EMD "GP35" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster

Last revised: December 17, 2024

The GP35 was EMD's final four-axle road-switcher equipped with its rugged 567 prime mover. The model also established a new carbody design, which became the builder's standard through the late 1980s.

By the 1960s the market reemerged for new diesels as railroads looked to replace aging first-generation variants like the FT, F3, F7 and early General Purpose/Special Duty models.

General Electric recognized this and, along with American Locomotive's declining reputation, released its own road-switcher, the U25B in 1959.

The GP35 offered several upgrades over the earlier GP30, including greater horsepower, and sold more than 1,300 examples between 1963-1965.

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

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.

Overview

In his book, "Vintage Diesel Locomotives," author Mike Schafer notes the GP35 introduced Electro-Motive's "35 Line," which also included the companion six-axle SD35.

The GP30 was the transition model during this period; built between 1961-1963 it featured many of the same carbody characteristics as its successor, such as the pointed low nose.

However, the GP35 did away with the streamlined "bulge" along the roofline between the cab and dynamic brake blister. It also featured some other exterior and interior improvements which will be discussed in greater detail below.

The GP35 debuted in 1963 and sequentially followed the GP30. It sported the final version of the 567 engine block, the turbocharged 567D3A. This last variant again saw a slight increase in horsepower, bumping output to 2,500.

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.

In the 20+ years since Electro-Motive first introduced the 567 in the groundbreaking FT of 1939, the engine had gone through a number of advancements. In doing so, EMD had nearly double its horsepower output from 1,350 in the FT to 2,500 in the GP35.

EMD introduced further internal improvements in the GP35, which further changed the carbody appearance. In his book, "Diesel Locomotives: Cyclopedia, Volume 2," author Bob Hayden points out the model featured a redesigned centralized air intake system and electrical cabinet.

These new features took up less space and no longer required the streamlined "bulge" over the cab that defined the earlier GP30. The GP35's clean roofline, and overall uniform body, became the classic look on all new EMD models for the next 30 years.

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.

Spotting Features

The GP35's most noticeable characteristic was the new Spartan Cab. It sported a pointed, low nose similar to that of the GP30. However, unlike its predecessor, the Spartan featured angular eaves that were flush with the roofline in place of the GP30's beveled look.

Other notable traits included two large rear radiator fans with a smaller one between them. EMD also cataloged the non-turbocharged and less powerful GP28. This 1,800 horsepower variant featured two larger radiator fans and two standard exhaust stacks.

In his book, "A Field Guide To Trains," author Gerald Foster notes the GP35 also featured the rectangular turbocharger stack, blower duct along the left walkway, and standard Blomberg trucks.

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

The Southern and Norfolk & Western continued to request high, short hood variants, which were also purchased by Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (NdeM).

Other variants included those sporting AAR Type Bs, requested by the Southern and the Ann Arbor from trade-in Alcos. The use of these trucks on any EMD was always an interesting sight.

One final notable variant were those acquired by the Chicago & North Western and Frisco equipped with 3,000-gallon fuel tanks, which required the air reservoir tanks to be placed on the roof. This units were often referred to as "Torpedo Boats."

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production	7/1963 (Demonstrator #5652)
Years Produced	7/1963 - 12/1965
Engine	567D3
Engine Builder	GM
Horsepower	2500
RPM	800
Cylinders	16
Length	56' 2"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	15' 3"
Width	10' 2 ½"
Weight	260,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity	1700 Gallons
Air Compressor	Gardner-Denver
Air Compressor Model	WBO
Air Brake Manufacturer	Westinghouse
Air Brake Schedule	24L
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Blomberg
Truck Wheelbase	9'
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	D57 (4), GM
Primary Generator	D22, GM
Auxiliary Generator	Delco (64-72)
Alternator	D14
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Dynamic Brakes	Yes
Gear Ratio	62:15
Tractive Effort (Starting)	60,500 Lbs at 25%
Tractive Effort (Continuous)	50,000 Lbs at 9.3 mph
Top Speed	65 mph

A pair of new Seaboard Air Line GP35's at Raleigh, North Carolina in 1965. Warren Calloway photo.

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

Pennsylvania GP35 #2275 and GP30 #2215 lead a freight near Detroit, Michigan in January, 1966. American-Rails.com collection.

The GP35 proved itself very successful, selling more than 1,300 examples to numerous railroads such as Union Pacific, Reading, Erie Lackawanna, New York Central, Great Northern, Soo Line, Milwaukee Road, Santa Fe, and Rio Grande.

The later GP40 series, which carried a similar appearance to the GP35 but featured EMD's new 645 engine, saw even greater sales. Today, GP35s can still be found in service across the country.

Photo Gallery

An EMD photo featuring recently completed Seaboard Air Line GP35 #540 in June, 1965. Warren Calloway collection.

A set of recently delivered Erie Lackawanna GP35s, #2559-2558, layover at the engine facility in Port Jervis, New York in October, 1964. Warren Calloway collection.

Milwaukee Road GP35 #360 leads a westbound freight through Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on October 6, 1985. Michael Hoff photo. American-Rails.com collection.

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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