California Zephyr

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I would like to model the Chicago Burlington and Quincy line. I would like to use the BLI E7 locomotive, but i have several questions…

  1. Did CB&Q use B units on the CZ line? BLI is not offering a B unit in this scheme.

  2. Was there an average number of coaches a typical SINGLE loco Could pull?

3 I have seen a number of photos with AA lashups. Is it possible to configure a back to back AA lash-up with two powered units?

Thank you.

2

The only B unit that I know the Burling to use was in an F3 ABA lash up. These units were used for only a short time. I don’t know if the Burlington used E7’s. I only know the Burlington used E8 AA lashups.

3

The CB&Q did have E7 A units. The only “E” B units the Burlington used was E5B that had fluted sides. The E units generally ran “elephant” style with all units facing forward, however, you can run them back to back with no problem, either on DC or DCC. I would say around 6-7 passenger cars would be the max that a real E unit would pull.

Rick

4

Locomotive page

http://calzephyr.railfan.net/locos.html

from the California Zephyr Virtural Museum site

http://calzephyr.railfan.net/

5

The CB&Q used ABA sets of F3’s on the CZ, but they were replaced quite soon by the usual E unit combinations. There were no ‘B’ units other than the special E5B’s that had fluted stainless steel panels.

Jim

6

I would like to model the Chicago Burlington and Quincy line. I would like to use the BLI E7 locomotive, but i have several questions…

  1. Did CB&Q use B units on the CZ line? BLI is not offering a B unit in this scheme.

  2. Was there an average number of coaches a typical SINGLE loco Could pull?

3 I have seen a number of photos with AA lashups. Is it possible to configure a back to back AA lash-up with two powered units?

Thank you.

7

The only B unit that I know the Burling to use was in an F3 ABA lash up. These units were used for only a short time. I don’t know if the Burlington used E7’s. I only know the Burlington used E8 AA lashups.

8

The CB&Q did have E7 A units. The only “E” B units the Burlington used was E5B that had fluted sides. The E units generally ran “elephant” style with all units facing forward, however, you can run them back to back with no problem, either on DC or DCC. I would say around 6-7 passenger cars would be the max that a real E unit would pull.

Rick

9

Locomotive page

http://calzephyr.railfan.net/locos.html

from the California Zephyr Virtural Museum site

http://calzephyr.railfan.net/

10

The CB&Q used ABA sets of F3’s on the CZ, but they were replaced quite soon by the usual E unit combinations. There were no ‘B’ units other than the special E5B’s that had fluted stainless steel panels.

Jim