GMD GMDH-3
Encyclopedia
The GMD GMDH-3 was an experimental diesel-hydraulic switching
locomotive
built in January 1960 by General Motors Diesel
of Canada. Only one example was built, with GMD serial number A1813.
The locomotive was essentially the GMDH-1
design but with only a single hood, a single engine and an end cab, mounted on a six-wheel chassis.
The locomotive served as a demonstrator for GMD, bearing number #275, between 1960 and 1962, including a period in Egypt, but no sales resulted. The locomotive was sold in 1963 to McKinnon Industries of St. Catharines, Ontario
as their plant switcher, #2128. After nearly 30 years of service, it was sold in 1992 to the South Simcoe Railway
, a heritage museum railway, in Tottenham, Ontario
, but in 1995 it was declared surplus to requirements by the railway's directors. After a fund-raising effort, the Southern Michigan Railroad Society
purchased the locomotive in 1996, where it remains in operable condition .
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
locomotive
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 in January 1960 by General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
of Canada. Only one example was built, with GMD serial number A1813.
The locomotive was essentially the GMDH-1
GMD GMDH-1
The GMD GMDH-1 was an experimental diesel-hydraulic switching locomotive built by General Motors Diesel of Canada. Four examples were built. It was a double-ended, center-cab design...
design but with only a single hood, a single engine and an end cab, mounted on a six-wheel chassis.
The locomotive served as a demonstrator for GMD, bearing number #275, between 1960 and 1962, including a period in Egypt, but no sales resulted. The locomotive was sold in 1963 to McKinnon Industries of St. Catharines, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
as their plant switcher, #2128. After nearly 30 years of service, it was sold in 1992 to the South Simcoe Railway
South Simcoe Railway
The South Simcoe Railway is a steam heritage railway in Tottenham, Ontario, north of Toronto. Operating excursions since 1993, it is the oldest operating steam heritage railway in Ontario and features the oldest operating steam locomotive in Canada....
, a heritage museum railway, in Tottenham, Ontario
Tottenham, Ontario
Tottenham is a community in the town of New Tecumseth, in south-central Ontario, Canada. It takes its name from its first postmaster, Alexander Totten. The Tottenham Conservation Area is a recreational facility in the village, which is also famous for its Bluegrass Festival...
, but in 1995 it was declared surplus to requirements by the railway's directors. After a fund-raising effort, the Southern Michigan Railroad Society
Southern Michigan Railroad Society
The Southern Michigan Railroad Society is a railway museum in Clinton, Michigan, United States. It has preserved of track and a variety of railroad equipment including the only GMDH-3 locomotive ever built. Trains are operated on a seasonal schedule....
purchased the locomotive in 1996, where it remains in operable condition .