Exactly. The way the rock was running some of its passenge trains, they would run combined trains at first then split somewhere down the pike. They found they needed more cab units than they had so they converted at least one B.
Yup. Modified B unit. Their most noted use, was on passenger trains to Denver/Colorado Springs. Where the consist would be split at Limon, Colorado. Eastbound, reassembled there. Boxcab E50
Crazy stuff. the headlight looks scrapped from something like a trainmaster. Are these B units from E's?
I'm drawing a blank now, but in either Armstrong's Track Planning for Realistic Operations or Bruce Chubb's operation book there is a series of pictures of the train being made up at Limon. I'll try to find it tonight and post the info. Jeff
The Rock Island had two of these built NEW for service on the Rocky Mountain Rocket. They were basically E-6 b units with cabs. The idea was to keep a somewhat uniform looking roofline for the streamliner rather than running two convnentional cab units elephant style. The westbound train split into two sections at Limon, Co. one going to Colorado Springs the other to Denver. Eastbound the process was reversed at Limon. The engines were originally built with only one prime mover and a baggage compartment in the rear. A second engine was installed in the 1940's(?) to provide needed horsepower. The two engines nos. 750-751 operated in this service into the mid 1960's when they were converted to operate in push pull suburban service until they were retired in 1973 ( I think). If you need dates for the evolution of these two units I can supply it. The above is from memory. AF Niederer
In Bruce Chubb's How to Operate your Model Railroad, pages 53 and 54 (at least in my version 1991, third Printing), is a series of pic building the train at Limon.
AFN had it right with one minor point. These were AB-6s. Not in the catalog but custom built by EMD for RI. The C. Springs section of the RM Rocket did not require 2k in horsepower to go between Limon & C. Springs. Of course the slope of the E6 nose and the fact that few units prior to that point had nose mount MU connections was a hinderance to running two 'As setup Elephant style. That would be required to go from Limon to C.Springs w/o turning. It's also possible that Limon may not have had the facilities to turn a unit in areasonable time.
Welcome back to TrainBoard!!!!!!! Thanks for the additional information!!!!!!! :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
