Fairbanks Morse & Company introduced a six-axle, 1600-horsepower road switcher in 1950; the trucks were Commonwealth type similar to those used on Baldwin locomotives because of large Westinghouse traction motors. Except for the six-wheel trucks, the 54-foot, phase one H16-66 employed the same car-body as the builder's four-axle 1500/1600-hp version first introduced in 1947. It should be noted that FM's longer, massive and more powerful "Train Master" was still on the drawing board, thus it would be a misnomer to refer to the phase one H16-66s as "Baby Train Masters."

The first Train Masters emerged from FM's Beloit, Wisconsin assembly hall in April 1953; the H24-66s were 66-foot-long brutes with a 2400-hp opposed-piston prime mover. The builder's locomotive catalog was expanded further in August of the same year, with the release of the shorter and less powerful H16-66 (phase 2), or "Baby Train Master." Production of the junior six-axle model ended in 1958, with a total count of 32 units. Two single-unit orders for Alcoa and Tennessee Valley Authority punctuated the locomotive's final production. The following table provides a list of original owners:

• Alcoa / Squaw Creek Coal -- #721001
• Chicago & North Western -- #1674 to 1683, 1691-1700 and 1901-1906
• Milwaukee Road -- #2125 to 2130 (re-numbered 550-555)
• Tennessee Valley Authority -- #24 (renumbered F3060)

Chicago & North Western #1671 at Escanaba, MI on 19 September 1967 (R. Craig photo)

This not very good photo of C&NW 1671 depicts a phase 1 H16--66. The shorter overall length and Commonwealth trucks are reasons why it is not a "Baby Train Master."

Milwaukee Road #552 at Escanaba, MI on 19 September 1967 (R. Craig photo)

Milwaukee Road's motive power stable included six of the 1600-hp junior train masters. For several years, they could be found working in a joint C&NW/Milw power pool on Upper Peninsula Michigan ore trains.

Tennessee Valley Authority #24 at Gallatin, TN on 4 August 1992 (R. Craig photo)

The Gallatin Power Plant in Central Tennessee had been the singular home of this phase 2 H16-66 for 34 years. Still wearing, its original attire, the opposed-piston locomotive appeared rusty and maybe even a little worn-out. Nothing that a new coat of paint would change.

Tennessee Valley Authority #F3060 at Gallatin, TN on 4 August 1992 (R. Craig photo)

And speaking of paint here is the same locomotive in a new two-tone attire and sporting a different number. According to operating personnel, the old timer still pulled occasional coal loads between the CSX interchange and the plant.

Canadian Pacific #7009 at Nelson, BC in August 2013 (Creative Commons photo)

After working many years for Squaw Creek Coal as #721001, and later for Peabody Coal, the 1600-hp Fairbanks unit was retired and sold to a private party in Western Canada. There, the loco took on the identity of Canadian Pacific #7009 (a number series previously reserved for demonstrators.)