EMD GA8

3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)TrucksAAR standardDriver dia.32 in (813 mm)Wheelbase5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (Each truck)Length32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)Width8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)Height12 ft 10+1⁄2 in (3.92 m) High clearance cab or 12 ft 0 in (3.66 m) Low clearance cabAxle load13 t (12.8 long tons; 14.3 short tons)Loco weight104,000 lb (47,170 kg) (52T)Prime moverGM 8-567C, GM 8-567E (post 1965)Engine typeV8 2-stroke dieselAspirationRoots blowerAlternatorGM D14 DCTraction motorsTwo D75MC DCCylinders8Transmission63:14 gear ratioLoco brakeStraight air &
Disc brake on drive shaftTrain brakesAir or Vacuum schedule 26-LA

Performance figures
Maximum speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Power output	800 hp (600 kW)

Career
Locale	North America, Central America, South America, Africa, East Asia
Disposition	Many scrapped, some preserved, others still operating

The EMD GA8 was an export diesel locomotive designed by GM-EMD in the late 1950s as a simplified design for use on overseas railways with light rail and sharp curves.^[1] At the time of its introduction it was described as an extremely lightweight road locomotive capable of handling passenger or freight trains and switching.^[2] The locomotive is notable for its use of freight car trucks that are driven by cardan shafts and two traction motors attached to the underframe. Measuring 32 feet 6 inches, they are equipped with an 8-567C prime mover capable of producing 875 bhp or 800 hp traction.^[1] Late model GA8 locomotives were equipped with an 8-567E prime mover which is a 645 block (introduced in 1965) fitted with 567 power assemblies. Due to the design, most servicing and maintenance could be done without removing the traction motors from the underframe or trucks of the locomotive. The units were built without multiple unit connection capability so electrical components are kept to a minimum.^[1]

The EMD GL8 was a derivative design introduced in 1960 that is similar to the GA8 but used standard B-B or A1A-A1A trucks and was equipped with multiple unit capability. The EMD GA8 prototype demonstrator unit was built in late 1958 or early 1959 ^[3] and export customer production commenced in 1960. The GA8 demonstrator also attracted considerable attention from several US railroads,^[2] although ultimately none would ever purchase the locomotive for domestic use. Several countries purchased the locomotive^[4] and examples are still in operation today.

Original Owners

Argentina

• 15 Sarmiento Railway 5551-5565. The 5554 and 5561 locomotive, receive change gauge and transferred to the Urquiza line.

Chile

• 3 Antofagasta y Bolivia 950-952

Colombia

• 2 National Railways of Colombia 501-502

El Salvador

• 16 International Railways of Central America, El Salvador Division, later Ferrocarriles Nacionales de El Salvador (National Railways of El Salvador) 851-866

Mexico

• 22 Coahuila y Zacatecas 800-802; NdeM 5400-5416; Unidos de Yucatán 204-205

Peru

• 3 Cerro de Pasco 21-23

South Africa

• 4 Anglo-American Corp. 1-2; Union Lime 1-2

South Korea

• 2 Fluor Corp. (No #); Korean Oil 3

Taiwan

• 21 Taiwan Railway Administration S301-S321

United States

• 1 Electro-Motive Division demonstrator

Zambia

• 5 Nchanga Consol Copper 8-12

Gallery

References

External links

• Media related to EMD GA8 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons
• GA8 Photo
• [1] EMD GA8 demonstrator