EMD F9 Demonstrator

[cd367]

I'm looking for photos of F9 Demonstrator #975, especially of the nose, for the purpose of painting a model.

This unit was also built with Flexicoil trucks. Do any of you know why?

Later, the unit was sold to the Norther Pacific and renumbered 7050A. Do any of you know if it kept the Flexicoil trucks or if they were replaced with Blombergs?

[DutchRailnut]

not showing a 7050a in online roster for Northern Pacific ?

[SSW9389]

The Northern Pacific Historical Association website has an equipment diagram of the 7050A showing Blomberg trucks. There are two photos of BN #9828 (ex-NP7050A) with Blombergs.

Ed in Kentucky

[cd367]

This seems to be the most information I've found on it's subsequent renumberings with NP and BN.

http://archive.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/F9A/INDEX.HTM

[NorthWest]

This unit was also built with Flexicoil trucks. Do any of you know why?

Demonstrators are often not just sales promotion locomotives but testbeds for locomotive options. Like the curved cab corners of the GP59 demonstrators, I presume that the unit was demonstrating Flexicoil trucks as an option. Evidently Blombergs were superior and all railroads bought F9s with them. Even the first two FL9s originally had a front Blomberg, but traded them when it became apparent front third rail shoes were needed.