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EMD "E8" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, History

Last revised: February 20, 2025

By: Adam Burns

In many ways, Electro-Motive's E8 was the builder's pinnacle passenger locomotive; it saw nearly as many sales as the earlier E7, boasted several upgrades, and was a very common sight leading both well-known, and relatively obscure, trains until the start of Amtrak.

The 1950s was the last great decade of privately operated passenger trains; rising costs, growing competition from other transportation modes, and a national recession in 1958 saw most railroads greatly curtail investment.

In fact, some lines were already slashing schedules before 1960.  The Southern Pacific was one such example.  In his book, "Southern Pacific Railroad," Brian Solomon notes the SP, once lauded for its many fine trains like the Daylights, began cutting back drastically on its services as early as 1957 in an effort to curb the growing losses from automobiles and airlines.

As a result of the public abandoning trains, Electro-Motive sold far fewer of its final "E" model, the E9, which entered the catalog in 1954.  While these were the finest locomotives in the series from a mechanical and technological standpoint, EMD sold only 152 examples to a handful of railroads.

57299unw649owiwvxh4659992927374.jpgAn Electro-Motive company photo of freshly outshopped Rock Island E8A #652 in early 1952. American-Rails.com collection.

History

The E8 began production in August, 1949 when Electro-Motive unveiled demonstrator #952, a unit that was later purchased by the Rock Island as #643.  It featured numerous enhancements over its earlier counterpart, the E7. 

In his book, "Electro-Motive: E Units And F Units," author Brian Solomon notes these included AC motor-operated applications which eliminated belt-driven exhaust fans, dual steam generators (or a single, large steam generator) for greater steam heating, upgraded (and more rugged) D27 traction motors, slightly more horsepower (2,250 hp), and EMD's first A1A-A1A locomotive offered with dynamic braking.

The new traction motors allowed the E8 to produce greater tractive effort at lower speeds and improved short-time ratings while the AC motors were more reliable and provided greater cooling capacity.  The D27s were also interchangeable with older traction motors, allowing them to operate in older locomotives without additional engineering, or other work, necessary to do so.

87213714681958223528357678168986.jpgPreserved Southern Railway E8A #6900 at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer. Warren Calloway photo.

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All of these new features presented railroads with a locomotive that was much more reliable and easier to maintain than any previous EMD design.  It was all part of the builder's efforts to improve efficiency by keeping locomotives out on the road, where they belonged, earning money. 

Parts, such as traction motors, could be swapped in an out among virtually any model.  This design feature is a significant reason why EMD enjoyed such incredible success from the 1940s until the early 1980s.

crip-e8a-643.jpgRecently repainted Rock Island E8A #643 (built as Electro-Motive demonstrator #952 in August, 1949) is seen here in Chicago during April, 1972. Photographer unknown.
Santa Fe E8Am #84-L, rebuilt from E1A #6 in the spring of 1953, is seen here at Colorado & Southern's Rice Yard in Denver during the 1960s. The unit was later retired in June, 1970. American-Rails.com collection.

If you were a train enthusiast from the 1950s through the 1970s, you most likely saw at least one E8 in service; the model was not only in widespread use throughout the industry but as railroads cutback on passenger services, they purchased very few models dedicated solely to such trains. 

In this Electro-Motive photo, a pair of the Pennsylvania Railroad's recently completed E8A's bask in the midday sun during the spring of 1952. American-Rails.com collection.

In addition, Amtrak continued to run E8s (and E9s) for nearly a decade until new power, which had arrived in the mid-1970s by way of the SDP40Fs and F40PHs, finally displaced them.

The previously-mentioned E9 saw less than half the sales of the E8, and future models like the F45/FP45 saw only a handful of sales.  In the mid/late 1960s, railroads which did purchase passenger variants tended to acquire dual-service models like the SDP40 and SDP45. 

These locomotives, which were essentially road-switchers, carried no streamlining and C-C trucks, allowing them to also carry out freight assignments.  Interestingly, some roads, like Erie Lackawanna, regeared their E8s for freight service after their days handling passenger trains had ended.

Rock Island E8A #645 and an E7B have an outbound commuter run from Chicago's LaSalle Street Station during a June evening in 1971. American-Rails.com collection.

Spotting Features

The easiest way to denote an E8 from any earlier E model is by the grilles.  All other versions (EA through E7) sported rectangular, "chicken wire" air-intake grilles whereas the E8 was the first to feature a seamless, stainless-steel filter grille running the length of the carbody.

Other notable spotting features include flush number-boards, built directly into the carbody, and four evenly-spaced portholes in place of raised number-boards and rectangular/square windows along the locomotive's periphery.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production8/1949 (Demonstrator #952)
Years Produced8/1949 - 12/1953
Engine567B (2)
Engine BuilderGM
Horsepower2250
RPM800
Cylinders12
Length (E8A)70' 3"
Length (E8B)70' 0"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)14' 10 ½" (E8A)
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)14' 7 ½" (E8B)
Width10' 7 ½"
Weight316,500 Lbs (A Units): 308,300 Lbs (B Units)
Fuel Capacity1,200 Gallons
Air CompressorGardner-Denver
Air Compressor ModelWXO
Air Brake ManufacturerWestinghouse
Air Brake Schedule24RL
TrucksA1A
Truck TypeBlomberg
Truck Wheelbase14' 1"
Wheel Size36"
Steam Generator ManufacturerVapor-Clarkson
Steam Generator Capacity1200 Lbs/Hr
Traction MotorsD27/D27B (4), GM
MU (Multiple-Unit)Yes
Dynamic BrakesYes (A Units)
Gear Ratio52:25, 55:21, 56:21, 57:20
Tractive Effort (Starting)56,500 Lbs at 25%
Tractive Effort (Continuous)19,500 (52:25); 23,500 (55:21); 25,000 (56:21); 27,000 Lbs (57:20)
Top Speed117 mph (52:25), 98 mph (55:21), 92 mph (56:21), 85 mph (57:20)
12i918275821359812538723569836486967.jpgA sharp Norfolk & Western E8A, #3800 (ex-Wabash #1000) lays over at the Decatur Shops on an October night in 1966. James D. Bopp photo, Rick Burn collection.

Production Roster

E8A

Total Built = 426

Owner Road Number Serial Number Order Number Completion Date
Wabash 1003-1008 7812-7817 2001 11/1949
Central of Georgia 811 8527 2003 8/1950
Canadian Pacific 1800-1802 8680-8682 2005 12/1949
Missouri Pacific 7018-7021 8635-8638 2006 6/1950
Boston & Maine 3821 9088 2008 1/1950
Atlantic Coast Line 544-548 9182-9186 2009 1/1950
Southern Pacific 6018 9317 2010 1/1950
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 1001-1005 9528-9532 2011 11/1949
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 9937B, 9938A-9945A, 9938B-9945B, 9946A 9674-9691 2012 12/1949 - 5/1950
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 9946B 10031 2012 5/1950
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 2006-2015 10172-10181 2014 2/1950
Baltimore & Ohio 90, 90A, 92, 92A 10231-10234 2015 9/1950
Electro-Motive (Demonstrator) 952 (became Rock Island 643) 10306 E952 8/1949
Pennsylvania 5884A-5893A 10421-10430 6079 3/1950 - 4/1950
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 2016-2017 10451-10452 2014 5/1950
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 2018-2019 10528-10529 2014 5/1950 - 6/1950
Union Pacific 926-930 10777-10781 2019 5/1950 - 8/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 106A, 106B - 107A, 107B 11223-11226 6082 3/1950
Chicago & North Western 5021A, 5021B - 5022A, 5022B 11491-11494 6095 7/1950
Texas & Pacific (Missouri Pacific) 2014-2017 11584-11587 6104 10/1951 - 11/1951
Illinois Central 4018-4021 11633-11636 2021 6/1950
Central of Georgia 812 11700 2003 8/1950
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 9947A, 9947B - 9948A, 9947B 11701-11704 2023 9/1950
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 9949A 11762 2023 9/1950
St Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 2020-2022 11965-11967 2014 7/1950
Erie Railroad 820-833 12218-12231 2027 1/1951 - 3/1951
Baltimore & Ohio 94, 94A, 96, 96A 12712-12715 6162 9/1950 - 10/1950
Pennsylvania 5808A-5810A, 5835A-5839A, 5894A-5899A, 5902A-5905A 13101-13118 6181 1/1951 - 4/1951
Seaboard Air Line 3049-3054 13274-13279 6192 10/1950
Electro-Motive (Demonstrators) 810-811 (became Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 810-811) 13676-13677 Sold on 6232 1/1951
Louisville & Nashville 794-797 13830-13833 2036 5/1951
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 812-820 14011-14019 2033 4/1951 - 5/1951
Illinois Central 4022-4025 14083-14086 2037 4/1951
Southern 2923-2926 14172-14175 2039 9/1951
Southern 2927-2929 14176-14178 2049 9/1951 - 10/1951
Rock Island 644-649 14276-14281 2032 6/1951 - 7/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 131-135 14283-14287 6268 5/1951
Wabash 1009-1011 14420-14422 6281 10/1951
Wabash 1012-1013 14423-14424 6282 6/1951
New York Central 4036-4039 14425-14428 2016 6/1951
Texas & Pacific (Missouri Pacific) 2010-2011 14548-14549 6104 8/1951
Texas & Pacific (Missouri Pacific) 2012-2013 14557-14558 6104 10/1951
New York Central 4040-4044 14583-14587 6291 8/1951 - 9/1951
Chicago & North Western 5023A, 5023B - 5024A, 5024B 14659-14662 2034 7/1951
Kansas City Southern 26-29 14736-14739 6312 2/1952
Chesapeake & Ohio 4000-4026 14759-14785 2040 8/1951 - 1/1952
Wabash 1000 15063 6327 10/1951
Rock Island 650-655 15197-15202 2047 2/1952 - 3/1952
New York Central 4045-4053 15304-15312 6291 11/1951 - 3/1952
New York Central 4054-4061 15313-15320 6358 3/1952 - 4/1952
Pennsylvania 5765A-5769A, 5788A-5799A, 5801A-5807A 15648-15671 6354 3/1952 - 7/1952
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 1006-1009 15711-15714 2050 2/1952
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 1010-1011 15715-15716 2050 8/1952
Illinois Central 4026-4031 16392-16397 2042 4/1952 - 6/1952
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 9964-9969 16705-16710 2048 8/1952 - 9/1952
Pennsylvania 5700A-5716A, 5760A-5764A 16769-16790 2054 9/1952 - 11/1952
Chicago & North Western 5025A 16901 2043 8/1952
Chicago & North Western 5025B 17032 2043 8/1952
Seaboard Air Line 3055-3059 17339-17343 6426 11/1952 - 12/1952
Fort Worth & Denver (Burlington) 9981A, 9981B 17440-17441 6458 12/1952
Wabash 1014-1015 17565-17566 6474 1/1953
Illinois Central 4032-4033 17751-17752 2053 4/1953
Union Pacific 931-938 17783-17790 2052 3/1953 - 4/1953
Chesapeake & Ohio 4027-4030 18081-18084 6504 5/1953
Chicago & North Western 5026A, 5026B - 5030A, 5030B, 5031A 18113-18123 2056 6/1953
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 1012-1015 18266-18269 6471 9/1953 - 10/1953
Union Pacific 939-942 18270-18273 2060 5/1953
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 9970-9977 18312-18319 2059 8/1953 - 9/1953
New York Central 4062-4063 18345-18346 6515 5/1953
New York Central 4064-4095 18522-18553 2055 6/1953 - 9/1953
Baltimore & Ohio 26, 26A - 32, 32A (Evens) 18675-18682 2061 10/1953
Southern (New Orleans & North Eastern) 6906-6915 19004-19013 2063 11/1953 - 12/1953

E8A Rebuilds

Total Built = 21

Owner Road Number Serial Number Order Number Completion Date Heritage
Santa Fe 2 662 7500 9/1952 E1A #2
Santa Fe 4 663 7502 2/1952 E1B #2B
Santa Fe 5 792 7502 2/1952 E1A #5
Santa Fe 85 794 7502 2/1953 E1A #7
Santa Fe 82 791 7502 4/1953 E1A #3
Santa Fe 87 797 7502 4/1953 E1A #9
Santa Fe 86 795 7502 5/1953 E1A #8
Santa Fe 84 793 7502 6/1953 E1A #6
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 100A 668 7504 3/1953 ex-Baltimore & Ohio EA #52
Baltimore & Ohio 56 800 7507 6/1953 EA #56
Baltimore & Ohio 55 767 7507 8/1953 EA #55
Baltimore & Ohio 53 765 7507 10/1953 EA #53
Baltimore & Ohio 51 7507 666 7507 12/1953 EA #51
Baltimore & Ohio 54 766 7507 1/1954 EA #54
Kansas City Southern 23 1034 8005 10/1952 E3A #3
Atlantic Coast Line 500 958 8022 3/1953 E3A #501
Chicago & North Western 5019B 6596 8024 6/1953 E7A #5019B
New York Central 4003 2868 8025 6/1953 E7A #4003
New York Central 4020 4175 8026 6/1953 E7A #4020
Atlantic Coast Line 532 3408 8027 7/1953 E7A #532
Rock Island 656 1063 8028 12/1953 E6A #627

E8B

Total Built = 31

Owner Road Number Serial Number Order Number Completion Date
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 1051-1055 9533-9537 2011 12/1949
Union Pacific 926B-930B 10782-10786 2019 5/1950 - 8/1950
Illinois Central 4104-4105 16398-16399 2042 5/1952
Union Pacific 931B-944B 17791-17804 2052 2/1953 - 3/1953
Union Pacific 945B-949B 18274-18278 2060 4/1953 - 5/1953

E8B Rebuilds

Total Built = 15

Owner Road Number Serial Number Order Number Completion Date Heritage
Santa Fe 4A 799 7501 9/1952 E1B #4A
Santa Fe 80A 796 7502 2/1953 E1A #4
Santa Fe 82A 798 7502 4/1953 E1B #3A
Union Pacific 922B 745 7503 2/1953 E2B #SF2
Union Pacific 923B-924B 746,742 7503 3/1953 E2B #SF3, E2B #LA2
Union Pacific 925B 743 7503 4/1953 E2B #LA3
Baltimore & Ohio 51X 667 7507 10/1953 EB #51X
Baltimore & Ohio 52X 669 7507 5/1953 EB #52X
Baltimore & Ohio 53X 768 7507 5/1953 EB #53X
Baltimore & Ohio 54X 769 7507 8/1953 EB #54X
Baltimore & Ohio 55X 770 7507 11/1953 EB #55X
Baltimore & Ohio 56X 801 7507 1/1954 EB #56X
Santa Fe 83A 535 7508 8/1953 ex-Boxcab #1A
Santa Fe 84A 536 7508 9/1953 ex-Boxcab #1B
Santa Fe E8Am #85-L (rebuilt from E1A #7) and a pair of E8Bm's (also rebuilt from E1's) head east through Argentine Yard (Kansas) during the 1960s. The locomotives are about to cross Santa Fe Junction on their way to Kansas City Union Station. American-Rails.com collection.

Another notable feature was its single-stack manifold for each engine instead the four stacks per engine used on the E7.  Spotting, however, can sometimes be difficult as railroads tended to rebuild and modify their E8 fleets over the years.  For example, some E7s were given E8-like appearances, such as the addition of portholes.  

Interestingly, there are very few visual clues that distinguish an E8 from the later E9.  In his book, "Diesel Locomotives: Cyclopedia, Volume 2 (Model Railroader)," author Bob Hayden notes the only notable distinction between the two, externally, is a minor change in the headlight casing.  Today, there are numerous E8A's preserved; in fact, there are more E8A's extant today than any other variant in the E series.

Photos

38210098171758887661.jpgBoston & Maine's only E8A, #3821, is seen here all shined up in Boston, Massachusetts on December 26, 1956. Ed DeVito photo/Warren Calloway collection.
12981284278367238752966.jpgAn Electro-Motive manufacturer's photo of freshly outshopped Rock Island E8A #648 in the summer of 1951.

Sources

  • Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
  • Hayden, Bob. Diesel Locomotives: Cyclopedia, Volume 2 (Model Railroader). Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1980.
  • Marre, Louis A. Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years, A Guide To Diesels Built Before 1972.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide.  Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.
  • Solomon, Brian.  EMD Locomotives.  Minneapolis: MBI Publishing Company, 2006.
  • Solomon, Brian.  Electro-Motive E-Units and F-Units: The Illustrated History of North America's Favorite Locomotives.  Minneapolis:  Voyageur Press, 2011.

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    The Union Pacific, from the Pacific Railway Act of July 1, 1862, and Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869, through E. H. Harriman and the mergers that built the modern railroad. Steam and diesel rosters…

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  36. Texas and Pacific Railway: Map, History, Timetables

    Nov 10, 26 10:33 PM

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    The Texas & Pacific Railway, the federally chartered southern transcontinental that stopped at Sierra Blanca and became the Missouri Pacific's Texas and Louisiana main line. Merged October 15, 1976.

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  37. Texas and Pacific Steam Locomotives: Texas Types and Mountains

    Nov 10, 26 10:30 PM

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    Texas & Pacific steam: 70 Lima 2-10-4 Texas types, 600-669, classes I-1 through I-1d, and 10 Mountains, 900-909. No. 610 is at Palestine.

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  38. Texas and Pacific Diesel Roster (All-Time)

    Nov 10, 26 10:29 PM

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    All-time diesel roster of locomotives built for the Texas & Pacific. 246 units: E7s, E8s, 83 F7A and 35 F7B, NW2s, SW7s, SW8s, SW9s, GP7s, GP9s, GP18s, and GP35s. Serials and order numbers.

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  39. Santa Fe-Southern Pacific Railroad: Merger, History, Paint Scheme

    Nov 10, 26 10:07 PM

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    The proposed Santa Fe-Southern Pacific merger, from the 1980 attempt and the 1983 holding company through the ICC denial, the Kodachrome paint, and the sale of the Southern Pacific.

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  40. CSX Santa Train Will Feature Locomotives 250 and 2026

    Nov 10, 26 01:51 PM

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    The CSX Santa Train will feature locomotives 250 and 2026 on November 21, 2026. The 84th running covers 110 miles from Shelbiana, Kentucky, to Kingsport, Tennessee.

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  41. Denton County Asks to Extend Stadler Car Relief

    Nov 10, 26 01:05 PM

    Denton County Transit Authority has asked the FRA to extend a waiver for its Stadler diesel multiple-unit cars. Comments run to January 11, 2027.

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  42. FreightCar America Reports Third-Quarter Results

    Nov 10, 26 01:02 PM

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    FreightCar America reported third-quarter revenue of $76.5 million and 662 railcar deliveries. Backlog stood at 2,660 cars valued at $284.5 million.

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  43. Amtrak Has Filed a Train Control Amendment

    Nov 10, 26 12:53 PM

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    Amtrak asked the FRA on October 26, 2026, to amend the safety plan for its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System. Comments are due November 30, 2026.

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  44. SunRail Signal Waiver Is Open for Comment

    Nov 10, 26 12:25 PM

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    FRA has asked for comment on a petition to extend signal-testing relief on the Central Florida Rail Corridor. The notice names both the corridor and CSXT. Comments run to January 11, 2027.

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  45. Cars and Units Rose With BNSF Third-Quarter Earnings

    Nov 10, 26 12:18 PM

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    Berkshire Hathaway reports that after-tax BNSF earnings increased 19.3 percent in the third quarter of 2026, with car and unit volumes up 3.9 percent.

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  46. Amtrak Chicago Platforms Are Moving Toward Level Boarding

    Nov 10, 26 12:13 PM

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    Amtrak says construction is underway soon on the first level boarding platforms at Chicago Union Station, a 112 million dollar, 30-month project.

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  47. Maryland Has New Penn Line Times on November 16

    Nov 10, 26 12:07 PM

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    MARC Penn Line schedules change on November 16, 2026, after Amtrak trains return to regular schedules. Weekend southbound trains are unchanged.

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  48. Building Contract for Metrolink Sidings Goes to Granite

    Nov 10, 26 12:00 PM

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    Granite says Metrolink awarded a 51.5 million dollar SCORE contract for sidings near downtown Los Angeles and in Rancho Cucamonga.

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  49. EMD "F2" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, History

    Nov 10, 26 12:22 AM

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    EMD F2, the 1,350-horsepower bridge between the FT and the F3. 104 locomotives, July through November 1946. Spotting features, specifications, and the production roster.

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  50. Southern Pacific Diesel Roster (All-Time)

    Nov 10, 26 12:08 AM

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    Southern Pacific diesel roster with builder serials, order numbers, Texas and New Orleans numbers, and the 1965 renumbering. Alco, Baldwin, Fairbanks-Morse, Electro-Motive, General Electric, Krauss-Ma…

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