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BEN DEDEK ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR OF THE DIESEL THAT DIDN'T

1: BEN DEDEK ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR OF THE DIESEL THAT DIDN'T

Benjamin J. Dedek (1896-1973)
The Diesel That Didn't (Circa late 1940s.)
The General Motors FT locomotive has been called 'the Diesel that did it' because it convinced most railroaders that Diesel would replace steam. The locomotive in this picture has been called 'the Diesel that didn't' because it sold poorly compared to most other GM products. While GM was building E and F units for main-line service, its competitors began producing less streamlined locomotives, known as road switchers, that had platforms for brakemen to stand on when switching cars in and out of trains. GM's first entry into this market was the BL1, with 'BL' standing for branch line. Only one model of the BL1 was made, followed by 58 of the BL2, which externally was nearly identical to the BL1. The BL1 was originally painted in two-tone blue as a demonstrator for the locomotive's potential. The nine railroads that bought BL2s had them painted in a variety of colors. In 1949, GM replaced the BL2 with the GP7, which had walkways all around the locomotive. It was a huge hit -- the company sold more than 2,700 of them and another 4,250 of its successor the GP9. This drawing was probably made to give railroad officials an image of what a BL2 would look like before applying their own color schemes to it.

This original two-color watercolor on Hi-Art illustration board is signed by the artist lower left front.
Sight size through the mat is 10.5 x 16.75, measures 17.5 x 23 inches overall.
Very good original untouched condition. There are no issues of major scratches, stains, losses, repairs, in-painting or touch-up.
Provenance: The Fred Roniger Estate Collection.
$500 - $5,000

Silver and Golden Age Railroad Art and Ephemera

Saturday, March 11th 2023


SOLD - $250

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