Just an update on my F7's. I like them so much that I got a Pennsylvania A unit at a local hobby shop. Just like the Santa Fe units, it runs very well.
I am now running the F7's in an A-B-A consist and it can very easily pull 20 cars around my overhead layout, grades and all. I am so happy that I am purchasing a Pennsylvania A and B unit to run with the one I have in an A-B-A setup. I am also getting another A unit Santa Fe and do the same A-B-A setup.
So far, I love these locomotives and hope I can stumble across other makes that run as well. I looked at the high-end loco's like MTH but just cannot pull the trigger on the prices and risk taking a chance they will not run as well as my F7's. We cannot see the fine details on the MTH's at 8' in the air anyway.
I am thinking of getting an Athearn though