Diesel Locomotive On-going Project

®

EMD's FIRST GENERATION PASSENGER LOCOMOTIVES THE E-UNITS

see each model catalog for the order sheet

Although the early streamliners were impressive, the railroads needed more pulling power. Also, the early articulated (and permanently-coupled) trains sets left much to be desired for operational flexibility. The first effort to address these needs were the B&O #50 and the Santa Fe's 1A/1B boxcabs. While not streamlined, they set the stage for the development of seperate diesel locomotives that could be electrically joined in MU fashion. The next stage was the CB&Q's 9906/9907 shovel-nosed units, a cab A unit and a cabless B unit. Finally, in 1937, EMD opened their own facilities in their La Grange, Illinois plant. There the EMD designers developed the high cab, long sloped nose, stretched body and six-wheel trucks that became the hallmarks of the passenger diesel sets.

The B&O EA/EB sets were the beginning of the E-series locomotives. At the same time the E1A/E1B sets were being assembled for the Santa Fe. Later , the E2A/E2B sets were developed for the Union Pacific. These were all types developed for specific railroads. The 1939 E3s were the first off-the-shelf standard diesel locomotives. Though only eighteen were built, they were bought by eight different railroads. The E4s and E-5s were once again specific railroad versions (Seaboard and Burlington), but thereafter the E6 though E9 were sold as "stock" locomotives from the EMD catalog. The E6s were the final development of the "slope-nose" Es. The E7s were built with a more "bulldog"-like nose with just a bit of slope, and the E8s and E9s came with the the standard F-unit nose.

Power developed along the way as well. The early Es begane with two of the well-know 900 h.p. 12-cylinder Winton 201A diesels for a total of 1,800 h.p. for each cab and booster. The E3s came with END's new 567 diesels with 2,000 h.p. for each cab and booster. The E8 saw the 567B engine and 2,250 h.p., topping out with the E9s at 2,400 horsepower. Trucks remained A-1-A, two powered axles and the middle axle unpowered.

The Division Point will begin an on-going E-Unit project with delivery the E7s 2010, and continue with E-8s in 2011. These locomotives should compliment our 1930s-1940s-1950s passenger sets and cars.

• Here are the Electro-Motive Division's E-unit Catalogs:
•   EMD's 2,000 h.p. E7s Catalog
  
•   EMD's 2,250 h.p. E8s Catalog
  
•   EMD's 2,400 h.p. E9s Catalog
  

Last updated 03-07-2010, Copyright ©2010 by Division Point, Inc. & K+C Johnson Ltd