The EMD GP18 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors, Electro-Motive Division between December 1959 and November 1963.[1] Power was provided by an 16-567D1 16-cylinder engine which generated 1,800 horsepower (1.34 MW).[1] The GP18 replaced the GP9 in EMD's catalog.350 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads, 40 units were built for Mexican railroads, 12 were built for export to a Brazilian railroad, 2 were exported to Peru, and 1 was exported to Saudi Arabia.

EMD GP18
An EMD GP18 owned and operated by FEPASA (formerly Araraquara Railway).
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Motors, Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
ModelGP18
Build dateDecember 1959 – November 1963
Total producedU.S.- 350 units, Mexico- 40 units, export- 15 units. 405 units total.
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARB-B
GaugeMost units: 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Brazilian units: 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Fuel capacity1,700 US gallons (6,400 L; 1,400 imp gal)
Prime moverEMD 16-567D1
Engine typeV16 diesel engine
AspirationRoots blower
Cylinders16
Performance figures
Power output1,800 hp (1.34 MW)[a]
Career
LocaleUnited States, Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Saudi Arabia

Design and Production

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The GP18 in many ways resembled its predecessors, the GP7 and GP9. It was designed nearly identically to the two previous models, but differed in having a metal grid over its radiator shutters, while the GP7 and GP9 instead incorporated a design described as looking like "chicken wire".[2] Additionally, the GP18 had 50 more horsepower than the GP9, for a total of 1,800 horsepower.

GP18s could be customized by their buyers: railroads ordered GP18s with either high or low short hoods, with or without dynamic brakes, and in the case of Grand Trunk Western, with the optional addition of steam generators.[2]

Original buyers

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East Penn Railroad EMD GP18 locomotive in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad1300
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad16599GP18M 1,750 horsepower (1,300 kW)
Boston and Maine Railroad61750–1755Mistakenly delivered as 1770–1775, but quickly renumbered to 1750-1755
Central of Georgia Railway8171–178To Southern Railway 171–178
Chicago and North Western Railway61774–1779
Grand Trunk Western Railroad114700–4707, 4950–49524950-4952 equipped with steam generators
Illinois Central Railroad299400–9428
Lehigh Valley Railroad4302–305To Conrail 7496–7499
Louisville and Nashville Railroad5460–464Renumbered 900–904, Then Seaboard System 1066–1070.
Missouri Pacific Railroad146400–499, 534–550, 4801-4829400–499 built with AAR Type B trucks
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway31800, 1802, 1804Sold in 2010 to East Penn Railroad
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (“Nickel Plate Road”)10700–709To Norfolk and Western Railway 2700–2709
Norfolk and Western Railway48915–962
Norfolk Southern Railway171–17To Southern Railway 180–196
Northern Pacific Railway9376–384To Burlington Northern Railroad 1990–1998
Phelps Dodge Corporation (New Cornelia Mine)344–46
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad241238–1239, 1256, 1333–13531238–1239, 1256 are 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) GP18M.
Seaboard Air Line Railroad10400–409To Seaboard Coast Line Railroad 1056–1065
Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway1801Renumbered 50 soon after delivery; to Southern Railway 179
Texas and Pacific Railway51145–1149To Missouri Pacific Railroad 500–504
Texas Mexican Railway2854–855
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway1600To Vermont Railway 801
National Railways of Mexico377500–75367520-7529 equipped with steam generators
Ministry of Communication and Transportation (Mexico)37123 - 5 to 7To Sonora-Baja California 2304–2306
Araraquara Railway (Brazil)121006–10171,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) gauge
Saudi Government Railways11200GP18M 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW)
Southern Peru Copper Corp.224-25
Total405

References

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  1. ^ Except for one GP18M rated at 1,750 hp (1.30 MW), and 4 rated at 1,500 hp (1.12 MW). See the Original buyers section for more information.
  1. ^ a b Schafer, Mike (1998). Vintage diesel locomotives. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International. p. 37. ISBN 0-7603-0507-2. OCLC 38738930.
  2. ^ a b Marre, Louis A. (1995). Diesel locomotives : the first 50 years : a guide to diesels built before 1972. Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Pub. Co. pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-89024-258-5. OCLC 34531120.