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The EMC E3 Passenger Diesel Locomotive

(Please note that the latter two models featured here are not E3s.)

The EMC E3 was the third generation diesel locomotive the builder produced intended to be used in passenger train service. It was also one of the last models the Electro-Motive Corporation manufactured before becoming an official division of General Motors. The E3 was different from the earlier three models and three distinct ways: first, it used a new prime mover developed by General Motors and not the Winton Engine Company; second, it could produce greater horsepower; and third, it was the first model to be cataloged to the general industry (the EA, E1, and E2 were basically "experimental" designs tested by the B&O, AT&SF, and UP). Today, one example of the model survives, E3A #501 originally built for the Atlantic Coast Line. It is cosmetically restored and on display at the North Carolina Transportation Museum, in Spencer, North Carolina and is privately owned by Glen Monhart (a photo of the locomotive is presented below).

The EMC E3 began production in March, 1939 as the builder's third passenger service diesel locomotive. As mentioned above it was the first model to feature a GM prime mover, in this case the model 567 and featured two such engines. With each 567 able to produce 1,000 horsepower, the E3 could produce 2,000 horsepower altogether. As with the EA, E1, and E2, the E3 featured an A1A-A1A truck setup (three axles per truck whereby the center axle was unpowered) and using GM's original model D7 traction motor the model could produce 31,000 pounds of continuous tractive effort (and 56,500 pounds of starting effort). Not exactly an impressive number for a main line locomotive but then again not necessarily needed for use in passenger service.

Once again, the E3 was very longer (much longer its freight counterpart, the FT) at 71-feet and weighed 157.5 tons (the accompanying B unit weighed in at 145 tons). However, EMC updated the carbody from earlier models. The E3 featured more straightforward streamlining with a long, sloped, "slant nose" (which included a slightly protruded center headlight mount) that became closer to the classic trademark of later models it built under the EMD banner (they featured the "bulldog" nose, which was much more beveled with less tapering). This slant nose design replaced the original "shovel nose" EA model, termed such as its front nose featured a slightly more raked nose without the addition of a protruding, center headlight.

Unfortunately, the EMC E3 was a rather unsuccessful model, partly because at the time railroads had yet to be sold on diesels as a main line locomotive (that would come with the FT, which was being demonstrated the same year, 1939). While just 17 E3s were built, eight Class I railroads did purchase at least one with the Chicago & North Western Railway owning the most (four) with the Santa Fe and Union Pacific also purchasing one cabless, booster (B) unit each. Other lines to purchase the E3 included the UP (an A-B set), ACL (2), Santa Fe (an A-B set), Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (2), Florida East Coast (2), Kansas City Southern (2), Missouri Pacific (2). Additionally, EMC's one demonstrator, #822 was eventually sold to the KCS and renumbered, #1.

For the companies that did purchase the E3 they remained in use for a number of years before finally be bumped from service, most of the time due to then EMD's newer models like the E7, E8, and E9. After the E3 was cataloged EMD still struggled to find sales for the E4 and E5. However, beginning with the E6, which was cataloged just before the start of World War II in 1939, it found much more success (again, much of which was due to the successful demonstration of the FT freight series. As such, designs like the aforementioned E7, E8, and E9 proved very successful for passenger models selling more than 1,000 examples combined. For technical data regarding the EMC E3 please click here. Also, for information about EMD's E series please refer to the chart below.

Please Click Here To Return To The Main Diesel Locomotives Section

Electro-Motive Corporation/Division E Series Passenger Locomotives

Model Type	Units Built	Date Built	Horsepower
EA	6 A Units/6 B Units	1937-1938	1,800
E1 (Built for AT&SF)	8 A Units/3 B Units	1937-1938	1,800
E2 (Built for UP)	2 A-B-B Sets	1937	1,800
E3	17 A Units/2 B Units	1939-1940	2,000
E4	14 A Units/5 B Units	1939	2,000
E5	11 A Units/5 B Units	1940-1941	2,000
E6	91 A Units/26 B Units	1939-1942	2,000
E7	428 A Units/82 B Units	1945-1949	2,000
E8	449 A Units/46 B Units	1949-1954	2,250
E9	100 A Units/44 B Units	1954-1964	2,400

For more information on the EMD E series consider Mike Schafer’s Vintage Diesel Locomotives which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic EMDs, or diesels in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both. You might want to also consider the book EMD Locomotives from author Brian Solomon. Solomon's book highlights the history of EMD from its earliest beginnings in the 1920s, to its phenomenal successes in the mid-20th century, and finally its decline into second spot behind General Electric in the late 20th century and eventual sale by General Motors in 2005. The book features 176 pages of EMD history and is filled with excellent photography and illustrations. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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