CB&Q GP20 904, Naperville, IL, Oct 2, 1965, photo by Chuck Zeiler

Chicago Burlington & Quincy GP20 904, Naperville, Illinois, October 2, 1965, photo by Chuck Zeiler. This locomotive was built by EMD during February 1961 (c/n 26575), it became BN 2040, and was retired December 1985.

What is commonplace today was unusual in the 1960's. Railroads came to grip with the concept of sharing power, and "foreign" power showed up on the CB&Q. Seen here is the most common use on the CGI, the Chicago -Grand Island expedited freight where the Burlington and the Union Pacific pooled locomotives for mutual advantage. I also saw some Rio Grande and Great Northern power run-thru's between 1964-66, and I've heard tell of New York Central power appearing on the CB&Q, but that arrangement came to a bad end during the Penn-Central administration. As I understand the story, the CB&Q somehow found out that their shiny new GE U30B's were being used by PC in Maintenance Of Way service, and the CB&Q promptly terminated the power sharing arrangement with the PC.