This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Remote control cars on the PGE/BCR


These former FA B-units were turned into radio cars for mid-train helpers/Bobb Losse


JOHN BENSON PHOTO, AUTHOR’S COLLECTION: PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.; JULY 1973


PGE Remote Control Car 2 was six months old when photographed at Prince George (above). Originally an FPB-2 built by MLW, com-


P


acific Great Eastern Railway- British Columbia Railway Re- mote Control Car No. 2 (RCC2) originally started life as Canadian Na- tional Railways FPB-2 No. 6810. Built in 1955 as part of an order for two B- units, 6810 and 6811, the engine was renumbered 6854 in mid-1956. The FPB-2’s built by Montreal Locomotive Works differed from their U.S.-built counterparts in that they were fitted with two steam generators, while Alco- built units typically had only one. (All FPA-2’s had a single steam generator regardless of where they were built). There is also a noticeable difference between the manufacturers with re- spect to the fuel and water tanks. The locomotives manufactured in the U.S. had tanks that resembled RS-11 fuel tanks, while MLW-built tanks were similar in size but had sloping side walls. The U.S. tanks had the fuel above the water, whereas the Canadian tanks hung side by side (that is, front to back). RCC2 has this configuration, and it may well be the last of its kind. Early in-service photos show CN FPA-2’s working at least as far west as


62


pare the shape of the tanks with those on RCC1, which started out as Spokane, Portland & Seattle 210, an Alco FB-2 (below).


Manitoba, but over time they served mostly in Quebec and Ontario while GMD FP9’s worked farther west. In 1958 two FPA-2’s (6755 and 6751) and two FPB-2’s (6855 and 6851) had their


244 prime movers replaced with 251’s. They were renumbered 6758-6759 and 6858-6859,


respectively. These four


units would seem to be the precursors to the FPA/FPB-4’s built a bit later.


AUTHOR’S COLLECTION: MAY 1970


APRIL 2012


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100