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ATSF Bluebonnet F7A (No. 332)

The so-called 'Bluebonnet' livery was a short-lived sight on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. It was applied to only six F7A locomotives and at least one F7B mid-way through 1971. On May 1st of that year, Amtrak took over the Santa Fe's remaining passenger services, but the ATSF wanted to keep using the F7A's on freight service.

This is very similar to the classic 'Warbonnet' livery, but has the red replaced by dark blue (obviously). As stated previously, this was a very short-lived livery, as the few F7A's that received it had been withdrawn by the end of the 1970's. All were later converted into CF7 locomotives, which is an F7A that has has the original full-width bodyshell replaced by a more conventional hood-unit design. I believe the Santa Fe did this because they wanted to keep using the locomotives for switching/shunting duties, a job that the full-width body was not suitable for.