GP7s

GP7s are a class of diesel-electric locomotives built by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors in the mid-1950s as part of the GP, or General Purpose, family. They were designed to combine road performance with switching capability, making them versatile for freight service and yard work across North America.

Technical features: The GP7 is a four-axle road-switcher with a B-B wheel arrangement. It is powered by an EMD 16-567C diesel engine producing 1,500 horsepower, connected to a DC traction system and six or eight traction motors via the locomotive’s electrical equipment. The typical configuration places a shorter cab at one end and a long hood at the other, giving the crew good visibility for line-haul and yard operations.

Production and service: EMD produced GP7s from 1954 to 1956, with hundreds delivered to major railroads in the United States and Canada. They were employed in a variety of duties, including mainline freight, branch-line service, and yard switching, and remained in service with several operators for decades.

Legacy and variants: The GP7 established the design language of the GP line and was the predecessor to the GP9 and related models. Throughout their lives, many GP7s were rebuilt or upgraded, and some units have been preserved or restored on heritage railways and in museums.

Preservation: Several GP7s survive in railway museums or operating on heritage railways.