Does anyone know the approximate dates the EMD GP20 demo units ran on the Frisco? What division did they run on? I have the Proto 2000 GP20 demo unit EMD 5628 and want to run it with a clear conscience. Ken
Ken, I have some slides of them in Springfield that I recall having the date noted. Will try to find this week and advise. Jeff
Ken, it looks like the three demo GP20s were built in August, 1960 and by mid-'61 they were sold to the SP. I have not yet found documentation identifying the territory that they ran on the Frisco, but I would be willing to bet the Eastern Division would have been most likely.
I had a thought when I read this, it would be interesting to see a layout that was ran with no locomotives the Frisco had (no GP7's, F7's, GP35's, etc). GP18's, GP20's, SD24's and GP30's would make a good set up for an early 60's Frisco. Ethan
Wonder if there is a site that documents the runs of the demo tours from all the builders? The Katy ran the BLW Blue Goose gas turbine on a demo run according to a friend of mine. They also ran a four unit set of F3s with one unit cut out and consequently ordered ABA sets. Did any of these demonstrate on the Frisco too? I witnessed a northbound Frisco freight at Carrollton, Texas, right after Christmas 1961, behind a three unit GE U25B set of demo units. Clean Machines! I did miss the four unit yellow and black F units or FAs though. Just didn´t look like the Frisco. Joe Toth
I found my slides. There are two slides dated January 19, 1961, north side of the shops, Springfield, MO. The GP20 unit numbers are 5627 on the head end followed by 5626, 5625, and 5628 trailing. Jeff Cooney
