GMD GMD1

The GMD GMD1 is a diesel locomotive originally produced by General Motors Diesel (GMD), the Canadian subsidiary of General Motors Electro-Motive Division, between August 1958 and April 1960. This road switcher locomotive is powered by a 12-cylinder EMD 567C diesel engine, capable of producing 1,200 horsepower (890 kW). The GMD1 was built on either Flexicoil A1A-A1A (for light-rail prairie branchlines) or Flexicoil B-B trucks. One hundred and one were built, Canadian National (CN) purchased 96 and Northern Alberta Railways (NAR) the remaining five, which later became part of CN's fleet when they acquired majority interest in NAR.[1]

General Motors Diesel GMD1
Canadian National 1002 in Port Mann in September 1987
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Motors Diesel Build date August 1958 – April 1960 Total produced 101
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR A1A-A1A (83); B-B (18)  • UIC (A1A)(A1A); Bo′Bo′ Prime mover EMD 567C Aspiration Roots type supercharger Cylinders V12
Performance figures Power output 1,200 hp (890 kW)

As the light branches were abandoned or rehabilitated, the bulk were upgraded with new fuel tanks and Flexicoil B-B trucks and assigned to yard and transfer service. In 1988/89, 39 GMD1s were remanufactured by CN as GMD 1Us, 12 emerged with B-B trucks and continued to run long-hood-forward, while the others retained their AIA trucks and were converted to shorthood-forward operation.[2] As at late 2018, 11 remained in service with CN.[3]

Original owners

Road	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Canadian National	78	1000–1077	A1A-A1A trucks
Canadian National	18	1900–1917	B-B trucks; fitted with steam generators
Northern Alberta Railways	5	300–305	A1A-A1A trucks (to CN 1078–1082)

Second-hand users

Cando Rail Services 1010 operating at the North Transcona Yard in Winnipeg

A number of GMD1 units were sold off in the 1990s and 2000s to rebuilders, leasers, regional and shortline railways. Twenty were acquired by Ferrocarriles de Cuba.[3] Oregon Pacific Railroad acquired CN No. 1045, and is now numbered OPR No. 1413.[4] Cando Rail Services acquired CN 1401, 1434 and 1435 in late 2018. CN 1401 is now CCGX 1009, CN 1435 is CCGX 1010.

References

1. Distinctive GMs get second lives Trains December 2010 page 18
2. GMD1's reign on the plains comes to an end Trains August 1999 pages 32/33
3. The GMD-1 Trains February 2019 pages 20/21
4. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=144101

http://rapidotrains.com/gmd-1-master-class/

External links

Media related to GMD GMD1 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons

See also

• List of GMD Locomotives