GENERAL MOTORS - ELECTRO MOTIVE DIVISION -
MODEL E8A & E8B
Passenger Diesel
Electric Locomotives
In August 1949, EMD
replaced the E7 model of passenger locomotives with the new E8 model. As
with the
previous model, the E8 was built in both cab and booster (or B unit) versions.
Similar in many respects to the
E7, the E8 used the short "bulldog" nose also applied to contemporary F-units
and rode on A1A-A1A trucks.
The E8 could be distinguished from the earlier model, however, by the use of
four widely spaced portholes on
the side panels, stainless steel Farr Air grills along the top of the car body
and larger number boards indented
into the cab nose. Each E8 was equipped with two V12 567B engines with a
total of 2250HP.
Most railroads
purchasing E7's also purchased E8's, and a total of 421 E8A and 39 E8B units
were constructed.
This is very close to the total number of E7's built, which was EMD's best
selling passenger diesel. The E8's
were used as premier passenger power on those roads owning them. However,
as passenger service declined,
the E8's were used in whatever service could be found for them. Some roads
rebuilt the E8's so that they could
be used for commuter service, and few roads even used them in freight service.
In 1954 the E8 models, were
superseded by the new E9 models rated at 2400HP. Except for the higher
horsepower rating, the E9's were
indistinguishable from the E8's.
For many roads the
E8's were the last passenger locomotives to be purchased. As passenger
trains were
discontinued, many were traded in on second generation freight power, but many
remained in use at the time that
Amtrak took over most long distance passenger service in the United States in
May 1971. Amtrak purchased
a considerable number of E8 locomotives and used them for a number of years
until they were replaced with
new locomotives. The E8 and E9 locomotives, taken over by Amtrak, were
among the very last holdovers of
the transition era in American railroading, as many had replaced steam
locomotives and pulled both heavyweight
and lightweight trains in their careers. This time of transition is
considered by many to be the high point of
American railroading. As a typical locomotive from this time, Key Imports
is pleased to bring you this O Scale
model.
Return To Top
