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EMD GA8
NdeM No. 5406 in 1966
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder GM-EMD La Grange, Illinois, USA Model GA8 Build date December 1958 - February 1968 Total produced 94
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B Gauge 1,000 mm (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) Trucks AAR standard Driver dia. 32 in (813 mm) Wheelbase 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (Each truck) Length 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m) Width 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) Height 12 ft 10+1⁄2 in (3.92 m) High clearance cab or 12 ft 0 in (3.66 m) Low clearance cab Axle load 13 t (12.8 long tons; 14.3 short tons) Loco weight 104,000 lb (47,170 kg) (52T) Prime mover GM 8-567C, GM 8-567E (post 1965) Engine type V8 2-stroke diesel Aspiration Roots blower Alternator GM D14 DC Traction motors Two D75MC DC Cylinders 8 Transmission 63:14 gear ratio Loco brake Straight air & Disc brake on drive shaft Train brakes Air 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 is 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. At the time of its introduction it was described as an extremely lightweight road locomotive capable of handling passenger or freight trains and switching. 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. 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.

The EMD GL8 is a derivative design introduced in 1960 that is similar to the GA8 but uses 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 and export customer production commenced in 1960. The GA8 demonstrator also attracted considerable attention from several US railroads, although ultimately none would ever purchase the locomotive for domestic use. Several countries purchased the locomotive 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

• EMD GA8 line drawing
• View of frame mounted traction motors
• The GA8 uses standard AAR freight car trucks
• Taiwan Railway Administration S318
• FCAB (Antofagasta y Bolivia) 952
• FENADESAL 864

References

1. ^ "American Export Unit", Diesel Railway Traction, p. 470, 1959
2. ^ Sawyer, R. Tom, "Locomotive Progress", "Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine", p. 24, 1959
3. "EMD Export Page".
4. http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/ga8.htm GA8 Order Summary

External links

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

v t e Taiwan Railway locomotives and rolling stock
Diesel locomotives	Diesel–electric R0 R20 R100 R150 R180 S200 S300 S400 Diesel–hydraulic DHL100 LDH100 LDH200
Electric locomotives	E100 E200•E300•E400 E1000
Electric multiple units	EMU100 EMU200/EMU1200 EMU300 EMU400 EMU500 EMU600 EMU700 EMU800 EMU900 TEMU1000 TEMU2000 EMU3000
Steam locomotives	Post-1945 BK1 BK10 BT40 CK2 CK4 CK50 CK80 CK100 CK110 CK120 CT150 CT230 CT240 CT250 CT270 DK500 DT560 DT580 DT650 EK900 LCK10 LCK20 LCK30 LCK40 LDK50 LDT100 Pre-1945 Class 1 Class 3 No. 9 Class 10 Class 40 Class 45 Class 100 Class 110 Class 120 Alishan Forest Ry Alishan Forest Railway steam locomotives
Railcars	Diesel DR1000•DR1010 DR1000•DSC1000 DR2000•DR2050 DR2100•DR2200 DR2300•DR2400 DR2500 DR2510 DR2600•DR2650 DR2700•DR2750 DR2800•DR2850 DR2900•DR2950 DR3000•DR3070 DR3100•DR3150 Gasoline GA1000•GA1010 GA2100•GA2200 GA2300•GA2400 Steam ST10

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