EMD AEM7

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 designer=Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA)|
 builder=General Motors Electro-Motive Division|
 builddate=1978 – 1988|
 railroad=Amtrak, MARC and SEPTA|
 roadnumber=AMT 901-902, 904-912, 914-953;
MARC 4900-4903;
SEPTA 2301-2307|
 totalproduction=65|
 weight= 101 tons|
 length = 51 ft.|
 poweroutput=7,000 hp (5.2 MW)|
 topspeed=125 mph (201 km/h)|
 collectionmethod=dual pantographs|
 nicknames = Toasters; Swedish Meatballs; Mighty Mouse|
 locale = Amtrak's Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, DC|

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The AEM-7 is a B-B electric railway locomotive used by Amtrak on its Northeast Corridor routes between Washington DC and Boston, United States. They were built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1978 to 1988. These locomotives are affectionately known as "toasters," owing to their boxy shape. Additionally, they are sometimes called "Swedish Meatballs" since some of their major parts and components were designed in Sweden by ASEA (Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget), which was merged with ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) in 1988.

After the apparent lack of success of GE E60 electric locomotives in the mid-1970s, Amtrak began to look for European designs which were already in use and proven to be reliable as a successor to the famous Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 electric locomotive. Two European locomotives were brought over for a series of trials in 1977. One is a French CC 21000 class given number X996, and the other is a Swedish Rc4, X995. Amtrak favored the Swedish design, which became the base for the AEM-7. Amtrak first ordered 30 AEM-7s in 1977 (Order Number: 776073), then ordered additional 17 AEM-7s in 1980 (Order Number: 806004).

By 1978 General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) began production. The bodies came from the Budd Company, with electrical, trucks and mechanical parts imported from Sweden. The first AEM-7 (900) was delivered to Amtrak and went into service in 1979.

Between 1980 and 1982, 46 AEM-7s (901-946) went into service. This helped retire the last GG1s from regular service. Amtrak ordered 7 more AEM-7s in 1987 (Order Number: 876006), which were completed by 1988.

On January 4, 1987, 900 and 903 were destroyed in a fatal collision with a Conrail freight in Maryland. 913 was heavily damaged by fire in November 2000 and then removed from the active roster in February 2003. 930 was damaged by fire on June 29, 2003 at Elkton, MD. On July 8, 2003, 922 was also seriously damaged by fire.

In 1999 work began on a remanufactured program for the AEM-7s. Some of the AEM-7s were remanufactured at Amtrak's shop in Wilmington, Delaware. Once remanufactured, they have AC traction, improved propulsion and enriched torque. These remanufactured AEM-7s are designated as "AEM-7AC". Because of lack of funding, the AEM-7AC project ended in October 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, 29 AEM-7s were converted to AEM-7ACs.

Currently there are 51 AEM-7s on the Amtrak roster (901-953 except 903 and 913). In addition to Amtrak, MARC and SEPTA also operate AEM-7s in commuter service, with 4 and 7 units respectively. The MARC units (4900-03) were built in 1986, and the SEPTA units (2301-07) were built in 1987.

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AEM-7 Specifications

weight:	101 tons
length:	51 ft (15.5 m)
Power:	7000 hp (5.2 MW)
top speed:	125 mph (201 km/h) Metroliner and Regional, 90 mph (145 km/h) long-distance trains