Louis and Group:
That's a great shot, in all likelihood showing 9907A and FW&D E8 9981A or B as they are about to cross under the 20th Street viaduct on Denver Union Terminal trackage as they head over from the Q-C&S 23rd St. roundhouse/diesel
shop/coachyard to Denver Union Depot to couple on to the Texas Zephyr and take it south as train No. 21 shortly after noon. While the previously standard E5A/E5B power for this train provided 4000 hp, this combo of 2250-hp E8A and 1800-hp EA provides an extra
50 horsepower and thus is essentially the equivalent of the pair of E5s.
Hol
From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of LZadnichek@aol.com [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 10:29 AM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Re: [CBQ] Re: Elephant Style Es [1 Attachment]
[Attachment(s) from LZadnichek@aol.com included below]
January 23, 2018
Bill - For the modelers in our group, here's a good, clear front end view of EA 9907A Silver Knight showing the motor after it had been downgraded
to booster status. The image was taken at Denver, CO, on July 23, 1953. Note the windows have been plated over, the strengthened draw bar and MU receptacles. Plus, it appears the front upper sheet metal has been removed and replaced with heavy mesh to improve
air flow through the car body to keep the diesel engine from overheating in a trailing position. I do not see a back-up light. Not a pretty sight, but at least the Q was able to squeeze the last revenue miles out of the motor before it was finally retired.
My father who was a brakeman during World War Two told stories of riding in shovel nose cabs. He would relate how scary it was to being sitting
a couple of feet above the rail and roaring along 100 mph at night through thick fog with just about zero visibility. The old head engineers knew every grade crossing by heart and even though they couldn't see where they were going were blowing for every one
of them! As for watching and calling for signals under such conditions, the crews did the best that they could and silently prayed for high greens. Bob is correct, the shovel nose EA's were not missed when converted into boosters. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 1/23/2018 9:16:51 AM Central Standard Time, CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:
Do you know of any pictures of these EA units after they were made into booster “B” units?
Thanks
Bill Scott
Charlie -
Just to add to Bill Barber's response, between 1951 and 1955, in addition to the 3 E5B's, there would have been available 6 additional units for mid-consisting
of passenger power. Four "abortionated" (in 1951) shovel nose EA units - Pegasus (9904), Zephyrus (9905), Silver King (9906A) and Silver Knight (9907A) were available as booster, "B" units plus the two DZ "B" units, Silver Queen (9906B) and Silver Princess
(9907B), making a total of 9 units for "booster" service to any two other E-units. I know talking to "old heads" I worked with on the Aurora Division, they hated the shovel noses and all would refer to the August 25, 1942 accident at Rochelle with the Zephyrus.
They were glad to see the "cab" units converted to "booster" units.
Bob Campbell
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Posted by: Hol Wagner <holpennywagner@msn.com>
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