EMC Shovel Nose A Unit and A-B Set (1936)

These are N scale 3D printable files for the Electro-Motive Corporation “Shovel Nose” passenger diesels built for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 1936. They’re offered as a single A unit or a twin-unit A-B set. Designed to fit on a Tomytech TM-10. Decals are included with markings for all six units ever built.

In December 1935, the Burlington ordered six of these locomotives, four cab units and two boosters, to power its next generation of Zephyrs. The Budd Company built the bodies in shot-welded stainless steel to match the trains they would pull. EMC installed the prime movers and electrical equipment at its new La Grange, Illinois plant. The two boosters were the first diesel locomotives in the United States built without an operating cab, an idea that became standard practice on American railroads.

This listing covers every unit in the order:

• 9904 Pegasus and 9905 Zephyrus: single 1,800 hp cab units built to power the second pair of Twin Zephyrs between Chicago and the Twin Cities, which entered service on December 18, 1936.
• 9906A Silver King / 9906B Silver Queen and 9907A Silver Knight / 9907B Silver Princess: each set pairs a 1,800 hp cab unit with a 1,200 hp booster. They were built to pull the Denver Zephyr, which made a nonstop Chicago-to-Denver speed run on October 23, 1936, to challenge the Pioneer Zephyr’s 1934 record.

The shovel noses were bumped from their flagship trains as newer E units arrived, and all six were scrapped by 1957. None survive.

The included decal sheet has BURLINGTON letterboard lettering, Burlington Route nose heralds, and unit names for all six locomotives. Any configuration can be finished as any unit in the order.

The Silver King and Silver Knight sets are also included in the 1936 and 1942 Denver Zephyr full consists, also available from Out of the Box Models.

After purchase, your digital files will be available for immediate direct download from your order confirmation. These files are for Personal Use Only. If you are interested in a commercial license, please contact us.

Please allow a few weeks for 3D printing and shipping. Decals ship separately, so please allow some additional time for decal printing and shipping after ordering.