Think of the GMD-1 as the Canadian prairie locomotive. With a legacy stretching six decades the EMD GMD-1 (General Motors Diesel of Canada) was a locomotive model that was used exclusively in Canada by the Canadian National and the Northern Alberta Railways. Build at the General Motors Diesel plant in London, Ontario, the 1,200-horsepower diesel […]
Starting its nearly half century of service, EMD GP15-1 locomotives are still going strong on regional short lines around the country as proof that old EMDs can still pull todays manifest traffic. Built by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division between 1976 and 1982, the four-axle GP15-1 was a way for railroads to purchase new power instead […]
Electro-Motive Division tunnel motor diesels Electro-Motive Division tunnel motor diesels solved a tricky problem. Locomotives operate in all climates, from scorching desert heat to frigid Canadian winters. An ample supply of fresh air is always required for cooling and combustion purposes but when trains operate through long tunnels or snowsheds at slow speeds, the ability […]
Similar to the EMD RS1325, the Alco S5 locomotive is one of those locomotive designs that seemed like a good idea at the time, was engineered well, ran well, but almost no one wanted to purchase. The manufacturer needed to update its aging lineup of 660-hp S3 and 1,000-hp S4 end cab switchers […]
The best-selling first-generation Electro-Motive diesel locomotives came from the switcher, cab unit, and road switcher product lines. The company that would dominate locomotive construction from the 1940s through the 1970s had humble beginnings, contracting the construction of motor cars at other companies’ plants in the 1920s. The Electro-Motive Corp. was purchased by General Motors in […]
The biggest steam switcher stood head and shoulders above the rest. In the steam era, switch engines came in basically three sizes: 0-4-0, 0-6-0, and 0-8-0. They ranged from diminutive shop switchers — typically 0-4-0s, pretty much a pre-1900 machine — to huge switchers such as Indiana Harbor Belt’s three U-4a class 0-8-0s […]
Missouri-Kansas-Texas locomotives were modernized under the watch of President Matthew Sloan in the 1930s. They were mostly built before World War I, with higher boiler pressures and superheaters. As a light-rail granger road set in mostly prairie country, Katy needed only modernized engines. Premier mainline power was 154 Mikados and 62 Pacifies, with yard work […]
How to change a locomotive brake shoe: Probably the most important mechanical devices in railroading are the brakes. Whether they be on locomotives, freight cars or passenger cars, properly maintained brakes are a critical component for safe operations. Just like the brakes on your personal vehicle, the material composition on brake shoes wear out and […]
The East Broad Top is the most comprehensive and up-to-date look at the rebirth of a legend. Get the behind the scenes information on this last major narrow gauge railroad in Eastern United States. Retrace the history, visit its shop complex at Orbisonia, Pa., and learn about the efforts it takes to bring a railroad […]
US diesel locomotives in South Korea US diesel locomotives in South Korea: The train has been a symbol of power, progress, and practicality since it was invented just over two centuries ago. It has played a positive role in many societies by helping in constructing and reconstructing communities, aiding troops in times of armed conflict, […]
Steam locomotives generate electricity As soon as trains began running at night railroads realized a light was needed for crews to see the tracks ahead and for people at grade crossings to be warned of the oncoming train. The first attempt at a headlight appeared in 1832 and involved a large wood bonfire burning in […]
ET23DCM locomotives explained ET23DCM locomotives explained: EMD’s SD40-2 turned 50 this year. While its days of front-line power on the mainline have long passed, the sheer quantity of locomotives built means a significant SD40-2 presence remains across the railroad industry. After a half century, the SD40-2 model has been rebuilt, upgraded, downgraded, and chopped up […]
