Looking for info about this loco and caboose

[GAURC]

I spent a bitter-cold Sunday morning at Springfield Terminal in Hermon, Maine on 11/17/07. Among many photos I took, was this GE B23-7 lettered MMA#2006 (Montreal, Maine & Atlantic.)

It is pretty obvious this locomotive used to belong to BNSF, but I am curious to know more about the rest of it's life.

It is currently serving yard-duty MU'd to MMA#VB-3, a cupola caboose built in August 1953 and reconfigured for remote control.

Any information about this loco or caboose is greatly appreciated!

~Rick

[fifedog]

Perhaps former BNSF #4252. (Source www.Railpictures.net )

[SSW9389]

MMA picked up six BNSF B23-7s this Summer. They were BNSF 4207, 4224, 4231, 4237, 4243, and 4252. If these units are renumbered sequentially, then the 2006 is the ex-BNSF 4252.  MMA has another B23-7 that was #2000 that is ex-CR. Diesel data from LocoNotes and The Diesel Shop.  

[SSW9389]

If MMA 2006 was the ex-BNSF 4252, then it was also the exx-ATSF 6395, exxx ATSF SF30B 7216, exxxx-ATSF 6395. The ATSF 6395 was built with the FB-2 (Floating Bolster) truck in 1980. Gene Crossett's Santa Fe roster on QStation has this information also found in Dr. Cinthia Priest's The Santa Fe Diesel Volume 2.

[edbenton]

That one can not be the Ex-BNSF4252 simply because the FUEL tank is to small the SF30B had extra fuel capacity added to it and the fuel fill was in the side sill.  They added an extra 800 gallons to the tank of that locomotive bringing her up to 3000 gallons verus the 2200 the regular units held.  Also the SF30B was a U23B rebuild not a B-23-7

[SSW9389]

The 16 B23-7s #7201-7216 that were rated at 3000 horsepower in 1988-1989 are sometimes referred to as SF30Bs. They sequentially followed the original SF30B #7200.  The ATSF 6395 was one of those units. The ATSF 6395 became the BNSF 4252. 

 

That one can not be the Ex-BNSF4252 simply because the FUEL tank is to small the SF30B had extra fuel capacity added to it and the fuel fill was in the side sill.  They added an extra 800 gallons to the tank of that locomotive bringing her up to 3000 gallons verus the 2200 the regular units held.  Also the SF30B was a U23B rebuild not a B-23-7

[edbenton]

There was only ONE SF30B EVER built.  The Program was stopped after the prototype basically due to Celburne Shops being closed.  Also the core used was a U23B NOt a B-23-7 source is Santa FE diesels.  Also B-23-7's came in on AAR B trucks not FB-2 also those are off one of the B-39-8 testbeds the Santa Fe Tested IIRC the 7401 supplied them.

[SSW9389]

Santa Fe's B23-7s were delivered with either AAR Type B trucks or Floating Bolster FB-2 trucks. There were three groups of B23-7s with FB-2 trucks. The 6350-6363 group was delivered in 1978. The 6364--6373 group delivered in 1979 and the 6390-6404 delivered in 1980.

Photo is from the Summer of 1998 at Topeka, Kansas for comparison purposes to MMA 2006.

[edbenton]

Here is a link to the info on the SF30B http://rosters.gcrossett.com/bnsf/SF30B.htm

[bakupolo]

Wonder why it's MU'd to that caboose? Could there be a 7FDL12 in there for a little extra push?

[edbenton]

The caboose makes it so ANY locomotive can be MUed to it for Remote controlled ops.  Instead of dedicatind a locomotive Regionals and Shortlines take a caboose and add the gear to it and then there you go a loco control car.  Hook up the MU links and it can control the locomotive for you remotely while you are on the ground.

[GAURC]

So, did we decide this is (most likely) BNSF 4252?

~Rick

[fifedog]

GAURC - Not sure, Rick-o, but the debate certainly has been informative... I went by phtots of the units being transferred from BNSF to MMA.

[edbenton]

Here is a Link to the SF30B photo notice the different side hoods and the fuel tank I was talking about. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=78993&nseq=3

[SSW9389]

From Bill Miller on LocoNotes: These ex BNSF/ATSF B23-7's appear to have been re# in order.   BNSF - MMA 4207 - 2001 ! (blue) 4224 - 2002 ? (blue) 4231 - 2003 ! (H1) 4237 - 2004 (blue) 4243 - 2005 ! (blue) 4252 - 2006 ! (H1)   ! - confirmed

[fifedog]

Hey great!  Now, what did I win...?

[Randy Stahl]

Hey great!  Now, what did I win...?

The MMA 2006 was renumbered from the BNSF 4252.. I know , I renumbered it . I think the number boards are around here someplace....