GE BQ23-7

The GE BQ23-7 was a model of road switcher diesel locomotive manufactured by General Electric,[1] a variant of the B23-7 [2] built between 1978 and 1979 (the 'Q' stood for "crew Quarters"). Mechanically identical to a regular B23-7, but equipped with an enlarged operating cab for accommodating the train crew, thus making a case for eliminating the caboose from the rear of freight trains. SCL no.5130-5139 were the only ones built. Following a practice dating back to ACL and SAL U30Bs of 1967, SCL's 10 BQ23-7s and 30 standard B23-7s were delivered riding on reconditioned Blomberg trucks from EMD trade-ins.

GE BQ23-7
Seaboard Coast Line (CSXT) BQ23-7 3001 brings a transfer run thru Blue Island, IL in November of 1991
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Electric Build date 1978–1979 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Bogies Blomberg B
Career Operators Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Seaboard System CSX Transportation Numbers SCL: 5130-5139 Nicknames "Busses" "Aegis Cruisers" Locale eastern United States Scrapped 2001 Disposition all scrapped

Only ten were built, all for the Seaboard Coast Line railroad, (originally no.5130–5139). CSX later inherited these locomotives, operating them into the late 1990s. These have come to be nicknamed "Busses" by the operating crews and "Aegis Cruisers" by some railfans, due to the boxy shape of the locomotive resembling the superstructure of the guided missile cruiser.

None of these locomotives survive today. All were scrapped in 2001.

References

1. Hans Halberstadt (13 September 1996). Modern Diesel Locomotives. MBI Publishing Company. pp. 62–. ISBN 978-0-7603-0199-9. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
2. Gerald L. Foster (18 March 1996). A Field Guide to Trains of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 46–. ISBN 978-0-395-70112-6. Retrieved 14 April 2010.

External links

• Photos of GE BQ23-7 locomotives