Nostalgia & History > SLSF-Frisco #3100 EMD GP50 in 1980 at EMD

SLSF-FRISCO #3100 EMD GP50

Unit 3100 was the only GP50 delivered in Frisco paint and was to have been numbered 791. All other GP50 units ordered by Frisco were delivered in BN paint.

Photo taken at EMD builder facility at La Grange, IL, USA... 12-1980 (RAIL SCENE Collection...photographer unknown...received in a slide trade)

From the RAIL SCENE collection. I had started taking railroad slides in the late 1960s and traded with slide enthusiasts from around the USA and in South America. This slide was part of that collection. As a railroad employee, I was allowed access to many different railroad locations and enjoyed taking thousands of slides over the years.

Enjoy.

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rrcaboose Wrote:
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> SLSF-FRISCO #3100 EMD GP50
>
> Unit 3100 was the only GP50 delivered in Frisco
> paint and was to have been numbered 791. All other
> GP50 units ordered by Frisco were delivered in BN
> paint.
>
> Photo taken at EMD builder facility at La Grange,
> IL>, USA... 12-1980 (RAIL SCENE
> Collection...photographer unknown...received in a
> slide trade)
>
> From the RAIL SCENE collection. I had started
> taking railroad slides in the late 1960s and
> traded with slide enthusiasts from around the USA
> and in South America. This slide was part of that
> collection. As a railroad employee, I was allowed
> access to many different railroad locations and
> enjoyed taking thousands of slides over the years.
>
>
> Enjoy.

Great photo.

The unit never worked for the Frisco and it is nice that the BN allowed it to be delivered as painted.  The 10 BN/Frisco GP50's were assigned to Springfield, MO as intended when they were ordered.
 

nice great schem i remember the ex slsf gp50s in dilworth lots of slides of those

rrcaboose Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLSF-FRISCO #3100 EMD GP50
>
> Unit 3100 was the only GP50 delivered in Frisco
> paint and was to have been numbered 791. All other
> GP50 units ordered by Frisco were delivered in BN
> paint.
>
> Photo taken at EMD builder facility at La Grange,
> IL, USA... 12-1980 (RAIL SCENE
> Collection...photographer unknown...received in a
> slide trade)

The photographer would have been the EMD Service Dept. Company Photographer.

If they were numbering the units upwards from 791, I wonder if the folks at SLSF had any discussions about what they would have numbered a second order of GP50's should that have been placed? The GE's started at 800 if I remember correctly.

Anyone know how long the 3100 operated before it was repainted? Didn't the SLSF order go into the BN whiteface scheme with the BN ordered GP50's coming in the tiger stripes?

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> Anyone know how long the 3100 operated before it
> was repainted? Didn't the SLSF order go into the
> BN whiteface scheme with the BN ordered GP50's
> coming in the tiger stripes?

I can't totally answer this, but I believe the unit was repainted BN before it entered service.
None of the Frisco ordered GP50's came in the "Whiteface" scheme. That paint job came a couple
of years after the "Tiger Stripe" scheme. I'm not sure if any of the Frisco ordered engines
ever got it, but I don't think they did.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Milwaukee Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Anyone know how long the 3100 operated before
> it
> > was repainted? Didn't the SLSF order go into
> the
> > BN whiteface scheme with the BN ordered GP50's
> > coming in the tiger stripes?
>
> I can't totally answer this, but I believe the
> unit was repainted BN before it entered service.
> None of the Frisco ordered GP50's came in the
> "Whiteface" scheme. That paint job came a couple
>
> of years after the "Tiger Stripe" scheme. I'm not
> sure if any of the Frisco ordered engines
> ever got it, but I don't think they did.
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA

3100 ran for some time in it's Frisco paint.  It ran as late as 1985 in red and white.  Not sure of it's repaint date.  It did have "BN" added below the number shortly after delivery. 

As far as I know, none of the "Frisco" GP50's were ever repainted into the white face scheme.  The "tiger striped" BN ordered GP50's from 1985 were given this scheme in the late 1980's.

It (3100) most definitely operated in service in Frisco colors. I caught it in Memphis several times, including what I believe was its first trip there on Dec 21, 1980 (1st photo). In a move I never understood, a few months later it got its orange 3100 painted over with an interim (like the other Frisco power) style black stenciled BN 3100 (2nd photo). I wish they had left the orange 3100 alone and just added the BN for an interim. 3101-3109 came in standard BN green and black (3rd photo) and were equipped with the then Frisco standard nose mounted Gyralight.


ntharalson Wrote:
>
> I can't totally answer this, but I believe the
> unit was repainted BN before it entered service.
> None of the Frisco ordered GP50's came in the
> "Whiteface" scheme. That paint job came a couple
>
> of years after the "Tiger Stripe" scheme. I'm not
> sure if any of the Frisco ordered engines
> ever got it, but I don't think they did.
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA

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Thanks for the correction on the repaint. Always appreciate adding to my knowledge . . . if I can remember it! LOL

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA