The Eagle Streamliners & Motorcars |
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The Streamliners have been moved from the locomotive to their own page to have room to grow on it's own. I hope to obain some decent photos to share on here in the near future. Please bear with me, as it takes time and research putting each page together .
Special thanks to each of the photographers contributing here: Brian Paul Ehni for the F unit, and the late Lee Berglund of Larned, Kansas - Enjoy!
Photos other than mine have been used with the knowledge they either are freely distributed or with permission from the copyright owner / company and remain copyrighted by their owner. Credit is given when known. If your photo appears here and you wish it removed, please email me at ScreamingEagle@rrmail.com and it will be removed promptly!
Streamlined for Success - the 1940's-'50's
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1939 marked the introduction of the first streamliners on the MP system. These included EMC/EMD-built E3, AA6, and E6 diesels, each painted in an all-new elaborate blue/gray design with yellow trim and a MPL stainless steel spread-eagle on the nose. These were put into the new "Route of the Eagles" passenger service, which spread as far west as the Grand Canyon and California. 1940 was wartime - the streamlined EMD FT was delivered to MoPac in a slightly less elaborate paint scheme from her passenger-assigned sisters, and invaded the steam ranks as it went into freight service to help the war effort. 1947-51 saw the deliveries of the EMD E7 and E8, the Baldwin DR-4-4-1500 (nicknamed "babyface") and the Alco/GE PA-1, PA-2 and PA-3 (though its been argued that the PA-3's were in fact modified PA-2's). 1947-51 also saw large numbers of the EMD F3, F5, F7 and BL2, and the Alco/GE FA-1, FA-2, and FPA-2 being built for MP subsidiaries Texas & Pacific, International Great Northern, Kansas Okalhoma & Gulf, St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico, as well as MP. February 1948 - the Baldwin DS-4-4-1000 and DRS-4-4-1500 were built for MP. |
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MP 59 - an Alco PA-2 (built in June 1951 originally as #8016) with its brushed metal nose Eagle glimmering pauses in St. Louis back in September, 1962. It will be retired in another three years. - Lee Berglund photo - T. Greuter collection. |
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From the first Eagle E-3 Streamliner in 1949 until the early 1960's, you could see PA's, F7's and FA's, RS3's and Geeps in MP's classic blue and gray paint scheme. Meanwhile, the diesel switchers were painted black with brushed aluminum lettering - just like the steam switchers they'd replaced. They wore this scheme from their introduction in 1939 until 1961, when all switchers, freight and passenger units began the conversion to the solid Jenk's Blue. |
| The Missouri River Eagle was inaugerated March 10, 1940 for the St. Loius-Kansas City-Omaha passenger service. Two EMD E-3's, #7000 and 7001 were the units on the River Eagle's first run. |
| The Alco FA & FB were especially prevalent on the Omaha division. MoPac found their rapid acceleration and speed capabilities were right at home on the rail-center's endless up-and-down hill grades. |
| By the close of World War II, MoPac had purchased 734 diesels and 115 B-units. |
| The DR-4-4-1500's a.k.a. 'Babyfaces' along with the DRS-4-4-1500's all came with pneumatic MU control, which prooved to be a slight problem, as EMD & ALCo did not use this method, making it impossible for the different units to MU together. Due to this situation, all the AS-16s had the preferred "EMD" standard MU controls installed in later years. |
| In Nebraska, from the Eaglette streamlined motorcar in the 50's to the final bus connection for Lincoln's passenger service in 1963, the Missouri River Eagle continued to stop at Union on it's St. Louis-Kansas City-Omaha run until September 1965 - E8A T&P-36 made the final run. |
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By the early 1970's, passenger service disappeared across the nation to be taken-over by Amtrak. MoPac's aging F7's, F8's and their B-units found a new if less glamorous life as they began filling-out freight-hauling rosters in their final days. |
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T&P 884 - an EMD-built F7A is the lead unit seen at a small depot in the laters years of it's employment in the early 1970's. Now coated in unglamorous Jenks Blue, and with the take-over of passenger service by Amtrak, she's saddled with the task of hauling mixed freight. It'll retire in August 1973. The only distinction the 1950-built unit has from it's MP sisters is a small subletting beside the buzzsaw decal. The photographer posts many of his photo's at ABPR - © Brian Paul Ehni photo, used with permission. |
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A streamlined baggage car wearing "Eagle" colors. This repainted car is on display at the R.R. Museum in Atchison Kansas. 4/14/01 |
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MP 121175 - The Eagle Merchandise Car of the '50's. Though not a 'streamliner' car, these 40' boxcars, were colored to match the Eagle fleet, used exclusively on the MoP to handle less than carload freight. This repainted car is on display at the R.R. Museum in Atchison Kansas. 4/14/01 |
Motorcars
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Though technically not a locomotive, MP motorcar 450 (in later years, this would be the streamlined Eaglette)was commonly used in conjunction with Mopac's locomotives in the Lincoln branchline's passenger service, seen here changing passengers at Union, Nebraska. - photographer and exact date are unknown, 1940-50's. |
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The bi-directional streamlined Eaglette motorailer, #670, seated 34 passengers. Built to balance both service and economy for the 47-mile Lincoln to Union Branch, as compliment to the Missouri River Eagle passenger service. After some years being assigned to the branchline, problems with the motorcars ability to handle the severe snow drifts of the "Siberian Sub" forced the Eaglette's task to be replaced by a MP bus. |
Continue with:
MoPac Diesel Power - the 1950's-'80's
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Featured Photraphers: Brian Paul Ehni, and Lee Berglund Sources: Missouri Pacific Diesel Power by Kevin EuDaly Every effort has been made to get the correct information on these pages, but mistakes do happen. Reporting of any inaccuracies would be appreciated. |
Last update: June 8, 2001
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