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General Motors Diesel GMD1
Canada | 1958
101 produced
Cando Rail Services GMD1 in June 2019 at the North Transcona freight yard in Winnipeg
Cando Rail Services GMD1 in June 2019 at the North Transcona freight yard in Winnipeg
Taylor Woolston

Even though General Motors Diesel of Canada only built EMD locomotives for most of the time, they also designed the GMD1 as their own design. It was a road switcher with the well-known EMD 12-567 prime mover delivering 1,200 hp. There were always four traction motors, but depending on the allowed axle loading on the lines they were supposed to operate on, they could be ordered with a B-B or an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. The four-axle variant also got a steam generator to be used with passenger trains.

Canadian National ordered 18 four-axle variants and 78 six-axle variants. The only other operator was Northern Alberta Railways with five six-axle GMD1, which brought the total number to 101 and later also became part of CN. With many branch lines being closed or upgraded to heavier rails, many six-axle locomotives were rebuilt to four axles to get a higher adhesive weight for use as switchers. Later some came to new owners in Canada, the US and Cuba, but CN also only retired its last one in 2021.

VariantA1A-A1AB-B
General
Built1958-1960
ManufacturerGeneral Motors Diesel
Axle configA1A-A1A B-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length54 ft 9 in
Wheelbase41 ft 6 in39 ft
Rigid wheelbase10 ft8 ft 6 in
Service weight239,000 lbs246,000 lbs
Adhesive weight176,370 lbs246,000 lbs
Axle load44,093 lbs61,500 lbs
Boiler
VariantA1A-A1AB-B
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed65 mph83 mph
Starting effort61,500 lbf44,000 lbf
EngineEMD 12-567C
Engine typeV12 diesel
Engine output1,200 hp (895 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
passenger
freight
last changed: 07/2024
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