GN and NP trains on the CB&Q to Chicago

[SPer]

I have these books titled Some or More Classic Trains by Arthur Dubin and The First Northerns by Thomas Dressler and these books have photos of GN Mountain (I cant remember the number) and NP 4-8-4 2650 in Chicago. Did any GN and NP steam locomotives hauled freight and passenger trains to Chicago on the CB&Q's Minneapolis-Chicago line.

[rcdrye]

The answer is that they weren't used routinely.  I suppose CB&Q could have leased some from time to time.  The GN engine in Some Classic Trains is sitting with a display consist of the Oriental Limited at Chicago Union Station (the engine is 2527, a 4-8-2 built in 1923).  I think the NP engine was in Chicago for the Century of Progress fair in 1934, the year it was built.

[NP Eddie]

As a retired NP-BN-BNSF clerk and railfan from Minneapolis, I can say for certainty that NP steam or locomotives did not go east of St. Paul. The NP did not pool power like the GN and CBQ did.

Ed Burns

[daveklepper]

Ed, in referring to GN-CB&Q pooling power, are you referring to the steam or the diesel era or both?

[NP Eddie]

Dave:

My error. Please see the corrected version above.

 

Ed