Two unlikely partners await their fate as a building (judging by the smokestack, the powerhouse) from the Reading shops is demolished in the background. They're there to supply parts for the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society locomotive restoration program.
The first one, AT&SF 2649, is the first CF7 conversion built by the Santa Fe's Cleburne, Texas shops, making road switchers from obsoleted F7's. The early CF7's had cabs built from a section of the F7 carbody. This approach turned to be a false savings, and the shops soon turned to a simpler-to install angular cab. Subsequent units had fabricated long hoods, but this one used the long hood of a wrecked GP7B, making it the only CF7 with dynamic brakes. The prime mover was removed and placed in BAR F3A 46 to make it operational. Later, the 2649 was cut up.
The other unit in the photo, Amtrak 142, was used to provide trucks for an ex-Long Island FA2 power car, which had its traction motors removed. The motorless trucks were placed under 142. Later a private individual acquired the 142 and had it painted in its original scheme, making it PRR 8479 once again. Today, the unit is slowly returning to the elements on a siding in Swedeland, PA.
