EMD "GP35" Locomotives

Last revised: September 20, 2023

By: Adam Burns

The Electro-Motive Division's GP35 carried on the success of the GP30 that had ended production in 1963. The GP35 remained in production for only three years but in that time span sold more than 1,300 examples!

It featured the same prime mover as the GP30 but offered slightly more horsepower.

Overview

The reason for the locomotives success can be attributed to two things: first, by the mid-1960s railroads were looking to upgrade to more efficient second-generation locomotives as many first-generation models had more than 20 years of use and wear; and second, many models built by the American Locomotive, Baldwin, and Fairbanks Morse had simply either not held their worth or were maintenance headaches for crews. 

For EMD, the mid-1960s marked its second dominant period as a locomotive builder selling thousands and thousands examples of models like the GP35, GP38, GP40, SD40, and their many variants.

Today, numerous GP35s remain in service on regional and shortlines as well as a small handful which are already preserved.

Photos

A pair of just-delivered Toledo, Peoria & Western GP35's pose on the turntable at Peoria, Illinois on November 12, 1965. American-Rails.com collection.

Specifications

The GP35, which debuted in 1963 and built through 1966, followed the GP30, and offered similar characteristics to its predecessor.

The company stuck with the same prime mover, the 16-cylinder model 567D3A. However, horsepower was again bumped up to 2,500.

Additionally, EMD continued to use the same model traction motor, the D57, which output the same effort as the GP40; 60,500 pounds starting and 50,000 pounds continuous. Weight, as well as length, remained the same; 56 feet and 130 tons.

Four examples of Santa Fe's rebuild fleet, including a pair of GP35u's and CF7's, are seen here at Cleburne, Texas in September, 1982. The upgraded GP35's featured Vapor cab air conditioners and smoke deflectors over the central air intake grills while the CF7's were overhauled from former F units. Mike Bledsoe photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Perhaps the most significant difference with the GP35 was just in the overall carbody, with a slightly redesigned and sloped-off cab and smoother overall body itself (there was no longer the dynamic brake bulge as with the GP30, giving the roof a clean look).

Another noticeable difference with the GP35 is that the model featured EMD's new Spartan Cab, that was used on all subsequent models until the FRA-mandated Safety Cabs of the early 1990s).

It first appeared as early as the GP20, which was the first model offered exclusively with a low nose and refined somewhat in the GP30 that no longer included the noticeable slant. In any event, the GP35’s design would become virtually standard on all later EMD models, including the Special Duty (SD) six-axle models; a standard cab followed by a long, clean hood.

Pennsylvania GP35 #2275 and GP30 #2215 lead a freight near Detroit, Michigan in January, 1966. Author's collection.

Aside from the extra 250 horsepower and rated at 2,500 hp (over the GP30’s 2,250 hp), the GP35 was equipped with the recently developed dynamic brake, and featured an airtight hood that kept out dust, dirt, and other particles from reaching internal components.

The dynamic brake had been offered on models as early as the FT of 1939. However, as EMD/General Motors improved its traction motor over the years its dynamic braking became more efficient.

Erie Lackawanna GP35 #2561 at Akron, Ohio. Date not recorded. American-Rails.com collection.

One of EMD’s most successful second-generation Geeps the GP35 was a perfect fit for railroads looking for moderate power and a locomotive that was easy to maintain. Companies that ultimately purchased the model were wide-ranging; the Union Pacific, Reading, Erie Lackawanna, New York Central, Great Northern, Soo Line, Milwaukee Road, Norfolk & Western (which ordered their GP35s with high hoods), Chicago & North Western, Santa Fe, and Rio Grande. 

In any event, GP35s still be widely seen across the country and its reliability and classic EMD ease of maintenance will likely continue to keep the GP35 around on regionals and short lines for years to come.

Data Sheet

Entered Production7/1963 (Demonstrator #5652)
Years Produced7/1963 - 12/1965
Engine567D3
Engine BuilderGM
Horsepower2500
RPM800
Cylinders16
Length56' 2"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)15' 3"
Width10' 2 ½"
Weight260,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity1700 Gallons
Air CompressorGardner-Denver
Air Compressor ModelWBO
Air Brake ManufacturerWestinghouse
Air Brake Schedule24L
TrucksB-B
Truck TypeBlomberg
Truck Wheelbase9'
Wheel Size40"
Traction MotorsD57 (4), GM
Primary GeneratorD22, GM
Auxiliary GeneratorDelco (64-72)
AlternatorD14
MU (Multiple-Unit)Yes
Dynamic BrakesYes
Gear Ratio62:15
Tractive Effort (Starting)60,500 Lbs at 25%
Tractive Effort (Continuous)50,000 Lbs at 9.3 mph
Top Speed65 mph

Production Roster

Total Built = 1,334

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 978-981 28300-28303 7668 12/1963
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 5652 (became Union Pacific #762) 28319 5652 7/1963
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 5654 (became Union Pacific #763) 28352 5652 8/1963
Western Pacific 3001-3010 28398-28407 7662 11/1963-12/1963
Great Northern 3017-3024 28433-28440 7698 3/1964
Great Northern 3025 28441 7722 3/1964
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 601-609 28442-28450 7670 2/1964-3/1964
Southern Pacific 7408-7439 28462-28493 7695 12/1963-2/1964
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 700 28525 7676 3/1964
Atlantic Coast Line 909-912 28535-28538 7677 10/1963
Atlantic Coast Line 913-914 28539-28540 7678 10/1963
Central of Georgia 210-214 28541-28545 7692 12/1963
Norfolk & Western 200-214 28615-28629 5657 11/1963-12/1963
Reading 6501-6506 28633-28638 7685 12/1963
Louisville & Nashville 1110 28654 7688 3/1964
Louisville & Nashville 1100-1109 28655-28664 5664 2/1965
Santa Fe 1300-1349 28697-28746 7675 1/1964-6/1964
Missouri Pacific (Texas & Pacific) 600-614 28772-28786 7694 12/1963-1/1964
Missouri Pacific 615-619 28787-28791 01/64 (7706) 1/1964
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton 350-353 28792-28795 7710 1/1964
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 610 28846 7670 3/1964
Western Maryland 501-505 28849-28853 5660 11/1963
Southern Pacific 7440-7464 28867-28891 7695 2/1964-3/1964
St. Louis-Southwestern Railway (Frisco) 760-762 28892-28894 7703 1/1964
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 5661, (renumbered 1964, became New York Central #6155) 28906 5661 2/1964
St. Louis Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 763 28907 7703 1/1964
Chicago & North Western 824-825 28908-28909 7704 2/1964
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 701-716 28912-28927 7705 3/1964-4/1964
Missouri Pacific 620-624 28928-28932 7706 2/1964
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton 354-357 28953-28956 7710 1/1964-2/1964
Chicago & Eastern Illinois 242-244 28958-28960 7708 3/1964
Chicago & North Western 826-843 28961-28978 7709 3/1964-4/1964
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 982-983 28979-28980 7711 3/1964
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 986-991 28981-28986 7719 5/1964-7/1964
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 996-999 28987-28990 7720 11/1964-12/1964
Ann Arbor 385-394 28991-29000 7712 3/1964-6/1964
Pennsylvania 2252-2275 29001-29024 7713 5/1964-6/1964
Western Pacific 3011 29030 7714 11/1964
Western Pacific 3012 29031 7770 11/1964
Baltimore & Ohio 3500-3519 29090-29109 7716 3/1964-4/1964
Chesapeake & Ohio 3520-3539 29110-29129 7717 4/1964-6/1964
New York Central 6125-6127 29130-29132 7718 12/1963
Reading 3626-3637 29134-29145 7721 8/1964
New York, Chicago & St Louis (Nickel Plate Road) 910 29167 7723 5/1964
Union Pacific 740-761 29168-29189 7724 5/1964-7/1964
Norfolk & Western 215-238 29215-29238 5665 3/1964-4/1964
Denver & Rio Grande Western 3029-3036 29260-29267 7727 5/1964-6/1964
Norfolk & Western 239 29269 5665 4/1964
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 613-622 29270-29279 7729 8/1964
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 984-985 29280-29281 7711 4/1964
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 992-995 29282-29285 7719 8/1964-10/1964
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 611-612 29299-29300 7670 4/1964
De Queen & Eastern D6 29359 5667 5/1964
Denver & Rio Grande Western 3037-3038 29370-29371 7735 6/1964
Baltimore & Ohio 3540-3559 29372-29391 7736 7/1964-9/1964
Chesapeake & Ohio 3560-3575 29392-29407 7737 9/1964-11/1964
Pennsylvania 2276-2283 29447-29454 7713 6/1964
Pennsylvania 2284-2296 29455-29467 7741 6/1964
Wabash 540-547 29468-29475 7742 4/1964
Louisville & Nashville 1111-1113 29476-29478 7743 5/1964
Soo Line 722 29479 7744 8/1964
Soo Line 723-725 29480-29482 7745 7/1964
Erie Lackawanna 2551 29485 7746 9/1964
Erie Lackawanna 2555-2562 29486-29493 7747 9/1964
Erie Lackawanna 2552-2554 29494-29496 7746 9/1964
Chicago & Eastern Illinois 250-254 29541-29545 5668 7/1964
Chicago & Eastern Illinois 245-249 29546-29550 7748 6/1964
Southern Pacific 7465-7484 29551-29570 5669 5/1964-6/1964
Reading 3638-3655 29571-29588 7721 8/1964-9/1964
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 623-624 29589-29590 7729 9/1964
Alaska Railroad 2500 29592 7751 11/1964
Pennsylvania 2297-2308 29605-29616 7765 11/1964
Pennsylvania 2309-2310 29617-29618 7753 11/1964
Chicago & Eastern Illinois 255-264 29648-29657 7758 9/1964
Norfolk & Western 1302-1308 29658-29664 7760 11/1964
New York Central 6128-6129 29668-29669 7749 12/1964
New York Central 6130-6149 29670-29689 7791 12/1964-1/1965
Southern Pacific 7700-7727 29702-29729 7756 12/1964-2/1965
St. Louis Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 764-771 29730-29737 5680 12/1964
St. Louis Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 772-779 29738-29745 7762 2/1965-3/1965
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 625-636 29746-29757 7764 1/1965-3/1965
Chicago & North Western 844-863 29760-29779 7763 2/1965-3/1965
Missouri Pacific 625-639 29805-29819 7767 1/1965-3/1965
Missouri Pacific (Texas & Pacific) 640-649 29820-29829 7781 3/1965-4/1965
Norfolk & Western 1300-1301 29859-29860 7768 11/1964
Louisville & Nashville 1114-1115 29863-29864 7769 11/1964
Alaska Railroad 2502 29870 7772 3/1965
Southern 2645-2702 29900-29957 7774 1/1965-4/1965
Southern 2703-2704 29958-29959 7775 2/1965
Denver & Rio Grande Western 3039-3048 29964-29973 7776 12/1964-1/1965
Denver & Rio Grande Western 3049 30022 7776 1/1965
Denver & Rio Grande Western 3050 30023 7782 1/1965
Rock Island 300-312 30029-30041 7783 4/1965-5/1965
Rock Island 313-314 30042-30043 7802 6/1965
Savannah & Atlanta (Southern) 2705-2715 30044-30054 7784 12/1964-1/1965
Alaska Railroad 2503 30055 7772 3/1965
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 717-724 30056-30063 7785 3/1965-5/1965
Santa Fe 1350-1384 30064-30098 7786 4/1965-6/1965
Santa Fe 1385-1399 30099-30113 7809 6/1965-7/1965
Great Northern 3026-3035 30114-30123 7787 4/1965
Great Northern 3036 30124 7813 4/1965
Great Northern 3037-3040 30125-30128 7814 4/1965
Soo Line 726-731 30129-30134 7788 5/1965
Southern Pacific 7728-7761 30135-30168 7789 4/1965-6/1965
St. Louis Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) 780-781 30169-30170 7835 7/1965
Southern Pacific 7762-7782 30171-30191 7808 7/1965-11/1965
Western Pacific 3013-3022 30217-30226 7790 3/1965-4/1965
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 637-648 30264-30275 7794 8/1965-9/1965
Chicago & North Western 864-865 30276-30277 7763 3/1965
Norfolk & Western 1309-1328 30278-30297 5679 1/1965-3/1965
Rock Island 315-317 30300-30302 7802 6/1965
Rock Island 318-319 30303-30304 7803 6/1965
Milwaukee Road 360-371 30313-30324 7799 5/1965-6/1965
Pennsylvania 2311-2370 30328-30385 7793 1/1965-4/1965
Pennsylvania 2369-2370 30386-30387 7801 4/1965
Seaboard Air Line 535 30431 7800 6/1965
Reading 3656 30458 7806 5/1965
Chicago & Eastern Illinois 265-272 30491-30498 5687 6/1965
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 111-118 30503-30510 7810 8/1965
Santa Fe 1400-1442 30545-30588 7809 7/1965-10/1965
Santa Fe 1443-1449 30589-30594 7817 10/1965
Erie Lackawanna 2563-2586 30595-30618 7818 8/1965-9/1965
Chicago & North Western 866 30625 7823 6/1965
Seaboard Air Line 536-544 30629-30637 5689 6/1965
Rock Island 325-333 30647-30655 5692 7/1965-8/1965
Rock Island 320-324 30690-30694 7826 7/1965
New York Central 6150-6154 30791-30795 7834 8/1965
Santa Fe 1450-1460 30926-30936 7829 10/1965-11/1965
Chesapeake & Ohio 3045, 3047 30987-30988 7839 9/1965
Chesapeake & Ohio 3537, 3563, 3574 30989-30991 7840 9/1965
Toledo, Peoria & Western 900-902 31061-31063 7847 11/1965
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 725-731 31120-31126 7852 12/1965
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 732 31127 7873 12/1965
Southern 2641 31215 8072 12/1965
Baltimore & Ohio 3581 31262 7863 12/1965
Southern 2526 31283 8073 12/1965
Chesapeake & Ohio 3582 31439 7866 12/1965

Reused Serials

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Louisville & Nashville 1101 28656 8071 4/1965

General Motors Diesel (GMD)

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Order Number Completion Date
Canadian Pacific 8202-8213 A2035-A2046 C293 5/1964-6/1964
Canadian National 4000 A2061 C301 8/1964
Canadian National 4001 A2062 CR302 8/1964
Canadian Pacific 5014-5023 A2079-A2088 CR306 5/1965-8/1965
Canadian Pacific 5024-5025 A2123-A2124 CR312 1/1966

Export

Owner Road Numbers Serial Numbers Order Numbers Completion Date
Ferrocarril Nacional de México 8200-8214 29040-29054 710163-710177 8/1964-9/1964
Ferrocarril Nacional de México 8215-8229 29055-29069 710148-710162 11/1964-12/1964
Ferrocarril Sonora–Baja California (Mexico) 2307-2308 29871-29872 710211-710212 3/1965
Ferrocarril Nacional de México 8230-8254 30713-30737 710345-710369 10/1965

Santa Fe GP35 #3412 and a pair of GP30's (#3236 and #3212) head southbound/westbound through Ardmore, Oklahoma on March 22, 1974. Author's collection.

Some of the places one can still find GP35s in service include the Lycoming Valley Railroad, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Hudson Bay Railway, Conway Scenic Railroad, Great Lakes Central, Northern Plains Railroad, Housatonic Railroad, Webb Asset Management, Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western, Hartwell Railroad, Alabama Southern, Goderich-Exeter Railway, Montana Rail Link, Kansas City Terminal, Kettle Falls International Railway, Palouse River & Coulee City, Carolina Coastal Railway, and even BNSF Railway still rosters a few. So, be on the lookout for them because there are plenty out there! 

Sources

  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.
  • Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
  • Marre, Louis A. Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years, A Guide To Diesels Built Before 1972.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995.
  • Schafer, Mike. Vintage Diesel Locomotives. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 1998.
  • Solomon, Brian.  EMD Locomotives.  Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.
  • Solomon, Brian.  GE and EMD Locomotives:  The Illustrated History.  Minneapolis:  Voyageur Press, 2014.
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