GMD GMDH-1
Encyclopedia
The GMD GMDH-1 was an experimental diesel-hydraulic switching
locomotive
built by General Motors Diesel
of Canada. Four examples were built. It was a double-ended, center-cab design. The first two locomotives were each fitted with a pair of 6-cylinder Detroit Diesel
series 110
engines giving 600 hp, while the second pair had two series 71 engines developing 800 hp.
The first constructed, in December 1956, was serial #A1597, numbered GMDD 1001.
It became the GMD London, Ontario
plant switcher in April 1958, and was retired in November 1975. The locomotive was given to the Canadian Railway Historical Association in July 1977, and passed into the collection of the Canada Science and Technology Museum
in November 1986 after being restored by Al Howlett of London, Ontario.
The second locomotive, serial #A1713, was completed in September 1958, and was first numbered GMDD 600 as a demonstrator. It was later sold to Brazil
, where it was RFFSA
600 and later Rio Grande do Sul 6031.
The unit is reported as having been subsequently scrapped.
The third and fourth locomotives, #A1811 and #A1812, were constructed in September and October 1959 respectively; they were initially given GMDD 800 and 801. Both were sold to industry. #A1811 passed through a succession of owners.
It was first sold to Electric Reduction Company (ERCO) in May 1961 as their #89; ERC sold it to S.G. Paikin through Malcolm Black Equipment Ltd, equipment dealers, in October 1972, who in turn sold it to Limestone Products in October 1973 as their #3-6902. It was sold once more to Malcolm Black Equipment Ltd in September 1979, who resold it in February 1980 to [Raritan River Steel] of (Perth Amboy, New Jersey) as their #3. It didn't last there, returning to Canada again through Malcolm Black Equipment Ltd and being rebuilt by Peacock Bros. of Edmonton
before passing in January 1981 to Hudson Bay Oil & Gas in Kaybob, Alberta as their #3.
Hudson Oil & Gas became Dome Petroleum and then Amoco
Canada Petroleum, for whom the locomotive remains operable.
#A1812 , meanwhile, was purchased by contracting firm Guy F. Atkinson as their #28151.
It was re-gauged to 5 ft 6 in (1676 mm) gauge and shipped to Pakistan
for the building of the Mangala Dam, where it still resides.
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
built by General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
of Canada. Four examples were built. It was a double-ended, center-cab design. The first two locomotives were each fitted with a pair of 6-cylinder Detroit Diesel
Detroit Diesel
As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
series 110
Detroit Diesel 110
The Detroit Diesel Series 110, with 110 cubic inches displacement per cylinder, was introduced in 1945 as more-powerful alternative to the existing Series 71 engines. It was used in a variety of applications, including construction equipment and power generation. The most popular use was in the...
engines giving 600 hp, while the second pair had two series 71 engines developing 800 hp.
The first constructed, in December 1956, was serial #A1597, numbered GMDD 1001.
It became the GMD London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
plant switcher in April 1958, and was retired in November 1975. The locomotive was given to the Canadian Railway Historical Association in July 1977, and passed into the collection of the Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on St. Laurent Boulevard, to the south of the Queensway .-Mission:...
in November 1986 after being restored by Al Howlett of London, Ontario.
The second locomotive, serial #A1713, was completed in September 1958, and was first numbered GMDD 600 as a demonstrator. It was later sold to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where it was RFFSA
RFFSA
The Rede Ferroviária Federal, Sociedade Anônima was the state-owned national railway company of Brazil. It was created in 1957, and dissolved between 1999–2007.-Constituent Railways:...
600 and later Rio Grande do Sul 6031.
The unit is reported as having been subsequently scrapped.
The third and fourth locomotives, #A1811 and #A1812, were constructed in September and October 1959 respectively; they were initially given GMDD 800 and 801. Both were sold to industry. #A1811 passed through a succession of owners.
It was first sold to Electric Reduction Company (ERCO) in May 1961 as their #89; ERC sold it to S.G. Paikin through Malcolm Black Equipment Ltd, equipment dealers, in October 1972, who in turn sold it to Limestone Products in October 1973 as their #3-6902. It was sold once more to Malcolm Black Equipment Ltd in September 1979, who resold it in February 1980 to [Raritan River Steel] of (Perth Amboy, New Jersey) as their #3. It didn't last there, returning to Canada again through Malcolm Black Equipment Ltd and being rebuilt by Peacock Bros. of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
before passing in January 1981 to Hudson Bay Oil & Gas in Kaybob, Alberta as their #3.
Hudson Oil & Gas became Dome Petroleum and then Amoco
Amoco
Amoco Corporation, originally Standard Oil Company , was a global chemical and oil company, founded in 1889 around a refinery located in Whiting, Indiana, United States....
Canada Petroleum, for whom the locomotive remains operable.
It was re-gauged to 5 ft 6 in (1676 mm) gauge and shipped to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for the building of the Mangala Dam, where it still resides.