Re: [CBQ] GN F's and CB&Q Power on Freight in 1968

["Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io" <LZadnichek=aol.com@groups.io>]

May 19, 2019

 

Hol - Good question!  Too bad the image I posted is undated.  However, we can indeed speculate that the Q "borrowed" GN No. 2527 sometime after its delivery in 1923 to test over the LaCrosse Division, if not the entire C&I, in preparation to purchasing their second batch of Class B-1-A's from Baldwin in 1925.  In testing, No. 2527 had an RPO and two coaches, so it must've been a local passenger train.  Not much of a load, at all. Since the LaCrosse Division is almost entirely water level, the only way to give No. 2527 any kind of a work-out was to continue east over the C&I to Aurora.  To date, this is the only image I've ever seen of No. 2527 testing on the Q.  Perhaps, some design specifics from No. 2527 did indeed filter into the final design package presented to Baldwin for constructing the CB&Q's 7008-7020.  Best Regards - Louis

 

Louis Zadnichek II

Fairhope, AL         

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: HOL WAGNER <holpennywagner@msn.com>
To: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io>
Sent: Sun, May 19, 2019 8:32 am
Subject: Re: [CBQ] GN F's and CB&Q Power on Freight in 1968

Louis:

This photo intrigues me, as I've always wondered why the Q, a staunch Baldwin customer by 1910,  went to Lima for its first eight 4-8-2, B-1s 7000-7007, in 1922.  I've guessed that it was because Eddystone was so swamped that it couldn't deliver Mountains to the Burlington by the time the Q wanted them; Alco was probably similarly busy but Lima had available time and space and so got an order from a railroad that otherwise would never have looked to that builder unless it needed a Shay.  Great Northern had bought its first Mountains, P-1s 1750-1764, from Lima in 1914, and they were plodding beasts more suited to freight than passenger service, and in fact were converted into 2-10-2s in 1928 after GN bought a second batch of 4-8-2s, P-2s 2500-2527, from Baldwin in 1923.  The P-2s, substantially larger and with 74-inch drivers, were much better suited to passenger service.  The Q was happy with its Lima B-1s (which also had 74-inch drivers), but when it wanted more in 1925, it went to Baldwin for the 13 B-1-As, 7008-7020.  Could it have tried one of GN's P-2s before placing the order with Baldwin?  I have no doubt the order would have gone to Baldwin rather than Lima no matter what, but maybe the Q compared the GN design of the P-2s with its own design B-1s.

Hol

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From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> on behalf of Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io <LZadnichek=aol.com@groups.io>
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2019 9:13 AM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: Re: [CBQ] GN F's and CB&Q Power on Freight in 1968

 

January 18, 2019

 

Tom - There were GN "visitors" to the Q well prior to the F-unit leases in the late 1960s.  I've attached an undated image showing GN 4-8-2 No. 2527 testing over the LaCrosse Division at Savanna, IL. I've often wondered "why" the three Hill Roads, the NP, GN and Q, all went there own separate ways with steam motive power development instead of working together to design standardized locomotives suitable for use on all three lines. Best Regards - Louis

 

Louis Zadnichek II

Fairhope, AL        

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Mack via Groups.Io <thommack=yahoo.com@groups.io>
To: CBQ <CBQ@groups.io>
Sent: Sat, May 18, 2019 7:35 am
Subject: Re: [CBQ] GN F's and CB&Q Power on Freight in 1968

On Fri, May 17, 2019 at 02:19 PM, Karl L Rethwisch wrote:

GN F's were regular power on trains 97 and 88 in the early 60's. 

Karl,

The early 60's GN F-unit leases are pretty well documented, but ended before my modeling period which is 1965-merger (but skews toward the late 1960's). That is what was so exciting about seeing the GN A-B-A set in 1968. There is a photo of a GN F unit being traded in to EMD in a locomotive consist at the Daytons Bluff engine facility, but it is unclear of whether it would be the lead or trailing unit. It's not on a train. I had assumed the A-B-A set was also trade-in fodder, but confirming the 454D number on the lead unit confirms that this wasn't the case since it didn't go to EMD until 1970. Really cool to see the consist.

While I am sure more GN equipment ran the Q in the late 1960's, so far I can only photographically confirm two instances: This F7A-B-A set, and a shot on RR Picture Archives of a freight at Savanna in 1968 where the trailing unit is a GN U28B: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2819786

If anyone has any other photos they know of I'd like to see them.
 
--
Tom Mack
Cincinnati, OH

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