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Bringing the World of Railroading To You |
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All pictures displayed are video captures from actual program footage unless noted. Program 117 From a quiet founding as Electro Motive Engineering in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922, the Electro Motive Division of General Motors quickly grew to become "The home of the diesel locomotive". After being purchased by General Motors, Electro Motive constructed and opened a new 200,000 square foot plant in the township of McCook, Illinois, in 1936. The following year EMD introduced the E unit passenger locomotive for fast passenger trains service. The groundbreaking FT freight locomotive followed in 1939. These two locomotives proved once and for all the viability of the diesel-electric locomotive in the railroad world and spelled the end of the steam locomotive. To mark the 75th Anniversary of its founding, Electro Motive hosted a one day Open House at its LaGrange locomotive building facility, an event that drew an estimated 30,000 people. An array of historic diesels were on display, intermingled with the latest high tech EMD offerings. Videotaped in September of 1997 For our Hot Spot segment we headed for the south Chicago suburb of Homewood, Illinois. Homewood offers a mix of freight trains, electric powered commuter trains, and Amtrak passenger trains. Homewood is located 23 miles from of Chicago and is situated alongside the Illinois Central Railroad's main artery to New Orleans and other points south. Videotaped in November of 1997 |
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To mark the 75th Anniversary of its founding, Electro Motive hosted a one day Open House at its LaGrange locomotive building facility, an event that drew an estimated 30,000 people. An array of historic diesels were on display, intermingled with the latest high tech EMD offerings. |
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On display were Long Island Railroad DE30 #401, EMD SD90MAC demonstrator #8204, and CSX SD70MAC #701. Other historical locomotives present included Atlantic Coast Line E3 #501, Bangor & Aroostook BL2 #52, Chicago & North Western GP7 #1518, Belt Railway of Chicago TR-2 cow - calf #501 - 510, and Burlington E5 #9911A, and its "Nebraska Zephyr" trainset. |
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The SD90MAC was designed to incorporate the three most significant advances in locomotive design: EMD's patented, self-steering trucks, AC traction motors, and a 6000 horsepower diesel engine. Self-steering trucks and AC traction motors were introduced in the early 1990's. The 6000 horsepower diesel is in the final stages of development. |
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The TR-2 actually consisted of two locomotives linked together. One unit has a cab for the engineer, and other without, hence the moniker cow-calf. Inside, each is still powered by an EMD 567, diesel engine. The TR-2's was used to haul heavy transfer trains between the Belt's Clearing Yard and other railroads in the Chicago area. They have since been retired from the BRC's roster. |
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SD70MAC #701 represented CSX's first order EMD locomotives since the early 1980's. |
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A last minute addition to the diesel display lineup was Long Island Railroad DE30 #401. It's a 3000 hp passenger locomotive and was especially developed by EMD for the Long Island railroad. |
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EMD developed the BL2 for branchline service. The BL stands for, BL series, for increased visibility and it started to become very popular in the late 1940's. However it was very difficult to manufacture and was eventually replaced by the GP-7. |
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Homewood, Illinois is located at the southern end of Illinois Central's Markham Yard. Here, two IC SD40-2's, spliced by a leased EMD SD45, have just brought up a string of covered hoppers from the south. |
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