of these they go by FP7 some are ABA units I think they look cool most were built in Lagrange Illinois or MC Cook Illinois When I drove. LtL freight I use to go into the McCook facility

[@None-zc5vg]

@@georgewilson1184 Thanjs, George.

[@quest2outdoors]

What a beautiful old engine love to see the old ones work not sitting somewhere rusting out thank you for going all over to get these videos👍✌😎

[@Scrollermania1963]

Hi Jason, I can remember EMD FP7 or one similar to this ELS 600 having two of them facing back to back, and pulling passenger cars from Detroit through Royal Oak, michigan in early 1970's... Always loved the look of those Engines. Cheers....

[@1940limited]

I wish they still made them for Amtrak.

[@billmorris2613]

That is a nice looking PF7. When I hired out in New Orleans we still had F7s on the Texas & Pacific, now Union Pacific. Ran them occasionally for a couple years. I liked them because the cab was higher off the ground than the GP 7s and 9s and the GEs. Most off the brakeman did not like switching with them on either end of the consist.

[@alcopower5710]

Love any and all of the F/E variants. Such iconic diesels.

[@andreialexiev7858]

Those units spelled the beginning of the end for steam. The GP7 put the final nail in the coffin.

[@alcopower5710]

Andrei Alexiev ......l do like steam locomotives but my favorites are early diesels. My favorite steamy is any of the Cab Forwards

[@andreialexiev7858]

@@alcopower5710 I like the Alco RS-1 road switchers. Maybe it's because I grew up with them in Vermont. The B&M had both E units and F units, but I never saw any in service. Conway Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire has an F7. It wasn't running when I visited in July '18.

[@bigbloke7691]

Nice video, good to see some bread and butter railways. These small lines are needed as feeders for traffic for the big mainline stuff. Always good to see some older stuff still earning their keep (btw I'm sure these two locos have earned much more than they ever cost)

[@torchandhammer]

What a sweetheart of a locomotive! I started wondering if our guy was going to have to walk all the way back to the front of the train, but no.

[@richardsmith4187]

Great video !!! It was really nice seeing the old FP7, still working hard. 17 cars of logs with lots of weight for sure. Just another day in the life of switching … what a life, I always wanted to work on the railroad but had another career so its only dreams now. I like that you continued to film from start to finish as it was great watching. Stay safe

[@algrayson8965]

@@cdavid8139- Iron ore. Cars can't be filled with iron ore. Cars can be filled with coal plus a heap above the top. Iron ore-cars look empty.

[@midmichiganrailproductions5819]

Well @Jason Asselin I'll tell you the last time I saw a locomotive that old running freight. YESTERDAY. The Great Lakes Central still hasn't phased out their GP35s. (all but 3 have been taken out) These GP35s were built in the 60s. The oldest just celebrated its 57th birthday this month!!! Happy Birthday #393!!!

[@crazyfvck]

@JoJo's Train That's cool, but still not as old as the locomotive that he showed in the video ;)

[@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125]

That Is Way Too Cool, A F7 Still In Revenue Service, How Cool Is That. I Was Just Wondering Are You Folks Getting Along Now Days, The Views You Get Lots Of People Dont Even Know About That Railroad, I Would Have Never Known Anything About Them, I Discovered Them From Your Channel. You Just Make This Hobby More Interesting, Keep Em Coming... Happy Safe Holiday Mr Asselin .

[@brianhickey5949]

I wonder if that's the log that fell off a week or so ago :) My new favorite locomotive is always a joy!

[@freddiejames2083]

Man those f7s are one of my favorite trains something to see nowadays even though these trains are way before my time they're still my favorites

[@Romans--bo7br]

Freddie James.... Just so you know... Locomotives are Not "trains".... the "train" is whatever number of "cars" (freight or passenger) that are being pulled by the locomotive... or, the "consist" if there are multiple units.

[@davecruzen9352]

Seeing that F-7 made me know I was old. I noticed the track they switched over to for the 1 car was significantly messed up. Uneven, deep dips, twisted. At least it seemed that way. Great video. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@mattc286]

I had a bit of a conniption at around 3:40, when the con stepped between cars before the consist had stopped. Good way to lose a limb, buddy! While I'll agree that siding IS a little wobbly, the long lens is exaggerating how bad it is. I've run over track in considerably worse shape than that. It's a siding -- speeds are going to be low, so you don't need nicely surfaced track with groomed ballast. As long as the dips aren't abrupt enough to slide the couplers apart vertically, most of the ties can hold weight, and at least one tie every ten feet or so can hold gage, you're golden. The con also didn't set any hand brakes on the cut he left on the main. He just closed the angle cock on the front cut and blew the air on what he was leaving. That will hold a train 99% of the time, but if it were me I'd have wound down at least one hand brake (rule of thumb is set the handbrake on 20% -- one in five cars). Of course I'm used to a railroad with a grand total of 500 feet of flat track (out of 11 miles) and equipment that often had sketchy brakes, so I may be a tad overcautious there!

[@rosemarywalker924]

Hi Jason all that forwards and backwards and forwards for one truck and the time and fuel but makes a very interesting video many thanks Jason stay safe and keep the videos coming. 🙂👍

[@freddiejames2083]

The sound of those engines give you Goosebumps🤗🤗🤗🤗💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

[@manthony1956]

Rough track to be backing at those speeds, but they are the professionals.

[@AQuietNight]

An accident waiting to happen

[@MrCzechTexan]

when you're playing RCT2 and forget about a branch line you set up in the 1950's

[@mitchwinder1204]

I’m surprised that crossing wasn’t flagged on the reverse move.

[@raymonddunnit412]

At the RR I work for I would've been pulled outta service at least 8 times during this video.

[@benjlar1902]

We wouldn't be even aloud to get on the property without high vis!

[@benjlar1902]

@@cdavid8139 I'm at a Canadian Class 1 is its a must haha

[@kendavenport1823]

ONLY 8 times ? On Conrail it would have been at least twice that many times...

[@1940limited]

That's a really neat video. I enjoyed it. I'm happy to see an F7 still in service. It's amazing they don't tie down those wood loads. I miss cabooses! :-)

[@rustyshackleford2723]

Horn is needing repairs!

[@FrehleyFan3988]

1:32 And as you see here everyone, this is the last conrail GP38 still in its blue scheme that still does work to this day

[@AuroraDorealus]

Dude I was gonna say that 😂

[@railfanjk8964]

nice catch

[@jasonasselin]

Yeah thanks

[@wesw9586]

Damn that thing is pretty! Thanks for this.

[@oompaloompa413]

Awesome to see something so old still trucking along. Thanks for the video!

[@jasonasselin]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@fredlohmann1448]

EX MILWAUKEE ROAD!! I LOOKED IT UP!

[@davrober48]

They still got those sharknoses somewhere I believe. Someday maybe they will fix that scary trackage, it seems they have figured its cheaper to have a few derailments then fix it but they seem to be ok with it. Family up inIM and Escanaba . I still reme,ber gramma taking the old steam powered milk train in IM Thats what mom called it, these videos Jason are great.

[@anotherluckyone]

Great to see this F unit still in use. Thanks for posting. Wondering why they backed across a grade crossing that has no barriers without the conductor even flagging it ? Seems kinda dangerous at least from this camera angle.

[@larrybaldridge1571]

Have not seen an f unit in a long time, this was a big train, tracks look good. Anyway, thanks Jason

[@Mercatoyd]

that was one of the longer trains you've captured on video. It contained a number of really well done graffiti covered covered hoppers too. Nice to see the F unit still running and looking great. I would love to see the orange log gons in operation using the dumps on the bottom of the cars..that would be neat. Great catch. Thanks for sharing.

[@jasonasselin]

Many thanks!

[@andie_pants]

Like the saying goes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[@hounddog946]

All that pulpwood is going to make toilet paper. PLEASE HURRY!

[@craigwood7063]

I remember as a kid my father use to throttle jerk these old locomotives for Santa Fe.

[@jackdavis7632]

the track looks good

[@robertdavies5501]

Hi,with that track work she would be a very rough ride in the cab. I was fortunate back in the 80s having a cab ride in a freight train between Junee and Albury New South Wales it was magic mainline track was very smooth traveling 110 kph.........can't do that now👍👍❤️😎 great video

[@kman-mi7su]

I'm always surprised to see conductors working without a safety vest or high visibility clothing. It makes sense to have it and the more visible they are the better. Some RRs have their people in them some don't or maybe he forgot his or don't care. And yes, I know he's a long way from the engineer, but not always and there are more things than locomotives and cars moving on those lines, especially in the yards.

[@bigmart932]

In A few states in Australia, we have license built FP7s that are somewhat modified. I think that Victoria, Australia has the best ones, with the S and B classes.

[@steved6990]

A class ? Are shortened and modified b class .still in regular passenger service on the frankston to hastings line. 60 years old

[@bigmart932]

@@steved6990 Fair enough, but the A classes aren't really present much except as reserve rolling stock. SSR still uses the B and S classes regularly, and a few heritage operated ones are loaned out for freight service occasionally.

[@steved6990]

@@bigmart932 am I out of date. Haven't been around frankston much in the last two or three years. Was used to seeing it all the time running around its train there. Have it been updated?

[@bigmart932]

@@steved6990 It's fine, but yes, the A classes have been retired and a few have been scrapped too. The remaining are in storage. 4 remain with V/line, in storage.

[@aussi3212]

dont forget the 11 B class repowers that were re coded as A class, with the A class now having 2500hp instead of 1500hp.

[@derrickgreen9020]

Amazing sight! Needs Warbonnet colours😉. Those tracks in telephoto😱....unbelievable.

[@abloogywoogywoo]

It'd be nice if they built some new ones. Its an iconic shape and design that shouldn't be lost to America, just cause its old.

[@MrOpenGL]

EMD stopped producing bulldog noses because the nose is made out of a single piece of steel which is very difficult to stamp and require very costly equipment, so when the hydraulic press they used to form the piece wore out they simply stopped making the design altogether.

[@Formulabruce]

@@MrOpenGL They made that "nose" ( the US /CA versions) for almost 30 years.

[@mikeshea398]

Real railroading unlike the BNSF and other class 1's.

[@peterainsworth8466]

Great video Jason. Believe it or not we still have old locomotives just like that operating mainline freight in parts of NSW and Victoria, Australia by a company called SSR. Interstate grain mostly. They are 6 axle truck versions of your F unit. S class, GM class and B class (double ended). You can find KZbin videos of them every week. The tracks they run on are a fair bit smoother than those on the ELS! Keep your videos coming. Thanks.

[@jasonasselin]

Thanks for the info

[@ToddReuterOutdoors]

Still in it’s Wisconsin & Southern paint, how I wish it were still in Madison.

[@VinnieRozzisi]

The horn has definitely been fouled since they first get it.

[@sashenepetruzalek6682]

That f7 is menacing😂

[@Bhil3]

Thanks Jason for another enjoyable video from the beautiful U.P.

[@jefftherailroadenthusiast8889]

Great video, thanks for getting that shot. If it's not to far out of the way can you make it your second railfanning site.

[@alexpaumen3937]

That Leslie S5T really needs repairs.

[@JsMisc]

The FP7 still operates with Pan Am Railways on it's OCS trains, they have 2.

[@andreialexiev7858]

Aren't those FL 9's? Or maybe I'm thinking of a tourist line in Maine. Where in Southern Vermont? I used to live in South Dorset, then Bennington.

[@JsMisc]

@@andreialexiev7858 Maine Eastern has FL9's, Pan Am has FP7s.

[@andreialexiev7858]

@@JsMisc Ah, that's what I meant, Maine Eastern. They look pretty nice, a Maine Central style, if I'm not mistaken.

[@JsMisc]

@@andreialexiev7858 Boy do I have news for you... Those two paint schemes are totally unrelated, Maine Central employed a light green with golden stripes where as Maine Eastern employs a white on top of gold and green.

[@jameskloc1864]

Wow that was a loot of work!

[@AndyProper]

F Bodies are my favorite EMD’s.

[@Romans--bo7br]

Theking 535..... and most definitely the "E's" as well, especially the "shovel nosed" E3, & E5's from the 1930s and very early 40s.

[@AndyProper]

2Stroke Diesel Power yeah those are kool, the german Diesels from wwii were pretty sweet.

[@Romans--bo7br]

@@AndyProper..... are you referring to the Diesel Hydraulics built by Kraus-Maffei?... which were really "sharp" looking units.

[@AndyProper]

2Stroke Diesel Power nazis Germany had diesel locomotives during wwii, look’em up.

[@AndyProper]

2Stroke Diesel Power krauss-maffei disel-hydraulics were in the 50’s-70’s

[@thenewpatticakes4214]

Nice catch!

[@stephenhunter70]

I understand that where they put the empty is called a siding and what they did was set out one car.

[@mr.railroad2391]

Standing between the rails when his job doesn't require it, his career will be short lived. Feel sorry for his family and friends.

[@robertheinkel6225]

I always thought it was a classic design.

[@thomasabramson100]

There's a railroad in NY called the Battenkill that runs 2 1950s Alco RS3s

[@anthonymaida5718]

Great Video love those F Units.

[@Bernardo1946]

Great train Video, thanks for sharing

[@jasonasselin]

Thank you very much!

[@ramtuff2007]

good train video

[@granskare]

I used see the LS&I near Marquette a long will ago.

[@Sardschka]

I did not know you can back up over a grade crossing without signalling and any protection.

[@aussi3212]

could be on the lumber company's private property

[@jasonasselin]

Now you know! LOL

[@wsorfan-co1rq]

1:18 that would be an ex - wisconsin and southern unit

[@jamesmeadows4479]

I grew up with these engins

[@DogFace69]

The tracks of that siding are so buckled. It needs to be rebuilt, new ties and bed.

[@ednorton47]

It takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.

[@tom7601]

Ah, Timex! :-)

[@floridianrailauto9032]

That FP7 would be kickass if it had an M5 horn mounted on it

[@wallochdm1]

No flagging the crossing, no safety vest, getting on/off while moving etc. Am I the only one seeing this?

[@jasonasselin]

Isn't that called work? lol

[@irongoatrocky2343]

not to mention @ 3:40 walking in between 2 cars while train is moving!

[@InuYasha19832002]

That horn tho.... thought we were gonna hear some.sweet Leslie 5T music and we get a beep beep 😥

[@zoowoman1]

Enjoy your chases!

[@jasonasselin]

Thanks!

[@owancejackie]

Thank you for sharing your great videos. I enjoy them so much! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

wow great Loco nice video bro

[@jasonasselin]

Thanks for watching

[@dondesnoo1771]

Im amazed that can pull all those cars .

[@kennyspry5189]

The Siding Looks to be in Real Bad Shape Just maybe Just maybe don't Hold your breath But maybe they are going to do some Rail Siding Repair Work before they have Yes another Derailment HOPEFULLY They repair the siding

[@davenelson9253]

Not only the siding , the whole line needs repair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@greglucas1497]

Another good catch. This was a great posting as always. J.

[@jasonasselin]

Thanks for watching

[@billmorris2613]

Good evening from St John Parish, Louisiana 05 Oct 20.

[@johnroberts7924]

Thank you.

[@vincitveritas3872]

It reminds me of British Rail Deltic

[@Romans--bo7br]

Vincit V.... In what way does an EMD F7 remind you of a Napier Deltic?

[@vincitveritas3872]

@@Romans--bo7br English Electric Deltic

[@thenewstuffsucks5000]

I'm shocked that train can even go down that siding! Also nice locos

[@algrayson8965]

@@cdavid8139- I’ve seen rails lift up out of the mud ruts between the trucks on the former Tennessee Central Ry. at Cookeville, Tennessee. No sign of ties down under the mud and standing water. The rail heads were so worn that they were twice as wide as original.

[@crazyfvck]

@thenewstuffsucks The zoomed in camera makes it look worse than it actually is.

[@frankholly1095]

Cool! I was just asking myself yesterday if there were any F units still in regular service.

[@bwallace5945]

There are 5 operational ones at the Illinois Railway Museum and every now and then they will run all of them MU'ed together. I thought that there were 2 on the TP&W still in use but maybe they are gone now.

[@haroldalexis4200]

I love both these engines with my heart to trains! I not only enjoyed this video but I want to model both in HO SCALE. The FP 7 looks like ex -SOO LINE & the second one is ex- CONRAIL both look like leased engines what's the name of this railroad? 🙂🚥

[@buntik1687]

Always good videos! Nice catch!

[@jafo766]

Working the Rails in GOD'S COUNTRY.....o what a LUCKY MAN he was.

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Jafo The world is God’s country.

[@mikeshea398]

@@douglasskaalrud6865 Except Commiefornia - Leftist cesspool.