Extra Board
Welcome to Extra Board! This section is updated periodically with short features contributed by our readers, as well as some recent favorites straight from the pages of Diesel Era Magazine. Check back as we continue to add new articles!
Alco Century 415: Part 1 – Demonstrator and Minority Owners
Alco’s center-cab C-415 road switcher debuted in April 1966, and became the first of 26 units constructed before production ended in late 1968.
EMD SW1001: Part 1
Electro-Motive Divison’s SW1001 diesel locomotive was introduced in 1968 as an alternative to the SW1000 with a lower profile and a 645 prime mover.
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway 70s in the 1970s
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway’s fleet of streamlined EMD F-units lasted into freight service through the 1970s and 1980s.
Rio Grande SW1000s: D&RGW 140-149
A detailed photo gallery of Denver & Rio Grande Western SW1000s 140-149, built by Electro-Motive Division between 1966 and 1968.
2022 Locomotive Production
The scope of this article’s coverage is North American diesel locomotive production — both new builds and modernization programs.
Rock Island SD40-2s: 4790–4799
In late 1973, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad received 10 SD40-2 diesels from Electro-Motive Division.
Minnesota Commercial Motive Power Survey
Minnesota Commercial is a short line that began its current operations with the lease of Minnesota Transfer Railroad in February 1987.
Norfolk & Western’s High-Hood SD40-2 Units
Norfolk & Western and Southern Railway were the only customers for EMD’s high-hood variant of the SD40-2, but N&W only placed one order for eleven units in 1972.
Rock Island GP40s: Final Order 4700-4719
Despite its financial challenges that began developing in earnest in the mid-1960s, Rock Island was a solid supporter of Electro-Motive Division’s GP40.
Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific ex-Rock Island GP40s
Following its 1980 bankruptcy and liquidation, former Rock Island GP40s found a new home on Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific.
