Both units were constructed for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and once served in commuter service between Chicago and Aurora. No. 100 was built in December 1949 as Burlington E8A No. 9938A. It was renumbered 9938 by Burlington Northern following the 1970 BN merger. In 1973, Morrison-Knudsen began an extensive rebuild program on BNs E-unit fleet, which had been sold to the West Suburban Mass Transit District in 1972. Following rebuilding they were leased back to BN for operation.
No. 9938, along with five BN E8As and 16 E9As, had their original 567B and 567C engines replaced with new 645EC engines. All the rebuilt locomotives were rated at 2,400 horsepower and designated E9s or E9Ms. Rebuilding included replacement of steam generators with Detroit Diesel HEP generators for the bi-level cars. In 1978, four more E8As were similarly rebuilt.
No. 9938 was rebuilt in 1973 and renumbered BN 9901. After retirement from commuter operation in 1992 it was sold to IC and numbered 100.
No. 101 was built by EMD in September 1953 as Burlington E8 N. 9977, and became Burlington Northern No. 9977 in 1970. Following rebuilding for commuter service in 1973 it was renumbered BN 9904, and was sold to the IC following retirement in 1992.
These are not the first former CB&Q/BN E units to join Iowa Pacific’s roster. The company also owns ex-BN Nos. 9906, 9915, 9921, and 9925. Other E units acquired by Iowa Pacific include five former Chicago & North Western E8s, an original Illinois Central E9B, and two ex-Pennsylvania Railroad E8s.
