Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad GE 44 ton 9106, my best guess is Lincoln, Nebraska, the slide is unlabeled except for the date, August, 1963, photographer unknown, but my best guess is Dick Rumbolz, Chuck Zeiler collection. This was the only CB&Q GE 44 ton to actually operate on the BN. The BN had renumbered a few of the 44 tonners it inherited from the Burlington, but #'s 1,2, and 4 never actually operated, although #'s 1 and 2 did receive their numbers. The following is from Burlington Route Historical Society's Bulletin #6, CENTERCABS: When Porter 8902 at the Galesburg tie plant finally wore out and was retired in late 1964, the 9107 was moved to Galesburg as a replacement. Renumbered 8903, it was outfitted with the large buffer plates removed from the 8902. All five 44 tonners (9103 - 9107) were still on the roster at the time of the BN merger, but only two were actually still in service: 8903 at Galesburg and 9106 at Superior Nebraska. The only 44 tonner to actually operate on the BN was 9106 renumbered 3 shortly after the merger. It was used in and around Superior Nebraska. When the C&NW's Lincoln - Superior branch suffered a washout, rather than repair the damage, the North Western suspended service south of the missing bridge until shippers protested. The C&NW then arranged for its Superior agent to drive to the last town north of the washout, pick up the crew of the local, and bring them to Superior. The North Western crew worked the isolated end of the branch using BN 3, bring all the cars into Superior. Unfortunately the BN did not want the unit, so it was sold to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. in April 1971, and the unusual operation ended. The 44 tonner was quickly resold, going to northern California's Camino Placerville & Lake Tahoe. During 1971 and 1972, the shortline rebuilt the locomotive, using the hoods from its Phase V 44 tonner 101 - still numbered as such. By mid-1974 the unit was renumbered 102 and lettered for the parent Michigan - California Lumber Co. It remained in use at last report. |