National Museum of Transportation near Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

General Motors #103

— 1939 —

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019

1. #103 Marker

Inscription. Built by the Electro-Motive Division of GM as part of "the diesel that did it", the four unit demonstrator locomotive that proved the efficiency of diesel power compared to steam. Number 103 is a 16 cylinder, 567 series engine rated at 1350 h.p. Donated in 1961 by the Southern Railway. This locomotive was declared a National Engineering Landmark June 26, 1982.

Erected by Museum of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 38° 34.317′ N, 90° 27.658′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in National Museum of Transportation. It can be reached from Barrett Station Road east of Old Dougherty Ferry Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3015 Barrett Station Road, Saint Louis MO 63122, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chesapeake & Ohio #2727 (here, next to this marker); SBIX #1634 (a few steps from this marker); "Black Diamond" (a few steps from this marker); Illinois Terminal Neon Sign (a few steps from this marker); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #5011 (a few steps from this

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker); Delaware, Lackawanna & Western #952 (a few steps from this marker); Boston & Providence "Daniel Nason" (a few steps from this marker); Arkansas & Missouri #102 (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019

2. #103 Marker

Photographed by Garrett Koch, May 30, 2026

3. #103 Marker

Oblique view of the impressive GM Electro-Motive #103 diesel-electric powered locomotive

Photographed by Garrett Koch, May 30, 2026

4. #103 Marker

View of Nat'l. Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark plaque dedicated in 1982

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 290 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on June 3, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on May 31, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri.