CB&Q GE 44 ton 9106, Lincoln, NE, August 1963, Chuck Zeiler collection

CB&Q GE 44 ton 9106, my best guess is Lincoln, Nebraska, the slide is unlabeled except for the date, August, 1963, photographer unknown, but my best guess is Dick Rumbolz, photo from the Chuck Zeiler collection.

This is a Phase I GE 44 ton locomotive design, the evidence is the side radiator openings, and what were termed "buttonholes", which were small manually operated doors on the side hood doors which could be opened and closed depending on the need for cooling. The very first GE 44 ton production locomotive was delivered to the CB&Q as 9103, and the Q received a total of five of this model in two orders. A total of 79 Phase I 44 tonners were built until October 1942. About 93% of GE 44 tonners were powered by twin Caterpiller Model D17000 V8 diesels, first introduced in 1936, rated at 190 horsepower, later upgraded to 200 hp each.

Number 9106, built February 1941 (c/n 12951) was the only CB&Q GE 44 ton to actually operate on the Burlington Northern. The BN had renumbered a few of the 44 tonners it inherited from the CB&Q, but #'s 1,2, and 4 never actually operated, although #'s 1 and 2 did receive their numbers. The following is from Burlington Route Historical Society's Bulletin #6, CENTERCABS, by Hol Wagner:

The only 44 tonner to actually operate on the BN was 9106 renumbered 3 shortly after the merger. It was used in and around Superior, Nebraska. When the Chicago & North Western's Lincoln - Superior branch suffered a washout, rather than repair the damage, the North Western suspended service south of the missing bridge until shippers protested. The C&NW then arranged for its Superior agent to drive to the last town north of the washout, pick up the crew of the local, and bring them to Superior. The North Western crew worked the isolated end of the branch using BN 3, bringing all the cars back to Superior. Unfortunately the BN did not want the unit, so it was sold to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. in April 1971, and the unusual operation ended. The 44 tonner was quickly resold, going to northern California's Camino Placerville & Lake Tahoe. During 1971 and 1972, the shortline rebuilt the locomotive, using the hoods from its Phase V 44 tonner 101 - still numbered as such. By mid-1974 the unit was renumbered 102 and lettered for the parent Michigan - California Lumber Co. It remained in use at last report.