EMD 7257

@Lionel2056 posted:

Hi all,

does anyone have any information or know where I can find photos of what EMD 7257, a GP9 demonstrator looked like, before becoming Western Maryland 33?

Thanks,

Alex

Must admit that I never new EMD ever had a GP9 "demonstrator". Where did you get such information?

@Hot Water posted:

Must admit that I never new EMD ever had a GP9 "demonstrator". Where did you get such information?

https://www.thedieselshop.us/EMDdemo2.HTML

If you scroll down to 7257, it claims that it was an Ex-EMD demonstrator, which was then sold to Western Maryland.

http://www.westernmarylandrhs.com/roster.php

I've seen a few sites mention about a demonstrator, but is this false?

Well, that sure is a new one on me! I spent almost 37 years working for EMD (started June 1, 1962), and always thought I was pretty knowledgable about EMC/EMD past history, especially touring the U.S. on the GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35 Demonstrator set. None of of the "old time Service Dept. men" ever talked about a GP9 "demonstrator", and one of the really "old timers" was even on the FT Demonstrator.

I have a book upstairs about "Diesel Demonstrators" which is pretty comprehensive, and even it does NOT mention an "EMD GP9 demonstrator". Just my opinion but, I seriously doubt it, as there should have been SOME record of exactly where and when it demonstrated.

American Flyer had a  'demo' paint scheme on their new GP7 in 1950. If there was a real one, it probably said ELECTRO -MOTIVE instead of American Flyer. Didn't I see a picture in the long out of print 'Our GM scrapbook' from Kalmbach years ago?

@Chuck Sartor posted:

American Flyer had a  'demo' paint scheme on their new GP7 in 1950. If there was a real one, it probably said ELECTRO -MOTIVE instead of American Flyer.

Well, there was indeed a GP7 demonstrator, which eventually went to the C&NW Railroad, and is currently preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.

@Chuck Sartor posted:

American Flyer had a  'demo' paint scheme on their new GP7 in 1950. If there was a real one, it probably said ELECTRO -MOTIVE instead of American Flyer. Didn't I see a picture in the long out of print 'Our GM scrapbook' from Kalmbach years ago?

One can easily Google EMD GP7 Demo 100 for images.  Gilbert's version was greatly simplified, Lionel's recent FLyerChief GP7 demo is more accurate.

Rusty

OK, just finished digging through my saved records from EMD, i.e. the listing of every styling & painting diagram for ALL EMC/EMD demonstrators. Results: no reference to ANY GP9 demonstrator!

I could understand that there wouldn't be. A GP9 was just an incremental upgrade to a GP7 unless you are a louver counter, they look identical. No need for a special 'demonstrator'.

@Chuck Sartor posted:

I could understand that there wouldn't be. A GP9 was just an incremental upgrade to a GP7 unless you are a louver counter, they look identical. No need for a special 'demonstrator'.

Exactly! The next "new model" from EMD was the GP20, and of course there were the Demonstrators, known as the "Blue Angeles" within EMD.