5 June 2008
New Life for a GP9
GP22ECO number 7102 testing on Canadian Pacific shown in
Alyth Yard, Calgary, Alberta - Date/photographer unknown.
Calgary Alberta - In 1954 and 1955, the Canadian Pacific
Railway took delivery of 17 GP9 general-purpose road switchers. Nearly 4,100 of the four-axle workhorses were
produced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and August 1963; of those, 646 were built for
Canadian railroads. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 16-cylinder diesel engine that generated 1,750 hp. Many remain in
service today, providing power for short lines and regionals, or in switching duties for Class I's.
Fifty-four years after it first saw CPR rails, one of the railroad's GP9s has been given new life by
Electro-Motive Diesel (successor company to GM-EMD) and has returned to service on CPR as a 710ECO™
Repower.
GP22ECO No. 7102, rebuilt and repowered with a U.S. EPA Tier 2-compliant, 8-710G3A-T2, 2,150-hp,
single-turbocharged eight-cylinder diesel, "allows railroads to leverage their fleet investment by
updating older yard and road switchers with the latest microprocessor-controlled locomotive engine technology, for lower
emissions, increased fuel economy, greater reliability, easier serviceability, and predictable maintenance costs," according to
EMD Product Manager Kevin Bahnline. "These locomotives minimize fuel consumption while maintaining emissions compliance. Their 25%
fuel savings and 50% lube oil reductions are especially important for railroads facing rapidly escalating costs. And up to 70%
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions makes them eligible for both state and federal funding as clean air projects." Bahnline adds
that their EPA-certified emissions exceed Tier 2 requirements.
Also available with a 12-cylinder, 3,150-hp 12-710G3B-T2 powerplant, EMD's new Repower series
locomotives are equipped with the EM2000 microprocessor control system, "which significantly increases all-weather
adhesion with tractive effort up to 87,500 pounds," electronuc fuel injection, an AR10 traction alternator, and a
fully-integrated Automatic Engine Start Stop (AESS) system. "A 90% parts commonality with existing fleets reduces
spares inventory and makes service simple, with familiar tools and procedures," says Bahnline. "The flexible software
platform allows engines to be tuned for future emission compliance." EMD claims a 15,000MWh (megawatt-hour) overhaul cycle.
No. 7102 is currently undergoing long-term product testing and evaluation in daily revenue
service.
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