| Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad E7 9916B leading Train #11, the Nebraska Zephyr, westbound at Naperville, Illinois on April 19, 1965, Ektachrome by Chuck Zeiler. For a few years (1962-66) I lived next to the CB&Q, and I recall Train #11 storming across the grade crossing at Loomis Street, and I had occasion to photograph the event. Number 11 appears less than attractive, with all the heavyweight cars up front, but the rear of this train is a stainless steel five car articulated trainset from the second Twin Cities Zephyr set. It was originally a seven car articulated set, but was reduced to five cars in Nebraska Zephyr service. Number 9916B was built November 13, 1945 (c/n 2939) on EMD order E646, retired and sold for scrap in May 1968. It was among the first order for E7's by the CB&Q, and had a retractable front coupler and buffer, and in the retracted position, the opening was closed over by a pair of doors. The coupler was extended/retracted by a hydro-pneumatic system that included side lock keys and a whistle that sounded continuously if the keys were not in the locked position. After a few years, the front coupler was permanently left in the extended position. |