Although they are not the glamorous side of Diesel preservation, it would be a shame to lose these units forever. At this stage, it would be fair to say that most types of "B" units have been lost. I would like to make a list of survivors and a list of those preserved (my idea of those preserved are any in the hands of museums or preservation groups. Not tourist lines or Dinner trains- these are survivors). I'll start with:

PRESERVED

E9B at Illinois Railway Museum
F3B at California State R.M.
FTB at National R.M.
FPB4 at Monticello RM


SURVIVORS
E9B in Union Pacific Historic Fleet

VMT has an ex-Southern FTB that was converted to a steam generator car. It is in EMD demonstrator colors, as it was used with MofT's FT A-unit by EMD for the 50th anniversary of the FT.

With MoT's 103, nee Southern 6100

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... x?id=85208

Recently, lurking behind the NKP Geep

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1482557

BN-2 is the F9B of the Burlington executive units donated after the BNSF merger, but there is another.
IRM has a MILW B unit, 96B, a F7B unit as per the roster.

http://www.irm.org/cgi-bin/rsearch.cgi? ... oad%29=96B

Converted to a rotary power car it has no traction motors. But it would still be nirvana for me to see an F7 A-B-A Milwaukee loco (118C, 96B, 104C) with fresh paint some day.
Just as God and EMD intended them to run.

There is an F3 B unit which survives in NJ awaiting transportation to Scranton for a hopeful restoration by the DL shops. It is painted in CNJ blue and yellow but will be repainted and reunited to match her former stablemates, now painted as DW&W F3's.

The unit is owned by the Anthracite Railroad Historical Society.

http://www.anthraciterailroads.org/memb ... ations.php

On a side note, I was told there was an actual surviving SHARK B unit in PA as late as the mid 80's. Is that true???

/Mitch

This is the FTB I thought was at the NRM-my mistake.

Wes

CSX had two F7b's when they were using an A-B-B-A set for executive train service. Where are they? I think one may be at Potomac Eagle.......

Shark B is discussed here: http://nepa.railfan.net/breakers/pbshark.htm


Wesley

Not Potomac Eagle, but close (they have an ex-CSX "A".) The "B" is in operation (or has been?) on the New Tygart Flyer and/or Cheat Mountain Salamander...with the other "A." The other "B" is owned by a well-known locomotive collector and stored at a well-known rail museum down South. (How's that for 'just the facts'?) This 'mystery unit' is former CSX 119 and is paired with a cousin NC&StL cab unit in storage.

There is no E9B at IRM at present. The former UP967B which had been turned into a boiler car by Amtrak was leased to WSOR to have the guts of ex-BN/WSMTD 9907 (briefly MARC 91) E9AM transplanted into it turning it back into a locomotive. It's now the only working, 2-engine E-anything-B.

Now then, what about hood B units? Besides the GP60B's and C30-7A(B)'s that is. Any vintage B's left?

Steve

That E9B is still owned by IRM though. The "B" hood units is an intrigueing question. Other than the 2 late model types listed the only ones made (I think) were GP7B, GP9B, GP30B, SD24B and the ill fated ALCo C855B. There was also a short-lived Baldwin which was returned to the builder for a cab to be fitted (Milwaukee Road?). As far as I'm aware, none are preserved but perhaps there may be a survivor......somewhere........maybe.


Wes

F7B (Milwaukee 68B) is stored awaiting restoration at the Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville, Indiana. This one isn't often listed. They also have (had ?) a modified Great Northern F3B that had been converted into a steam heat car # 432B.

David Farlow

There are lot of cab "B" units still around in North America. Some very visable, some obscure. There is one Calf "B" in Iowa. No Road Switcher "B" preserved that I know of. Here is a listing, some may have moved:

MODEL ORGANIZATION NAME CITY ST BLDR DATE ROAD NUMBER BLD # NOTES
CPB16-4 CN Museum of Rail Travel Cranbrook, BC CN FM 1953 BCR RCC3 ex CPR 4455
CPB16-4 High River Hist RR Assn High River, ALB CN FM 1953 BCR RCC4 ex CPR 4456
E8B Wisconsin & Southern RR Cudahy WI EMD 1955 W&S 102 20507 ex UP 967B, Amt / MN 671
E9B Providence & Worcester Worcester MA EMD 1954 P&W 668 19288 ex UP 952B, AMT 456 / 1918 / 683
E9B Union Pacific RR Cheyenne WY EMD 1955 UP 966B 20506 Amtrak 466/1920/670
E9B Union Pacific RR Cheyenne WY EMD 1955 UP 963B 20503 Amtrak 1463/463/666, ARR P-7
F3B California State RR Mus Sacramento CA EMD 1949 ATSF 347B 6637 ex ATSF 307B, 35A
F3B Portola RR Museum Portola CA EMD 1948 AMTRAK 662 4814 ex GN 430C, BN HC12
F3B Unknown Owner Willits CA EMD 1947 AMTRAK 660 4695 ex GN 354B, BN HC10
F3B AAR Test Facility Pueblo CO EMD 1948 AAR 104 4820 ex GN 436C, BN HC15
F3B Indiana Transport Museum Noblesville IN EMD 1948 AMTRAK 663 4815 ex GN 423B, BN HC13
F3B Private Owner Wickersham WA EMD 1948 BN HC19 8016 ex GN 438B / HC19
F7B California Shortline Unknown CA EMD 1952 B&LE 721B 16604
F7B California State RR Mus Sacramento CA EMD 1949 SP 8219 8190 ex SP 6151C, 8103
F7B Carrizo Gorge Rwy Campo CA EMD 1930 SPWA 101 17913 ex B&LE/USS 723B
F7B Prince George Rwy Musuem Prince George, BC CN EMD 1950 BCR RCC1 9555 ex GN 455B, BN 671 / RCU112
F7B West Coast Rwy Assn Squamish, BC CN EMDC 1953 CP 4459 A495
F7B Royal Gorge Route RR Canon City CO EMD 1952 CC&RG 1503 17714 ex Alaska 1503
F7B Illinois Railway Museum Union IL EMD 1951 MILW X2 10365 ex 96B, Plow Power
F7B National Railway Equipment Silvis IL EMDC 1952 CP 1018 A319 ex CP 4445 / 1919
F7B National Railway Equipment Silvis IL EMDC 1953 CP 1019 A498 ex CP 4462
F7B Indiana Transport Museum Noblesville IN EMD 1950 MONON 68B 10340 ex MILW 68B
F7B Escanaba & Lake Superior RR Wells MI EMD 1951 WICT 102B 15243 ex MILW 102B
F7B Lake Superior Mus Transport Duluth MN EMD 1950 MILW X-1 10337 Plow Power, ex 71B
F7B Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Star NC EMD 1950 AC&W 400600 13542 ex CGW 112D, C&NW 315
F7B Anthracite RR Hist Society Scranton PA EMD 1950 CNJ 56D 12383 ex B&M 4268B
F7B Tennessee Central Rwy Mus Nashville TN EMD 1952 B&LE 719B 16602
F7B Tennessee Central Rwy Mus Nashville TN EMD 1952 TC 715B 16598 ex B&LE 715B
F7B Tennessee Valley RR Museum Chattanooga TN EMD 1950 CSX 119 11958 ex NC&STL/L&N919/CRR 250
F7B Tennessee Valley RR Museum Chattanooga TN EMD 1949 HAYSI 1 8487 ex CRR 852
F7B Norfolk Southern Rwy Norfolk VA EMD 1950 NS 4275 13544 ex CGW 113D, C&NW 317, 410, SLC
F7B Norfolk Southern Rwy Norfolk VA EMD 1950 NS 4276 13563 ex CGW 114B, C&NW 318, 411, SLC
F7B Washington Dinner Train Renton WA EMD 1950 WDT 107 11807 ex MILW 110B / SG2 / SE2, DARR
F7B West Virginia Central Durbin WV EMD 1950 WM 415 11957 ex NC&STL/L&N918/CRR869
F9B Portola RR Museum Portola CA EMDC 1951 WP 925C A214 ex CN 9190/9093
F9B Alberta Railway Museum Edmonton, ALB CN EMDC 1957 AC 1762 A1053 ex CN / VIA 6614
F9B CN Museum of Rail Travel Cranbrook, BC CN EMDC 1954 CP 1901 A601 ex CP/VIA 4474, VIA 1962 / 6651
F9B CP Rail System North Vancouver, BC CN EMD 1955 CP 1900 A629 ex VIA/CN 6612, NEB 66
F9B Colorado RR Museum Golden CO EMD 1955 D&RGW 5762 20531 ex D&RGW 5753
F9B Illinois Railway Museum Union IL EMD 1954 BN BN-2 19749 ex NP 7002C, BN 809
F9B Peoria & Western Mapleton IL EMDC 1955 P&W 1761 A763 ex CN / VIA 6613
F9B Kansas City Southern RR Kansas City MO EMD 1957 KCS KCS-3 A1055 ex CN/VIA 6616
F9B Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Star NC EMD 1954 BN 817 19752 ex NP 7004B
F9B Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Star NC EMD 1956 AC&W 1004 21123 ex NP 7014C / 6707B, BN 9815
F9B Carolina Southern RR Conway SC EMDC 1957 VIA 6622 A1206 ex CN 6822
F9B Union Pacific RR Cheyenne WY EMD 1955 D&RGW 5763 20532
FB Private Owner Bridgeton NJ ALCO 1950 BC RAIL 210 78288 Radio Control Car
FB2 CN Museum of Rail Travel Cranbrook, BC CN MLW 1953 CP 4469 79162
FPB2 Engine Preservation Society Bridgeton NJ MLW 1955 CN 6854 81186 ex BCR RCC2, ex CN 6810
FPB2 Private Owner Bridgeton NJ MLW 1955 BCR RCC2 81186 ex CN 6810 / 6854
FPB4 Grand Canyon Rwy Williams AZ MLW 1959 GCRWY 6871 82588 ex CN/VIA 6871
FPB4 Grand Canyon Rwy Williams AZ MLW 1958 GCRWY 6860 82276 ex CN
FPB4 Wainwright Rwy Museum Wainwright, ALB CN MLW 1958 CN 6861 82274
FPB4 Danbury Rwy Museum Danbury CT MLW 1959 NYC 3399 82584 ex CN/VIA 6867
FPB4 Monticello Rwy Museum Monticello IL MLW 1958 VIA 6862 82278 ex CN 6862
FTB Southeast Rwy Museum Duluth GA EMD 1943 SR 960603 1824 ex SR 4308, NC 53
FTB St Louis Cty Trans Museum Kirkwood MO EMD 1945 SRC 960602 2892 ex SR 4315, HC 52
FTB National Mus of Mexican RR Benjamin Hill, SON MX EMC 1944 S-BC 2203B 2572 ex NP 6006C/5406C
FTB Nashville & Eastern RR Nashville TN EMD 1944 SR 960604 2674 ex SR 4303, HC 54
FTB Virginia Museum Transport Roanoke VA EMD 1944 SR 960601 2888 ex SR 4311, HC 51
TR2B Boone & Scenic Valley RR Boone IA EMD 1949 C&NW 1103 6892 ex CGW 65B

I'm reasonably sure the boiler car at IRM that is now leased to WSOR and converted back to a locomotive started life as an E9B, not E8B.

BRC still had a calf switcher (or transfer unit) that drawbar coupled to its mother that was displayed at an EMD open house in the 90's. Probably gone now.

Steve

Before somebody asks:

Apparently more than one person has spotted, and remarked online about, what apparently certainly looks like it could be an ex-PRR E8B at Juniata Terminal in Philadelphia while rolling past on Amtrak/SEPTA. When I went by a month or so ago, it actually fooled me for a second. But it's actually a PRR baggage car of just the right dimensions, appearance, and rustiness. Juniata DOES have a "spare" E8A back in that siding, as I recall, but......

Some fuzzy memory tells me that Conneaut Dock Co. (B&LE/USX subsidiary operating the rail to laker transload facility at Conneaut Harbor, OH) had a various times used several different ex-B&LE F7Bs. They were MU'd with radio controlled F7As to server car dumpers, etc. Might be long gone now, but I thought I'd at least raise the question.

Two others that were around in relatively recent years were ex-C&O F7Bs 8501 and 8504, painted solid black and used to transport EMD engines between the several Chessie System shops. Saw them often while the B&O shop at Hazelwood (Pgh.), PA was still active. Still looked like locos externally except for no exhaust stacks.