Nostalgia & History > EMD F3 Demonstrators

Here are a couple photos that drive historians mad. The available data (both Andre Krsitopans and Bob Lehmuth) shows that EMD had two F3 demonstrator sets, numbered as 291 and 754.

Yet, here are two photos from a gentleman whose father worked for EMC/EMD, and took the photos while riding on the units. One photo shows the locomotive set numbered as 102. The other shows the set numbered as 290. Maybe the numbers are train numbers, but I don't think the numbers were that easily changed.

The third photo shows an EMD F3 demonstrator set on UP. Note the big stack on the steam locomotive. A fourth photo (see below) shows a UP Big Boy at Green River.

The photos came to me back in May 2013, asking me where they might have been taken. I was never able to help, mostly because I've never seen a timeline of the demonstration tour of either set of F3s.

Don Strack

---

---

---

Here is a photo of UP 4008 at Green River. It came from the same source as the EMD F3 demonstrator photos above.

Don Strack

---

Found this tidbit here:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20576

Re: EMD F3 demonstrator units

Post by Eric.B » Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:08 pm

"The 291 was in fact, in a head on collision with a Chicago Great Western 2-10-2. The EMD sales Rep. On board at the time, was my grandfather. I have a few B & W photos of the wreck. Knowing Grandpa, I'm sure that the story has been somewhat glamorized, but Grandpa saw the oncoming loco, and instructed the engine crew to get behind the F-3's main generator, figuring that to be the safest place. I understand that no one was seriously injured. This is quite surprising , after looking at the photos. I have the 291's Bell, slightly bent up."

Bob

ATSF100WEST......Out

I realized that I had another photo of EMD F3 demonstrator no. 291. This is from the EMD 1992 calendar.

Don Strack

---

Nice shot but obviously before EMD decided on some brighter colors for their demo units.

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

donstrack Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I realized that I had another photo of EMD F3
> demonstrator no. 291. This is from the EMD 1992
> calendar.
>
> Don Strack


Don, I have that same builder photo from EMD. EMD's A-B-B-A F3 demo set #291 was built on Order # E673 as follows:

Model Road # Build date Order # Builder #

F3A EMD #291A1 Jul-45 E673-A01 3370
F3A EMD #291A2 Jul-45 E673-A02 3371
F3B EMD #291B1 Jul-45 E673-B01 3372
F3B EMD #291B2 Jul-45 E673-B02 3373

The other F3 demo set #754 was released to tour in an A-B-A configuration:

F3A EMD #754A1 Sep-46 E754-A01 4065
F3A EMD #754A2 Sep-46 E754-A02 4066

The F3B unit was EMD #291B2 renumbered as EMD #754B1.

Attached below is the EMD builder photo for the #754 demo set.

Rob

---

Ah yes, the "Chicken-wire F's". I am certainly happy that they corrected the
design faux pas with the F-7 Stainless steel grills covering the upper side
panel radiator air intakes. Thanks for sharing the great photos.

Bless the gentleman who coughed up the few extra pennies to load his camera with color film on those occasions.