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The EMD E8 was a 2,250 hp, A1A-A1A passenger train locomotive manufactured by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of La Grange, Illinois. The cab version, or E8A, was manufactured from August, 1949 to December, 1953, and 421 were produced – 418 for the U.S., and 3 for Canada. The booster version, or E8B, was manufactured from December, 1949 to May, 1953, and 39 were produced – all for the U.S. The 2,250 hp was achieved by putting two 1,125 hp, 12 cylinder, model 567B engines in the engine compartment. Each engine drove its own generator to power the traction motors. The E8 was the ninth model in a long line of passenger diesels of similar design known as EMD E-units.
Compared with many earlier passenger locomotives made by EMD, the noses of the E8 cab units had the appearance of a bulldog's snout when viewed from the side. Therefore, the E7, E8, and E9 units have been nicknamed "bulldog nose" units. Some units made before these models were called "shovel nose" units or "slant nose" units because of their appearance.
It is estimated that 58 E8s have survived into preservation.[1] A notable example is the former NYC 4085, preserved at the New York Central Railroad Museum, which has the distinction of having being the lead locomotive on the final eastbound 20th Century Limited.[2] Another surviving E8 is operated by the Midland Railway, in Baldwin City, Kansas. Privately owned, this unit is ex-Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad E8A #652.It is used for special events. There is also NYC 4096.It is just restored from scrap in the past and is on display.
This locomotive also appeared in Chris Sawyer's Locomotion, introduced in 1956 and obsolete by 1980.
[edit] Partial list of new locomotive deliveries
CNW 505, a former
Union Pacific E8B rebuilt with a "Crandall Cab" by the CNW shops.
Inside Cab view. The Engineer / Operator position of an E8 Locomotive
- Canadian Pacific Railway - E8A 1800-1802 in December 1949. 1801 was wrecked in 1967.
- Southern Pacific Railroad - E8A 6018 Late 1949.
- Central of Georgia - E8A 811-812 in August 1950
- Chicago and North Western Railway - E8A 5021A,B-5030A,B, 5031A
- Burlington Route - E8A 9937B, 9938A-9949A, 9938B-9948B, 9964-9977
- Rock Island Railroad - E8A 643-656
- Seaboard Air Line Railroad - E8A 3049-3054 in October 1950, 3055 in November 1952, 3056-3059 in December 1952 - renumbered Seaboard Coast Line 588-598; 3058/597 wrecked at St. Petersburg, Florida, December 1971
- Southern Railway - E8A 2923-2929 (later 6900-6905, 6916) in September-October 1951, 6906-6915 in November-December 1953 (owned by subsidiary NO&NE); 6906, 6910 wrecked at Shipman, Virginia, December 3, 1978
- St. Louis - San Francisco Railway - E8A 2006-2022 in 1950
[edit] References
- Marre, Louis A. (1982). Rock Island Diesel Locomotives - 1930-1980. Railfax, Inc. ISBN 0-942192-00-1.
- Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI, EMD-124. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
- Reich, Sy (1973). Diesel Locomotive Rosters – The Railroad Magazine Series. Wayner Publications. No Library of Congress or ISBN.
[edit] Specific
[edit] External links
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