Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad 4-4-2 Class P-2 2534 ar Ralston, Nebraska on June 25, 1917, photographer unknown, Hol Wagner collection. Number 2534 was built by Rogers in 1902 as B&MR 3706 ( c/n 5858 ) renumbered to CB&Q 2534 in 1904, retired in February 1933. The following is from Hol Wagner: Among locomotives that got L&B front ends, as the smokebox extensions were known, were several classes of 4-4-2s. These extensions could make for some really ugly looking locomotives! Known as L&B Front End ( Lignite & Bituminous), it worked for both, and that's why the extension and its "guts" did not have to be removed when a locomotive was reassigned to non-lignite burning divisions; only the grates had to be changed. And for reference, the Omaha, Lincoln and Wymore divisions were never lignite burning divisions. Alliance, McCook, Sterling, Casper and Sheridan were the only ones, but Sterling and Casper became oil-burning divisions by 1930. To the best of my knowledge, the only Q locomotives that came from the builder with L&B front ends were the class B-1 and B-1-A Mountains ( 4-8-2 ); all others were fitted with them by the railroad. |