In the mid-1970s Amtrak was looking for a suitable replacement for the famed GG1 electric locomotives which had been in service since the mid-1930s. Domestic designs were considered, but the approved locomotive design was presented by the Swedish firm ASEA. Assembly began in 1978 at EMD, with the original bodies produced by the Budd Company and other components imported from Sweden. Amtrak’s original order was for 47 units which were delivered between 1980 and 1982. This effectively removed the GG1 from regular Amtrak service. An additional seven units were delivered to Amtrak in 1988.
Several Northeastern commuter agencies also took an interest in this model, with Maryland’s MARC and Pennsylvania’s SEPTA each purchasing a small fleet of AEM-7s. New Jersey Transit purchased the similar ALP-44 model from ASEA Brown Boveri in the early 90s.
While NJ Transit recently retired their fleet of ALP-44s, Amtrak’s AEM-7 fleet is mostly still in service today. Retirements are planned as Amtrak’s new ACS-64 model is introduced in 2014. However, it is expected that rebuilt AEM-7s will continue in service at least for the next several years.
Included with this production run are several “what-if” paint schemes. All schemes represent railroads that, at one time, operated electrified passenger service over parts of their system. This includes Lackawanna and Reading, which could each be considered “heritage” paint schemes for NJ Transit and SEPTA, respectively. The Pennsylvania Railroad developed the New York City to Washington, DC portion of the busy Northeast Corridor where Amtrak’s AEM-7s currently run. Milwaukee and Great Northern once operated well-known electrified territories in the west, and each was quickly identified by their unique, colorful paint schemes.
Features:
- Operating pantographs
- Die-cast chassis
- Dual flywheels
- AccuMate® couplers
- Operating head lights and marker lights which are directional
- Full cab interior with painted crew members
- Separately-applied wire grab irons
- Astounding roof detail
- Accurate painting and lettering where appropriate
- NMRA 8-pin plug for DCC
- Gold versions will be equipped with ESU sound
- Data Sheet
AccuMate® couplers are made under license from
AccuRail, Inc.
Officially licensed by Amtrak
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Silver Item# |
Road Name |
Road Number |
Gold Item# |
July 2014
Silver MSRP: $179.95 Gold MSRP: $289.95 |
HO AEM-7 Locomotive |
10 001 648 |
Undecorated |
- |
10 001 668 |
New Road Numbers! |
10 001 649 |
Amtrak "As Delivered" (Silver/Blue/Red/White) |
918 |
10 001 669 |
10 001 650 |
Amtrak "As Delivered" (Silver/Blue/Red/White) |
923 |
10 001 670 |
10 001 651 |
Amtrak "As Delivered" (Silver/Blue/Red/White) |
936 |
10 001 671 |
10 001 652 |
Amtrak "Phase V" (Silver/Blue) |
902 |
10 001 672 |
10 001 653 |
Amtrak "Phase V" (Silver/Blue) |
926 |
10 001 673 |
10 001 654 |
Amtrak "Phase V" (Silver/Blue) |
953 |
10 001 674 |
10 001 655 |
NJ Transit (Black/Silver) |
4409 |
10 001 675 |
10 001 656 |
NJ Transit (Black/Silver) |
4428 |
10 001 676 |
10 001 657 |
NJ Transit (Black/Silver) |
4431 |
10 001 677 |
New Paint Schemes! |
10 001 658 |
Great Northern (Green/Orange) (Item Cancelled) |
5020 |
10 001 678 |
10 001 659 |
Great Northern (Green/Orange) (Item Cancelled) |
5022 |
10 001 679 |
10 001 660 |
Lackawanna (Gray/Maroon/Yellow) (Item Cancelled) |
4402 |
10 001 680 |
10 001 661 |
Lackawanna (Gray/Maroon/Yellow) (Item Cancelled) |
4410 |
10 001 681 |
10 001 662 |
Milwaukee Road (Orange/Maroon) |
E100 |
10 001 682 |
10 001 663 |
Milwaukee Road (Orange/Maroon) |
E103 |
10 001 683 |
10 001 664 |
Pennsylvania (Silver/Red Stripe) |
4939 |
10 001 684 |
10 001 665 |
Pennsylvania (Silver/Red Stripe) |
4945 |
10 001 685 |
10 001 666 |
Reading (Black/Green/Yellow) |
2302 |
10 001 686 |
10 001 667 |
Reading (Black/Green/Yellow) |
2307 |
10 001 687 |