Greetings All,
Welcome to another Locomotive Spotlight!!
Or everything you wanted to know about the GP30 but were afraid to ask!
Todays spotlight will shine on the General Motors Electro Motive Division GP30 that was introduced in 1961 and the models in my 1:87 scale fleet.
This uniquely styled second generation locomotive was both liked and disliked by railfans and railroaders and could inspire spirited debates about looks and performance. One thing is for sure no matter where your opinion resides the GP30s lasted a very long time in revenue service on a very diverse group of railroads.
The EMD GP30
Originally planned to be produced as a GP22 reflecting its HP output and following the GP20 identification the more powerful 2,500 HP General Electric U25B introduced in 1959 made the EMD GP22 sound inferior so in a game of corporate one up man ship the GP22 became the GP30.
The GP30 is a 2,250 HP four axle diesel electric locomotive that was built at the EMD plant in Lagrange, Illinois between 1961 and 1963. The GP30 featured a unique cowl design and was the subject of a proper new model roll out at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan on October 18, 1961. EMD produced 948 GP30s during 1961-1963.
The GP30 weighed 260,000 pounds, was powered with an improved 567D3 V-16 prime mover and rated at 65,465 pounds of tractive effort and 51,700 pounds continuous tractive effort. I add this in because some railroaders have termed the GP30s to be slippery.
The Reading Railroad was the first to order the GP30 purchasing a total of twenty units numbered 5501-5520.
The Southern Railway made the largest purchase of GP30s ordering one hundred twenty locomotives with high hoods(2525-2644).
The ATSF purchased eighty five GP30s (1200-1284) in 1962 and 1963. Renumbered to 2414 this GP30 is now part of the BNSF fleet.
The B&O purchased seventy seven GP30s (6900-6976).
Former B&OCT Chief Dispatcher Thomas A. White wrote in the B&O Historical Society magazine "The Sentinel" that when assigning motive power east from Chicago the desire was to power the eastbound hotshots "The New Yorker" and the "New York Trailer Jet" for Sand Patch grade right out of Chicago so they wouldn't have to stop to add more power during their run east. The GP30s were undesirable because they were slippery. Their successors, the GP35s, were not preferred either due to limited fuel capacity and high fuel consumption*.
Mr. White went on to say if no GP40s were available they would assign the old workhorses like the GP7, GP9s and F7s to these hotshot trains.
The Rio Grande purchased twenty eight GP30s(3001-3028) and used them to get thru the Rockies and not around them.
The Penn Central inherited sixty two GP30s from predecessors Pennsylvania(52) and New York Central(10).
Ex NYC / PC GP30 #2190 is now in service for its third owner.
"Conrail EMD GP30 2190" by Digital Rail Artist is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=openverse.
The Models & More Prototype Info
All but one of the GP30 models in the combined fleets of my sons and I are Bachmann Spectrum products. These are the older black box Spectrum models that are DC equipped with a split chassis.
EMD Demonstrator 1962 joined our combined fleet in 2016. Below it gets its first look from the passengers at Empire City Station. Note the NYC PA in lightning stripes in the background. And checkout the Kings Port Railfan Society guys making a dash from their VW to checkout the newest locomotive out of Lagrange.
The 1962 gets inspected by the trainmen of the NYCTL in Terminal Yard. The Lima-Hamilton-Baldwin Sharks in the background are on borrowed time as this nationally recognized second generation diesel will spur railroads into "standardization" of their locomotive fleets.
The guys give the GP30 a good look. The muscular locomotive cowling showing GMC truck influence will be a one and done for the EMD road switchers. "Looks slippery to me" mutters Big Mike to the gang.
The Pennsylvania Railroad used the GP30 as its first major entrant into the second generation when it ordered fifty two of the muscular hoods wrote Robert J. Yanosey in the book Penn Central Power.
The PRR GP30s were among the first PRR road switchers to come with just heralds and road numbers. The GP30s would arrive on the PRR with train phone antennas installed. Most of these were removed later in the 1960s. The 2204 and 2218 would be based at Morrisville, PA after the merger with the NYC in 1968.
BINO GP30 #6954 lays over in the Terminal Yard engine terminal. The B&O purchased seventy seven GP30s (6900-6976) between 1961 and 1963. B&O GP30s could be found in New York City's borough of Staten Island as the B&O served this area for 100 years.
The New York Central had a modest purchase of ten GP30s in August 1962 using FT A&Bs, an F2A, F3A&Bs, F7A&Bs and wrecked GP20 #6109 as trade in allowances. The GP30s were numbered 6115-6124
Good thing we're not in Chicago!! B&O GP30-GP35 consist is on the head end of a B&O Trailer Jet Train!
Below the 6115 rests between assignments at Kings Port, NY on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division layout.
The 6115 is a newer version of the Bachmann GP30 and has given good service on the KPD. It can often be seen in the Penn Central Car Movements virtual operations.
The below NYC and PC models began my foray into painting locomotives and rolling stock. These are some of the original graduates from the Patti O Paint Shop. The NYC units were painted and lettered in August 2010 and renumbered to correct NYC numbers in 2019.
In 1966 the NYC GP30s were numbered 2188-2197 for the pending merger with the PRR. Below #2188 is ex NYC #6115 and would be the lowest numbered GP30 on the NYC and PC.
NYC GP30 #2194 is ex NYC #6121. The 2194 is a Lionel shell on a Spectrum chassis. I added the grab irons to match the Spectrum units which had them installed at the factory.
NYC GP30 #2197 is ex NYC #6114. The NYC GP30s were not equipped with dynamic brakes however the muscular shoulders looked the same with or without the dynamic brakes. The NYC GP30s would be assigned to Collinwood and its flat terrain.
In a lash up first seen and inspired from a Green Frog video PRR GP30s #2218 and #2204 sandwich Union Pacific GP30 #844 as they head into the engine terminal for service.
PC GP30 #2189 is ex NYC #2189, nee #6116. This is an old Athearn Hi Fi drive unit that I found for a couple of bucks at a flea market in 2018. I stripped the factory paint and painted and lettered it as the 2189. The motor was removed and this is now a free rolling unit.
PC #2228 and #2232 were painted and lettered in 2014.
The New York Central short line subsidiary Empire Belt RR signed up for a pair of GP30s in 1962. I'm imagining the 2160 was originally numbered #6160 and renumbered in 1966 to #2160.
EBRR #2161, ex #6161 is either a TYCO or Lionel shell that timeshares a Bachmann power chassis with NYC #2194. Both the 2160 and 2161 were painted and lettered in July, 2017 and are among the first Empire Belt locomotives to enter service on the layout.
The GP30s in action.
Additional Reading, Links and Photos
The UP purchased 112 GP30s between 1961(800-875) and 1963 (700-735). The UP would also purchase 40 GP30Bs in 1963 (700B-739B) which were the only GP30Bs erected. The 844 is preserved at the Nevada Southern Railway Museum in Boulder City, CO.
Four Penn Central GP30s roll into the engine terminal. The 2236, 2189 and 2232 wear the colorful red "P" that was applied very early in the PC merger.
Final Thoughts and Comments
During the Penn Era the EMD GP30s could be found in both symbol and secondary service. On any given day they could be leading a Flexi-Van train or heading up division locals which is pretty much how they run on the layout.
The older Spectrum models are not without their own issues. Over the years I've replaced a few motors and some axle gears but overall they have performed well. Proper lubrication and wheel cleaning ensures reliable service.
The NYC-PRR-PC GP30s have been workhorses on the layout for well over a decade now and have proved to be a good investment. I've purchased them both new and used and find the "Made in China" models to run quieter and a little faster.
The "boys from Collinwood" bring a freight train thru Empire City.
The prototype early red "P" PC heralds weren't repeated when the so equipped locomotives were repainted and the red "P" dates the locomotives to the early Penn Central days.
Another prototype issue of the early PC days was that the NYC and PRR units were not equipped with the proper signal equipment to lead on the other road. Add in the NYC Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers refusing to operate the PRR locomotives because they didn't have "agreement seats" with armrests the PRR units were relegated to being trailing units on the ex NYC lines as seen below.
For me I imagine that the PC painted locomotives have received the proper signals and agreement seats and can lead any train on the layout.
The Terminal Yard engine hostler will need to turn this locomotive consist before it departs. No self respecting NYC engineer would be caught dead riding on one of the PRR toad stool seats!
GP30 #2197 is greeted by his younger brother GP35# 2399 as it rolls into Terminal Yard. We'll take a look at the EMD GP35 in a future Locomotive Spotlight.
The GP30s in action.
Additional Reading, Links and Photos
*Getting Freight Through Chicago in Less Than a Day Part 1 reprinted in The Official Journal of the Operations Special Interest Group, The Dispatcher's Office April 2022.
*Getting Freight Through Chicago in Less Than a Day Part 2 reprinted in The Official Journal of the Operations Special Interest Group, The Dispatcher's Office July 2022.
Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you soon!!!
Another great Locomotive Spotlight Sir John! I really didn't think there were that many GP30's made! i know the D&GRW had them, of course the PRR, NYC and B&O, but the numbers are quite inpressive!
ReplyDeleteI know the EBRR is proud to be part of that fleet.
In the modeling world, only one manufacturer as of late has produced them.
Thanks for the insight!
Thank you for the compliments 1:1 Sir Neal!!! I know Scale Trains has just released some GP30s.
DeleteThe GP30's distinctive look isn't for every railfan but Ive come to like it a lot, especially after running 1/87th versions on my layout. The units have their detractors such as Big Mike famously accusing them of slipping on the turntable but, as you noted, they have a long history of service with several roads. I didn't know that the units were designated GP30s as a marketing "one-up" over the GE U25B! A very nice presentation all around with this locomotive spotlight. Thanks for the background into and the photos! It was fun to see the Kings Port Railfan society guys running to see the cool demonstrator unit! I have to say that the GP30s look very good in the EBRR livery!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Ralph!!! The KPRS guys have got a pipeline for information coming out of Terminal Yard and Empire City!!.
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