Steam Heat Car GN 16 was originally a locomotive. It was built by EMD in October, 1948 as GN 306B, builder's number 4825 - the center unit of the only A-B-A F3 locomotive the GN owned. Power was provided by a 1500-hp 16-567-B spinning at 800 rpm at full power, a 1050kw D12 main generator, and four 284kw D17 traction motors. Intended for freight, it had no steam heat capabilities. The whole three-unit locomotive delivered 4500 horse power.
In 1952, a newly-constructed F7B was added to the locomotive, making it 6000-hp locomotive 458. The former 306B was now 458B.
Change came again in 1965-1967, when the Great Northern began replacing their aging E and F passenger locomotives. Six boiler-equipped SDP40's and eight SDP45's were purchased. These single units could replace several older locomotives. Pleased by the economics, the GN selected nine F3B's and one F9B to be rebuilt as heater cars, to provide steam heat when regular freight locomotives were called upon to pull passenger trains.
Passenger F3B 354B became heater car 10 in 1965 under AFE 65-500. As the pilot model, it differed in minor details from the rest. Freight F3B's 434B, 430C, 432B and 430B became heater cars 11-14 in 1966 under AFE 66-68 at a cost of $73,174 each. Freight F3B's 436C, 458B and 436B, freight F9B 470C, and freight F3B 438B became heater cars 15-19 in 1967 under AFE 67-6 at a cost of $75,677.20 each. All was was done by the Dale Street Shops in St. Paul. 458B was stripped under Dale Street shop order 13321, and emerged as heater car 16 under order 13318. Click to see a high-res scan of its equipment diagram.
During the conversion, the traction motors and all innards were removed. A large 11,780 gal. water tank covered the entire floor and extended up into the four corners. Two Vapor OK-4744 steam generators were installed in the center, accompanied by two supporting 30kw Detroit 251 gen sets and a pair of two-stage air compressors. Because the steam heaters were raised by the water tank, the roof line had to be raised as well. The original diesel fuel tank, main air reservoir, and one battery box were retained. The other battery box became the air brake cabinet. The air brakes were changed from 24-RL with cast shoes to a simplified number 6 with composition shoes. The control systems were originally designed to be "turn-key" automatic controls, but this didn't work out and the automation circuits were later removed. The finished units could provide 9000 lbs of steam per hour.
In 1972, newly-formed Amtrak selected heater cars 10 - 15 for its use. Heater cars 16 - 19 were retained by the BN. (Presumably for use with the business car fleet.) The 16 was acquired by MTM in 1982 and still wears its BN paint. It currently resides at Jackson Street. The gen sets and air compressors are operable, though the steam generators may need some work.
Six of the ten heater cars still survive. See the surviving GN F-units list on 454A's page.
Heater car 16 is part of MTM's GN streamlined train set.
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