| Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad SD7 401 near Lincoln, Nebraska sometime during March 1961, Kodachrome by Dick Rumbolz, Chuck Zeiler collection. Built in November 1952 (c/n 17397) on EMD, it became BN 6049 and was retired in August 1983. The CB&Q ordered 12 bare bones SD7's (400-411) on EMD Order 5140, with no dynamic brakes, no steam generator, a single fuel tank, and dual controls, for service on the Ashland, Nebraska - Sioux City line where bridges were not sufficiently strong for heavier power. They weighed 297,875 pounds versus a SD7 in the 300 series which weighed 321,590 pounds. Although a GP7 was lighter at 250,100 pounds, the weight of the 400 series SD7 was distributed across six axles. A GP7 = 62,525 pounds/axle; A 300 series SD7 = 53,598 pounds/axle; a 400 series SD7 = 49,646 pounds/axle. |