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Stanleyville F7B

The only cab-less locomotive on the Stanleyville Railway.

F7B No. 4435 was built by General Motors of London, Ontario in 1951. The locomotive was re-numbered to 1909 in December 1954, and spent most of her time on passenger trains. As she did not have a cab, she could only run if she was led by - say, for instance - an F7A, or any locomotive with a cab. The F7B was re-numbered back to 4435 in February 1966. Sometime after that, she was re-painted from CP Maroon and Grey into CP Red.

Sadly the engine was retired in December 1982, and scrapped soon after.

In my fictional history, the F7B languished in a lonely yard in Winnipeg. Over time the engine and other components were removed for overhaul and use in other locomotives. By 2000, all the internal components of the locomotive had been removed. Fortunately she did not suffer the same horrific fate as EMD F45 No. 441, which also had all the internal components removed.

Instead of being converted into a 'luxury lodge', F7B No. 4435 was saved for preservation by a Mr. Gary Poreclain, the leader of the Stanleyville Railway. The engine arrived on the New Zealand railway in 2001. Following conversion to 3ft 6inch gauge - and a repaint in Stanleyville Purple - the engine was tested on the Stanleyville Pier line.

Today the F7B is not used in regular passenger service, but has been retained as a back-up engine for the F7A and FP7, which are the usual Pier engines. Normally the only times the F7B is ever used is when the Pier trains end up being too long for the F7A and FP7 to do the work alone.