Passenger Boosters Were Re-Suffixed from B to C in 1959 to Conform to Freight Practice

Road
Number / Builder / Serial
Number / Type /

Phase

/ H.P. / Service / Axles/
Motors / Weight / Tractive
Effort / Date
Delivered / Date
Retired
200-A / EMD / 5545 / F-3 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 225,210 / 56,300 / Oct ‘47 / Feb ‘65
200-B / EMD / 5546 / F-3 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 225,220 / 56,300 / Oct ‘47 / Feb ‘65
201-A / EMD / 5547 / F-3 / III / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 224,210 / 56,050 / Jan ‘48 / May ‘65
201-B / EMD / 5548 / F-3 / III / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 223,450 / 55,860 / Jan ‘48 / Mar ‘65
202-A / EMD / 5549 / F-3 / III / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 223,060 / 55,760 / Jan ‘48 / May ‘64
202-B / EMD / 5550 / F-3 / III / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 223,470 / 55,870 / Jan ‘48 / May ‘64
203-A / EMD / 5551 / F-3 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,320 / 55,330 / Sep ‘48 / Mar ‘65
203-B / EMD / 5552 / F-3 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,230 / 55,310 / Sep ‘48 / Mar ‘65
204-A / EMD / 5551 / F-3 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,370 / 55,340 / Sep ‘48 / Jul ‘77
204-B / EMD / 5552 / F-3 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,320 / 55,330 / Sep ‘48 / Mar ‘65
205-A / ALCo / 75741 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / Apr ‘48 / May ‘63
205-B / ALCo / 75742 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / Apr ‘48 / Mar ‘63
206-A / ALCo / 75743 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / Apr ‘48 / Mar ‘63
206-B / ALCo / 75744 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / Apr ‘48 / Mar ‘63
207-A / ALCo / 75962 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / May ‘48 / May ‘64
207-B / ALCo / 75963 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / May ‘48 / Jan ‘63
208-A / ALCo / 75964 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / May ‘48 / Jan ‘63
208-B / ALCo / 75965 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / May ‘48 / Jan ‘63
209-A / ALCo / 75966 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / May ‘48 / Feb ‘63
209-B / ALCo / 75967 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 238,000 / 59,500 / May ‘48 / Mar ‘63
210-A / ALCo / 77003 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jul ‘49 / May ‘63
210-B / ALCo / 77004 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jul ‘49 / Mar ‘63
211-A / ALCo / 77005 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Aug ‘49 / Mar ‘63
211-B / ALCo / 77006 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Aug ‘49 / Mar ‘63
212-A / EMD / 14001 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,460 / 56,110 / Mar ‘51 / Jan ‘80
212-B / EMD / 14002 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 224,720 / 56,180 / Mar ‘51 / Sep ‘80
213-A / EMD / 16474 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 230,860 / 56,340 / Mar ‘51 / Jan ‘80
213-B / EMD / 16475 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 230,340 / 56,210 / Mar ‘51 / Sep ‘80
214-A / EMD / 16476 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 230,900 / 56,350 / Mar ‘51 / Jan ‘80
214-B / EMD / 16477 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 229,800 / 56,070 / Mar ‘51 / Sep ‘80
Road
Number / Builder / Serial
Number / Type / Phase / H.P. / Service / Axles/
Motors / Weight / Tractive
Effort / Date
Delivered / Date
Retired
2200-A / EMD / 7403 / F-3 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,160 / 55,290 / Sept ‘48 / June ‘77
2200-B / EMD / 7404 / F-3 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,160 / 55,290 / Sept ‘48 / June ‘77
2200-C / EMD / 7411 / F-3 (B) / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 221,160 / 55,290 / Sept ‘48 / June ‘77
2201-A / EMD / 7405 / F-7 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 227,240 / 56,810 / May ‘49 / ??
2201-B / EMD / 7406 / F-7 / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 226,470 / 56,620 / May ‘49 / Jan ‘80
2201-C / EMD / 7412 / F-7 (B) / IV / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 227,470 / 56,870 / May ‘49 / Jan ‘80
2202-A / EMD / 7407 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 227,240 / 56,810 / May ‘49 / Jul ‘77
2202-B / EMD / 7408 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 226,470 / 56,620 / May ‘49 / Jul ‘77
2202-C / EMD / 7413 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 227,470 / 56,870 / May ‘49 / Mar ‘79
2203-A / EMD / 7409 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 226,560 / 56,640 / Jun ‘49 / Jan ‘80
2203-B / EMD / 7410 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 226,760 / 56,690 / Jun ‘49 / Jan ‘80
2203-C / EMD / 7414 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 227,720 / 56,930 / Jun ‘49 / Jan ‘80
2204-C / EMD / 16478 / F-7 (B) / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 226,870 / 55,430 / July ‘52 / Mar ‘79
2220-A / ALCo / 76860 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jun ‘49 / May ‘63
2220-B / ALCo / 76861 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jun ‘49 / Mar ‘63
2221-A / ALCo / 76862 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jun ‘49 / Mar ‘63
2221-B / ALCo / 76863 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jun ‘49 / Jan ‘63
2222-A / ALCo / 76864 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jul ‘49 / Mar ‘63
2222-B / ALCo / 76865 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jul ‘49 / May ‘63
2223-A / ALCo / 77001 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jul ‘49 / Jan ‘63
2223-B / ALCo / 77002 / FA-1 / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 233,000 / 58,250 / Jul ‘49 / Feb ‘63
2224-A / EMD / 12314 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 222,920 / 55,730 / Jul ‘50 / Apr ‘72
2224-B / EMD / 12315 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 222,840 / 55,710 / Jul ‘50 / July ‘74
2225-A / EMD / 12316 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 222,800 / 55,700 / Jul ‘50 / Apr ‘84
2225-B / EMD / 12317 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 222,800 / 55,700 / Jul ‘50 / Sep ‘80
2226-A / EMD / 14003 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 224,520 / 56,130 / Mar ‘51 / Feb ‘80
2226-B / EMD / 14004 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 223,880 / 55,970 / Mar ‘51 / Jan ‘78
2227-A / EMD / 14005 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 224,480 / 56,120 / Mar ‘51 / Apr ‘72
2227-B / EMD / 14006 / F-7 / I / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 224,640 / 56,160 / Mar ‘51 / Mar ‘79
2228-A / EMD / 18431 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 232,040 / 56,650 / Aug ‘53 / Mar ‘79
2228-B / EMD / 18432 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 231,400 / 56,500 / Aug ‘53 / Mar ‘79
Road
Number / Builder / Serial
Number / Type / Phase / H.P. / Service / Axles/
Motors / Weight / Tractive
Effort / Date
Delivered / Date
Retired
2229-A / EMD / 18433 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 232,300 / 56,720 / Aug ‘53 / Jan ‘80
2229-B / EMD / 18434 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 231,680 / 56,560 / Aug ‘53 / Oct ‘80
2230-A / EMD / 18435 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 231,700 / 56,570 / Aug ‘53 / Mar ‘79
2230-B / EMD / 18436 / F-7 / II / 1,500 / Freight / 4 / 4 / 232,400 / 56,740 / Aug ‘53 / Jan ‘78
500-A / EMD / 11015 / FP-7 / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 246,180 / 61,540 / May ‘50 / ??
500-B / EMD / 11016 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / N/A / N/A / May ‘50 / Nov ‘61
501-A / EMD / 10897 / FP-7 / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 243,390 / 60,850 / May ‘50 / Jan ‘80
501-B / EMD / 11017 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 240,240 / 60,060 / May ‘50 / Jan ‘78
502-A / EMD / 13997 / FP-7 / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 242,510 / 60,630 / Mar ‘51 / ??
502-B / EMD / 13999 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 235,830 / 58,960 / Mar ‘51 / Feb ‘80
503-A / EMD / 13998 / FP-7 / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 242,350 / 60,590 / Mar ‘51 / Jan ‘80
503-B / EMD / 14000 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 235,670 / 58,920 / Mar ‘51 / Jan ‘80
504 / EMD / 16472 / FP-7 / II / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 256,620 / 64,155 / Sep ‘52 / Mar ‘79
505 / EMD / 16473 / FP-7 / II / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 257,200 / 64,300 / Sep ‘52 / Mar ‘79
2500-A / EMD / 11012 / FP-7 / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 245,620 / 61,400 / May ‘50 / ??
2500-B / EMD / 11013 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 240,840 / 60,210 / May ‘50 / Feb ‘80
2501-A / EMD / 11012 / FP-7 / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 242,450 / 60,160 / June ‘50 / Feb ‘80
2501-B / EMD / 11013 / F-7 (B) / I / 1,500 / Passenger / 4 / 4 / 242,170 / 60,540 / May ‘50 / Mar ‘79

The “Old Soo” (Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie) preferred back-to-back cab units and did not buy any boosters other than for passenger service. The Wisconsin Central, however, used boosters in its four three-unit freight sets as well as in passenger service. In practice, the like-numbered units were kept together, as one multi-unit engine, for operational and maintenance purposes.

Wisconsin Central # 2200 (a three-unit, 4500hp, A-B-A set) was called the “Queen Mary” and was the only three-unit set of F-3’s on the property. The 2200-C was the only F-3 booster engine, and was kept within the set. As was Soo Line practice, the two cab units were identified by “-A” and “-B” suffixes. Subsequent “Queen Mary” three-unit sets (2201 – 2203) were F-7’s; and 2204-C was a spare F-7B booster, the only freight booster with hostler controls. These four engines, for all practical purposes, replaced the four class O-20 4-8-4 steam engines (5000 – 5003) on fast freight runs from Shoreham to Chicago.

Passenger engines generally consisted of an FP-7 Cab unit and an F-7B booster, identified by the “-B” suffix. All of the passenger boosters were equipped with hostler controls. Only passenger engines 504 and 505 were bought and run without boosters.

2500-A, 2500-B, and 2501-B were the original EMD demo units (cab and two boosters) numbered 7001, 7002, and 7003.

500-A, 500-B, and 501-B came from a Canadian EMD demo set (cab and two boosters) numbered 9051, 9052, and 9053.

Passenger boosters were “re-suffixed” from –B to –C in 1959 to conform to freight practice.

The information above is abridged from Wallace Abbey’s book, “The Little Jewel,” and amended with phase details provided in Volume 1, Number 1, (September 1977) of “The Soo,” the official publication of the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society.

Information which follows the chart was either taken from the same sources, or came out of discussions held on the Soo Line History Group ( ) in the summer of 2002.

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Please address any comments or corrections to “Ron at Kohlin dot Com.”