In 1980, EMD released the GP50, one of the final models using the 645-model diesel engine. The GP50 used the new 16-cylinder 645F-series engine producing 3500 horsepower through the new AR-15 alternator. The AC electrical current from the alternator was rectified to DC current to power the four new D87 traction motors.

The first GP50s were fifty units built for Chicago & NorthWestern starting in May 1980. Seventy units for Southern, ten units for Missouri Pacific and ten units for Burlington Northern completed the first year’s production. Twenty more GP50s for Southern, an additional twenty for Missouri Pacific and thirty for Santa Fe were built in 1981.

In 1985, fifteen units went to the Santa Fe and 53 to Burlington Northern. These were Phase II versions with straight-sill frame and free-flow or “laundry chute” traction motor blower bulge. They were the last GP50s built, bringing the production total to 278 units.

Until the early 1990s, the GP50s on all five railroads could be found on almost any kind of mainline train and were mixed with that road’s other power. However, GP50s were often assigned in three or four unit sets to hotshot piggyback trains. Santa Fe and Southern also had GP50s equipped as masters for remote-control operations (distributed power in today’s terms). Santa Fe used theirs on coal trains out of New Mexico, while Southern used theirs on manifest trains on the CNO&TP between Cincinnati, Ohio and Chattanooga, Tennessee. In later years the GP50s migrated to general service including locals.

Key Features - CNW

    Gong bell
    Front snowplow
    Phase I anticlimbers
    Leslie S-3 horn
    Fore and aft mirrors/windwings
    Sinclair “ice skate” antenna
    Operating Western-Cullen rotary beacon when used with DCC
    Phase I blower housing
    Winterization hatch
    Bolted battery box door with long louvers
    Standard sunshades with track
    “Stepped” side sill
    Fully assembled and ready-to-run out of the box
    Accurately painted and printed
    DCC-ready featuring Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with both 8- and 9-pin connector
    Highly detailed, injection molded plastic body
    Pilot details including Multi unit (MU) and Trainline hoses
    Blomberg M trucks
    Sliding cab side windows
    See-through cab windows
    Full cab interior
    Walkway tread
    Fine Celcon handrails for scale appearance
    See-through radiator fans
    See-through dynamic brake fans where appropriate
    Numerous photo-etched metal parts for scale realism including windshield wipers and lift rings
    Separately applied wire grab irons
    Underframe details including sander lines and air filter
    Detailed 3600-gallon fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes
    McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers, Kadee® compatible
    Genesis® driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor with precision machined flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation
    Incandescent bulbs for realistic appearance
    Bidirectional constant lighting so headlight brightness remains consistent
    Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
    All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
    All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
    Wheels with RP25 contours operate on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail
    Packaging securely holds the model for safe storage
    Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx® Tsunami ® Sound
    Sound units operate in both DC and DCC (some functions limited in DC)
    Engine, horn and bell sounds work in DC
    Using DCC, program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell and lights
    All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
    Special lighting effects including operating beacons when using DCC
    Many DCC functions can be altered via Configuration Values (CV) utilizing the included chart