I’ve been looking at an ICG Geep 11 and it occurs to me that we all know GP7, 9,18, 20, 30, 35, 38, 40, 50 and 60… but what about the numbers in between?
Does anyone have or know of a brief guide to the numbers in between and the modifications please?
TIA [8D]
EMD made a GP28 from March 64-November 65.It had a 561D1 prime mover rated at 1800 hp…Only 26 was produce.
I forgot to mention the GP39 and GP39-2.
Don’t forget the GP49 the precuror to the GP50 and the GP59 the precuror to the GP60 (I think).
Then there’s the myrid of rebuilds usually refered to as GP8s and GP10s. And EMD’s factory rebuild the GP15.
Nick
How quickly we forget all the variations that had the same number but were distinct models. There were GP7B’s and GP9B’s which were also originally referred to as “calfs” like there switcher cousins. There were the GP7M’s which looked just like GP9’s (built after GP7 production had ended) that were built from FT trade-in’s but rated at only 1350hp. Also GP9M’s at 1350hp from FT trade-ins. And a few GP9M’s at 1500hp rebuilt by EMD from wrecked GP7’s. There were a group of engines that were labled “Omaha” GP20’s which for all outward appearences were GP9’s. These were the first EMD 2 stroke engines to receive turbo chargers initially by UP to GP9’s. EMD went on to produce the GP20 and 60 “Omaha” GP20’s. Also the engines that began the AC revolution the GP38AC with 255 being built. It also was available as an SD38AC. No new numbers but many new EMD letters. There is very little logical pattern to the EMD numdering system thou some people claim they have seen one. Other than that they appear to be using higher numbers as they go along.
The Illinois Central Paducah, Kentucky shops rebuilt GPs and changed their numbers to designate them as rebuilds, such as a GP7 becoming a GP8, or a GP9 becoming a GP10.
If you want to count rebuilds I beleive the SF Cleborne CF7’s should count as well. There was one in Argentine yard next to another GP7 and I might have missed it they looked so simular. Yes I got photo’s but as of yet am unable to post them. The CF7’s were SF’s version of EMD’s GP7M/GP9M’s only done by the railroads shops I beleive with the support of EMD. They converted F units to lownose type GP style units.
While they technically do not have a GP designation, the BL20-2s are essentially GPs. They look like short GP60s. Only three were built.
Now that I think about, the San Joaquin Valley has some rather rare locomotives. Modesto & Empire Traction has a fleet of GE 70 ton switchers. San Joaquin Valley Railroad has three GP28s and a BL20-2.
I’m partial to EMD’s SD-24 & SD-26, with good looks and roof mounted air reservoirs. I’m hoping to get Atlas’s version of both in the near future in SF livery.
Then there are the GP16s.These are rebuilt from GP7/9s and few GP18s by SCL.
I’ve never heard of a BL20-2 before. After reading the post about them I looked them up, they do in fact look like GP60’s. I’m assuming that the BL is still a designation for branch line? These units are definately a long way from the BL2, which I have always been a fan of.
Don’t forget the GP40X and I think there was a GP39X
according to wikipedia these are all the gps: each one has a link on that wikipedia page
Don’t forget the one-of-a-kind GP22, which with a few minor adjustments, became the GP30. Only one was every built, and it never left EMD as a GP22.
Seems when EMD’s marketing guys got word of the engineering dept.'s new GP22 model that they had created, they relayed the word that there was no way that they could sell a loco with a lower number than GE’s U25B. So the engineers came up with “30 Improvements” that they made over the GP20’s, and that’s why the GP22 became the GP30.
And as far as unique Geeps go, the NH had GP9’s with extra water tanks mounted behind the cab.
And then there’s the converted RS-3’s into “DeWitt Geeps”.
And possibly the oldest RR Geep reference is the NH’s EF-1 electric freight motors, built before WWI. They were nicknamed “Geeps” long before the GP7.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Thanks all! [8D]
That Wikepedia site is incredible… links to other builders as well.
Any more contenders?
EMD built the MRS1 for the Army back in the early 1950’s.I wonder if any were sold as surplus to shortlines or industries? Joe
TRAINS Magazine just found another GeeP variation.
BNSF GP50s are being transformed into GP25s.
I’ve been told that the BL20-2 was one of EMD’s last attempts to market a four axle road switcher and that there were no takers as several railroads were dumping their excess Geeps on the market for little more than an expensive automobile at that time.
ICG Paducah went up to GP11. More modern features. They also built SD20s from SD24s and SD24Bs, and 1 from a SD35.
ATSF also rebuilt GP7s, after the CF7 program ended. WSOR 701 & 702 are from the program. The blue card in the cab shows 1979 built date.