| CB&Q F7 169B eastbound at Naperville, Illinois, August 7, 1961, photograph by Chuck Zeiler. Built in May 1950 (c/n 9704) on EMD Order 3058B, it was traded to EMD on an order of SD45's in February 1969. Delivered as the booster unit of locomotive 169, it was drawbar-connected to a pair of F7A's. Beginning with the delivery of the F7's in 1950, the CB&Q began breaking up its older drawbar-connected F-units, adding couplers, and mixing units as needed to build the horsepower required for the job. Eventually, this unit received couplers. However, the problem of moving single B-units around the terminals soon became apparent. According to the Burlington Route Historical Society's Bulletin #4, entitled THE GRAYBACKS, three Burlington B-units received hostler controls during wreck repairs, only one was an F7, the other two were F3's (CB&Q 160B and C&S 700C), which helps identify this unit as 169B. At least one E5B also received hostler controls, which amounted to a throttle and brake stand, horn, and headlight. The square window at the rear of this unit could be swung open allowing the hostler to stick his head out to see where he was going.This picture is brought to you in stunning black and white because I was 13 years old when I shot this photo and could not afford color film. And you may wonder about the location. My mother, who worked across the tracks at the pictured factory (Kroehler Mfg. Co.) had purchased the house located on this corner, and this was her bedroom view. Nearly every train the CB&Q dispatched out of the Chicago area passed by this location. Needless to say, I spend many hours perched in this window. My mother did not appreciate the view as much as I did. |