What does the "B" stand for?

[Glen Ellyn]

In this picture of Union Pacific B4142, What does the B stand for?

[edbenton]

Stands for booster unit and can not be used for a lead unit saves on maintance since the cab does not have to be maintained.

[BaltACD]

Not being up on UP name/number conventions I would expect that it would be indicative of the engine having the brake stand removed from the cab and thus only being able to be used as a trail engine in a multiple unit consist.

I would guess that the engine was in need of SERIOUS repairs on the Control Stand/Brake Stand and it was felt that the additional investment in the repairs was not warrented for the remaining life of the engine.

[Glen Ellyn]

So edbenton, you are saying it is a slug unit, and BaltACD, you are saying that it is a bad engine. Thanks for the answers, but, which one of you is right?

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Glen Ellyn

So edbenton, you are saying it is a slug unit, and BaltACD, you are saying that it is a bad engine. Thanks for the answers, but, which one of you is right?

I would say we both are....It is usable for power, but cannot be used as a leader.

[edblysard]

Both are right...
The locomotive has some mechanical problem that isnt worth investing the money to repair because the locomotive is no longer worth the expense, it has no real use other than as a booster or trailing unit, it still makes usable horsepower, but whatever the problem is make it unsuitable for a rebuild, and for use as a lead unit.

Slugs are locomotives with no diesel engine, just traction motors that draw power from the lead unit...boosters, or B units, were common years ago, they are fully functioning locomotives, but without cabs.

Because the economics of railroading changed, and the cost of B units as opposed to a complete locomotive equalled out, railroads quit buying boosters, it makes more $$ sense to have all your locomotives able to operate independ of each other.

Old locomotive that are on their last legs, but still have some life in them are often renumberd and used as boosters only...when it finally breaks again, it will be scrapped instead of being rebuilt.

If you get close enough, you will see "Not lead unit qualified" painted on the door glass...if you go inside, you will find the control stand has the reverser locked, and the throttle locked or disabled, the independent brake handle is often removed, so this locomotive can not be operated alone, it must be MUed to another unit.

Get your photos now, in the next few years, there wont be any left, as they give out, they get scrapped.

Ed

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Both are right...
The locomotive has some mechanical problem that isnt worth investing the money to repair because the locomotive is no longer worth the expense, it has no real use other than as a booster or trailing unit, it still makes usable horsepower, but whatever the problem is make it unsuitable for a rebuild, and for use as a lead unit.

Slugs are locomotives with no diesel engine, just traction motors that draw power from the lead unit...boosters, or B units, were common years ago, they are fully functioning locomotives, but without cabs.

Because the economics of railroading changed, and the cost of B units as opposed to a complete locomotive equalled out, railroads quit buying boosters, it makes more $$ sense to have all your locomotives able to operate independ of each other.

Old locomotive that are on their last legs, but still have some life in them are often renumberd and used as boosters only...when it finally breaks again, it will be scrapped instead of being rebuilt.

If you get close enough, you will see "Not lead unit qualified" painted on the door glass...if you go inside, you will find the control stand has the reverser locked, and the throttle locked or disabled, the independent brake handle is often removed, so this locomotive can not be operated alone, it must be MUed to another unit.

Get your photos now, in the next few years, there wont be any left, as they give out, they get scrapped.

Ed

The SD-40's are the current crop of 'old' engines being lead out to pasture....next will be the 'Dash' series of GE's....Dash-7's and Dash-8's, in the not that distant future the 'old' engines with be the first generation of AC's. There will always be a supply of 'old' engines that are on their last legs and on their way to the scrappers.

[tjsmrinfo]

both are correct. usually a B unit will have been wrecked and to save the cost of rebuilding that unit the cab will have been removed and covered over. i.e SD40-2b
if you are able get a copy of model railroader feb 1996 as a gentleman did a kitbash of an SD40-2 b in BN green.

tom

[fuzzybroken]

Not all of 'em go to scrap... Wisconsin & Southern has a SD40-2 that used to be a UP "B", 4050, ex-UP B4281. It's in a different # series on WSOR 'cuz it lacks dynamic brakes, common among ex-MoPac SD40-2s.

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[dwil89]

This post looks familiar...looks like one posted a few weeks ago...B units are simply Cabless Locomotives...They have been around all the way back to the GP-7 and GP-9. The Pennsy owned a batch of early Cabless Geeps...nothing different than a EMD E-8 or F Unit Booster unit,,,,simply Cabless. A slug is a locomotive that has had its Prime mover, fuel tank, and main generator and compressor removed. Many have also been chopped to shorter height and are coupled to mother units..regular locomotives that supply the power to the slug's traction motors. There are also slugs with Cabs. CSX has old GP30's and GP35's converted to slugs.....units still have full cab and hood and dynamic brakes, but no prime mover or compressor. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

[Anonymous]

B is for "Butt Ugly"