I guess CSX made these extinct. I guess other railroads didnt want to bother with this. I find it kinna roomy looking. I wonder what it looks like on the inside? What was so bad about these they only made so many of?..... http://www.trainweb.org/csxphotos/html/BQ23-7.html
That was Family Lines attempt to pack a five man crew in an engine after the cabooses came off. Very cramped. I ran a couple of these on CSX, and my knees were up against the front cab wall. Very uncomfortable after a short period of time, unbearable after 12 hours.
I guess the reason this didn't catch on was that it came too late. The 5-man crew was soon to be gone. I believe this cab was offered as an option on all Dash 7s. I also believe fitting the whole crew in the engine was the rationale behind BN's "GP50L"s: http://www.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/GP50/3159.HTM Even rarer than the BQ23-7 (only five were built), but rather less interesting.
There were 10 BQ23-7s built for Family Lines (SCL) They were the first units I ever saw to have strobe lights on the roof. Maine Central rebuilt a GP7 with a similar cab since the 5 man crew was slower to depart the MEC.
I recall having seen several photos of one or more Geeps with the nose apparently replaced by a second cab, judging by the side windows. They looked remarkably hideous.
How bout when ATSF did THEIR share? Looks like they had them in greater numbers, but like the others, I dont think they too exist, courtesey of BNSF... http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/atsf/atsf-20.html Then again ATSF had some really strange & complex designs throughout their era. :shade:
That's a CF7 which is a completely different beast. Those GP50Ls spent a lot of time on Garbage train duty in the Gorge a couple of years ago, so I don't really think of them as rare. I saw em all the time.
All CF7s were retired by ATSF in the 80s, long before BNSF. Many went on to second careers on shortlines - some even became switchers for Amtrak.
I remember reading years ago in Trains or Railfan or such that the crews didn't feel safe in the BQ units and after some RR and BLE negotiating, the units were pretty much relegated to trailing unit status. In turn, that was the nail in the coffin for future BQ units.
It looks very eastern european or chinese. Actually now it looks like the units GE just made for the tibetan line.
I used to catch the BQ23-7's on occasion in their heyday.... I think I even have photos of them with their cabs plated over and labeled "B Unit service only".... Harold
There's one other engine I know of with a similar ugly face: http://www.trainweb.org/southwestshorts/txue60.html the E60C-2. Not really a quarters cab.
