EMD GP20
Encyclopedia
An EMD GP20 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive
built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between November 1959 and April 1962. Power was provided by an EMD 567D2
16-cylinder
turbocharged engine which generated 2000 horsepower
(1 H.P. = 746 Watts). EMD was initially hesitant to turbocharge their 567-series diesel engine, but was spurred on to do so following successful tests made by Union Pacific in the form of their Omaha GP20 units. 260 examples of this locomotive model were built for American
railroads.
were equipped with high short hoods and set up to run long-hood forward. Western Pacific received ten GP20s with high noses and dual cab controls.
While the EMD SD24
with six axles was producing 2400 Hp with an engine of the same displacement
, the four axle GP20 was limited to 2000 Hp by the capabilities of the traction motors of the time. In appearance the locomotive was similar to a late version GP9
or GP18
but with the two exhaust stacks over the engine replaced by a single stack forward over the exit of the turbocharger
, in common with later turbocharged locomotives. An identification detail of the GP20 is the small radiator fan added ahead of the large aft fan.
(TP&W) and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
(NYSW). The Susquehanna's GP20s numbered 2062, 2064 and 2066 came from the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway and are ex Santa Fe
units. The very first GP20 built, Western Pacific Railroad
2001, is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
at Portola, CA. Watco companies operates a GP20 that has been converted to a GP7 in Eldorado Ar.
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between November 1959 and April 1962. Power was provided by an EMD 567D2
EMD 567
The EMD 567 is a line of diesel engines built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. This engine, which succeeded Winton's 201-A, was used in EMD's locomotives from 1938 until its replacement in 1966 by the EMD 645. It has a bore of , a stroke of and a displacement of 567 in³ per cylinder...
16-cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
turbocharged engine which generated 2000 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
(1 H.P. = 746 Watts). EMD was initially hesitant to turbocharge their 567-series diesel engine, but was spurred on to do so following successful tests made by Union Pacific in the form of their Omaha GP20 units. 260 examples of this locomotive model were built for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroads.
Identification
Units built for the Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (US)
The Great Northern Railway , running from Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington—more than 1,700 miles —was the creation of the 19th century railroad tycoon James J. Hill and was developed from the Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad...
were equipped with high short hoods and set up to run long-hood forward. Western Pacific received ten GP20s with high noses and dual cab controls.
While the EMD SD24
EMD SD24
The EMD SD24 was a 2,400 hp C-C diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between July, 1958 and March, 1963. A total of 224 units were built for customers in the United States, comprising 179 regular, cab-equipped locomotives and 45 cabless B...
with six axles was producing 2400 Hp with an engine of the same displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
, the four axle GP20 was limited to 2000 Hp by the capabilities of the traction motors of the time. In appearance the locomotive was similar to a late version GP9
EMD GP9
An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including...
or GP18
EMD GP18
An EMD GP18 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1959 and November 1963. Power was provided by an EMD 567D1 16-cylinder engine which generated...
but with the two exhaust stacks over the engine replaced by a single stack forward over the exit of the turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
, in common with later turbocharged locomotives. An identification detail of the GP20 is the small radiator fan added ahead of the large aft fan.
Original buyers
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electro Motive Division (demonstrators) | to Southern Pacific 7234–7237 | ||
| Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859... |
|||
| Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,... |
to Burlington Northern Railroad Burlington Northern Railroad The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996.... 2036–2071 |
||
| Great Northern Railway | High short hood; to Burlington Northern Railroad Burlington Northern Railroad The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996.... 2000–2035 |
||
| New York Central Railroad New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States... |
|||
| Southern Pacific Company | |||
| St. Louis Southwestern Railway St. Louis Southwestern Railway The St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern... |
|||
| Union Pacific Railroad Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman.... |
|||
| Western Pacific Railroad Western Pacific Railroad The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California... |
High short hood | ||
| Total | 260 | ||
Current owners
Current owners of GP20s include the Toledo, Peoria and Western RailwayToledo, Peoria and Western Railway
The Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway is a short-line railroad that operates of track from Mapleton, Illinois, through Peoria across Illinois to Logansport, Indiana, and includes a branch line between Logansport to Winamac, Indiana...
(TP&W) and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
(NYSW). The Susquehanna's GP20s numbered 2062, 2064 and 2066 came from the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway and are ex Santa Fe
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
units. The very first GP20 built, Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
2001, is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Western Pacific Railroad Museum
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
at Portola, CA. Watco companies operates a GP20 that has been converted to a GP7 in Eldorado Ar.