FT Demonstrator 103 on passenger trains?

[RGeorge]

Any data that the EMC FT Demonstrator 103 pulled passenger trains?

If so, what Roads and trains? (Not sure they were even steam generator equiped.)

Appreciate the assistance.

[Anonymous]

Not that I've ever read about. And, I do not believe 103 was equipped with steam generators.

Remember, by the time the FT demonstrators were rolled out EMD had already created quite a reputation in the passenger power arena with the EA, E1 and E2 series of units (29 total passenger units). The E3 and E4 series were being introduced at the same time (1939) and would yield an additional 37 passenger sales. As far as EMD was concerned, the passenger arena was well in hand.

Also remember the FT was being marketed to take on big steam in hauling freight. They were on tour for only one purpose; To generate a whole bunch of FT orders to power freight trains.

[nanaimo73]

The demo tour covered 83,764 miles in 35 States from 11-39 to 9-40. An article on the tour in the October 1989 Railfan and Railroad magazine shows the 4 FTs and a dynamometer car pulled a 17 car North Coast Limited over Bozeman Hill from Livingston on the Northern Pacific on March 18, 1940.
This is about how the tour went-
11-39 B&O-Operated between Chicago and Grafton through Pittsburgh and Cumberland.
12-39 D&RGW-Operated between Denver and Bond and perhaps the joint line to Pueblo.
1-40 AT&SF-Operated from Chicago through Armarillo to Barstow, Bakersfield and San Bernardino and back through Amarillo to Chicago.
2-40 GN, SP&S- Operated from Chicago to St. Paul (probably CB&Q) and on to Wenatchee on GN and on SP&S to Pasco. The route went through Willmar one way and St. Cloud the other way. It did not go through Grand Forks.
3-40 GN, NP-NP was used between St. Paul and Seattle. On March 18th it hauled a 17 car North Coast Limited west from Livingston.
4-40 CB&Q- Travelled on the CB&Q between Chicago and St. Paul, Denver and Kansas City.
5-40 CRI&P, WP-The CRI&P was used from Chicago through Omaha to Denver and Davenport to Kansas City. It reached the WP on the D&RGW through Pueblo to Salt Lake City. The WP was used from SLC to Oakland and up to Bieber.
6-40 CMSP&P-Chicago to Seattle.
7-40 MP-I do not know how it got to the MP, but it was either at Kansas City or out in Colorado. On MP it travelled between St. Louis and Pueblo.
8-40 MP, SLSF, SOU-MP was also travelled from St. Louis through East St. Louis and Thebes to Texarkana. SLSF was from St. Louis to Tulsa. SOU was from St. Louis to Danville, Atlanta, Birmingham and to Cincinnati.
9-40 NYC, B&M-NYC Cincinnati to Toledo, Buffalo and Mechanicville. B&M from Mechanicville to Portland and Boston to White River Jct. NYC back to Buffalo and Erie to Chicago.

[daveklepper]

What was used for steam heat on the North Coast LImited?

[RGeorge]

http://www.atsfrr.com/resources/funits/ftp2.htm

(Electro-Motive's FT demonstrator 103 heads up AT&SF eastbound #4 at Nelson, Arizona on March 9, 1940 on one of its first demonstration runs.)

[daveklepper]

The dynometer car must have had a train boiler and supplied steam heat. I cannot figure out any other answer. Can you?

[daveklepper]

The photo does not show a steam locomotive on the Santa Fe No. 4 run, but there is a dynometer car between the locomotive and the train. That car probably had a boiler which would be required for its own heat anyway. And remember that the Santa Fe at that time had already air-conditioned all through trains with steam-ejector air-conditioning.

[rrandb]

[#ditto] [bow] I agree and am still searching for more info on SG's and FT's. Many operating departments had little experience with internal combustion. It is a testament to GM/EMC's marketing department's abilities that they were able to get them to let these engines on point with name varnish. [wow]

[daveklepper]

As discussed on another threat (TRAINS?) there were production FT B-units, but no A's (no room) equipped with train-heating boilers, and most of these boilers were installed by the railroads themsevles, not at La Grange. But there were a few exceptions. However, some of the FT's ordered, a few with train boilers including any for the B&M, were actually delivered as F2's.