GMD1

[capt.monkey]

We only have one at the moment (we used to have three, then two, then one, then two). I'll get some pictures when I'm at work next.

[rrboomer]

EMD had a couple of smaller than GP7 roadswitchers before the GMD1:

during WW II  the NW5  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=391319 

and

1954,  the RS1325  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2450104

 

 

[cv_acr]

Flashwave

Wasn't there a GMD with a more rpunded front bulge, more futuristic looking? Or am I thinking of something else?

GMDH-1 diesel-hydraulic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMD_GMDH-1

Only 4 were ever built.

[Flashwave]

Wasn't there a GMD with a more rpunded front bulge, more futuristic looking? Or am I thinking of something else?

[Anonymous]

da_kraut

Hi,

seen these units last February/March near Fort Saskatchewan switching the refineries in Alberta and last month there was one unit in the CN yard in London Ontario doing yard work. 

These GMD1 switchers remind of some European switchers that are still build today with the cab more in the center for visibility.

Frank

Frank - something like this?

or its newer brother:

[da_kraut]

Hi,

seen these units last February/March near Fort Saskatchewan switching the refineries in Alberta and last month there was one unit in the CN yard in London Ontario doing yard work. 

These GMD1 switchers remind of some European switchers that are still build today with the cab more in the center for visibility.

Frank

[aloco]

The GP7 was GM's first hood type road switcher.  The GMD1 was GM's first lightweight road switcher - it had lighter axle loading on six wheel (A1A) trucks and it could run on 60lb. rail.

GM's Canadian competitors, the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) and the Canadian Locomotive Company (CLC) built lightweight road switchers as well.  MLW made the RSC-13 which looks somewhat like an Alco RS-1 with six wheel trucks, and CLC made the H12-46 which looks like an early Fairbanks Morse road switcher with six wheel trucks.   The RSC-13s and H12-46s ran on CNR branch lines in western Canada before the GMD1s arrived.

[cuyama]

rrinker

What I meant was that it took EMD/GMD 17 years to figure out the road switcher concept that Alco figured out back in 1941.

I guess you are leaving out one of the most successful road switchers of all, the GP-7, introduced in 1949? Only about 2,700 sold ... (versus fewer than 500 RS-1s)

[rrinker]

 Guess I should have said RS-1, since it's more square. What I meant was that it took EMD/GMD 17 years to figure out the road switcher concept that Alco figured out back in 1941.

                        --Randy

 

[aloco]

AntonioFP45

GMD1? Weren't those the units that look similar to today's Gen Sets? 

 

rrinker

GMD1: Someone at GM finally figures out how to build an RS-3.

On a more serious note, the GMD1 is GM's version of the Alco RS-1.  It's basically a GM switcher (like an SW9 or SW1200) with a longer frame and a short hood.   They are light road switchers designed for operation on branch lines with light rail.

 

part maker

What are the numbers of the two GMD1 units in Saskatoon? Are they hard to get pictures of?

The GMD1s in Saskatoon are usually used in wayfreight and transfer service.  I don't know how many are left, but there are at least two still in service.   One road number I can remember is 1404.  They should be easy to get pictures of.  They can be seen heading northward on trackage alongside Warman Road.  You just have to get lucky and spot them while they are running.

[part maker]

What are the numbers of the two GMD1 units in Saskatoon? Are they hard to get pictures of?

[CP guy in TX]

I got some good pics of one of them in Regina last summer. My wife and I came up to see 3101, and I almost freaked out and crashed the car when one of those chugged over an overpass.

We found the CN yard, saw a unit parked by the road on an overgrown siding, got out, took some pictures, and almost got arrested.

The trainmaster thought we shouldn't be on or near the property at all. I explained our reason for being there, and he calmed down.

He had a hard time figuring out a guy with a Boston accent with a woman with a southern drawl, both with Texas drivers licences, in a rented car with North Dakota tags,... in Saskatchewan....LOL.   THEN, he couldn't figure out why we wanted pictures of that "old junk" (his words) instead of all the shiny new GEs.

Once he cooled down, he put me in his truck,and took me all around the loco for some great pics, offered a cab tour, and we shook hands and we were on our way.

I hope he's a model railroader and reads this post because he was a very decent, stand-up guy

[CP guy in TX]

Pathfinder,

I'm thinking that the A-1-A trucks and the small fuel tank is going to get kicked to the curb.

I really like the rebuilt B-B style better, actually, so I may have a set of unused A-1-A trucks..

[capt.monkey]

Is there anything like this available for n scale, or am I going to have to scratch build it?

 

People laugh, but we still have 2 of these in the yard in Saskatoon that are used everyday. They're actually good for yard switching duties. We used to have 3, but one bit the dust.

[Pathfinder]

CP guy in TX

I'm building a couple of GMD1s for kicks and giggles from a couple of old Point One resin kits.

One is a 3 axle unit complete with motor and trucks, and the other is a top kit only for an Athearn 4 axle driveline.

Has anyone had any luck with these units? I'm not sure about the Point One trucks. They look good but wondering about longevity..

They sure look good in bare resin...

Keep us appraised of how the A-1-A trucks work out.  I have an older brass one done up for NAR and would love to see if I can get better trucks.

[Berk-fan284]

There's a couple of them running around the Edmonton area often hooked up with a calf and a Gp 20 or GP38 switching a couple of oil refineries or local scrap yard.

[blownout cylinder]

GMD!'s with A1A wheelsets...

I'm trying my dab hand at building 6 of these things for my layout...these things were used on secondary or branch lines that had next to no ballast..spread the weight of the things around a bit better...

[CP5415]

Yup, they are distinctive, that's for sure. Saw one tucked behind a couple of larger locomotives headed towards Montreal a couple weeks ago here in Toronto.

[CP guy in TX]

Yeah they were butt ugly units, but distinctive.

Should make for some interesting converstaion and head scratching at the club

[rrinker]

GMD1: Someone at GM finally figures out how to build an RS-3.

           --Randy

 

[Anonymous]

Wikipedia knows best ...

GMD1

[AntonioFP45]

GMD1? Weren't those the units that look similar to today's Gen Sets? 

[CP guy in TX]

I'm building a couple of GMD1s for kicks and giggles from a couple of old Point One resin kits.

One is a 3 axle unit complete with motor and trucks, and the other is a top kit only for an Athearn 4 axle driveline.

Has anyone had any luck with these units? I'm not sure about the Point One trucks. They look good but wondering about longevity..

They sure look good in bare resin...