EMD E-unit Locomotives

EMD E-unit

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EMD E-units were a line of passenger train diesel locomotives built by the General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) and its predecessor the Electro-Motive Corporation (EMC). Final assembly for all E-units was in La Grange, Illinois. Production ran from May, 1937, to December, 1963. The name E-units refers to the model numbers given to each successive type, which all began with E. The E originally stood for eighteen hundred horsepower (1300 kW), the power of the earliest model, but the letter was kept for later models of higher power.

The predecessors of the E-units were the EMC 1800 hp B-B locomotives built in 1935. These had similar power and mechanical layouts to the E-units, but in boxcab bodies on AAR type B two-axle trucks.

EMC also introduced the TA model in 1937, selling six to the Rock Island. This had similar carbody styling, but otherwise had more in common with UP M-10001, M-10002, and M-10003 through M-10007, in that it was a 1,200 hp (900 kW), single-engined unit on B-B trucks instead of the E-units' A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. It is not part of the E-unit series.

Like many early passenger locomotives, E-units used two engines. Even so, while E-units were used singly for shorter trains, longer trains needed multiple locomotive units; many railroads used triple units. E-units could be purchased with or without driving cabs; units with a cab are called A units or lead units, while cabless units are called B units or booster units. B units did contain simple controls for hostling, but they could not be so controlled on the main line. The locomotive units were linked together with cables which enabled the crew in the lead unit at the front to control the trailing units. Railroads tended to buy either ABA sets (two driving cab-equipped units facing in opposite directions with a booster in between) or ABB sets (a single driving cab with a pair of boosters). The former did not need to be turned to pull in either direction, but B units were cheaper than A units and gave a smoother line to the train.

Development

The E3, E4, E5, and E6 were the standard pre-WWII production models, with little difference between them. All had the new 567 engines, for a total of 2,000 hp (1.5 MW). They had the sharply raked “slant nose”, and square windows on the sides. Production would stop in 1942.The EA/EB, E1, and E2 were limited production development models, each type selling to a single railroad. Their twin V-12 diesel engine layout, Blomberg A-1-A trucks, and 57 ft 1 in (17.40 m) wheelbase would become the standard for all future E models.

The E7 was introduced in 1945, and became the best selling E model. It had the improved 567 “A” engine, and the F style “bulldog nose”.

The E8 and E9 were the final E models. The E8 had 567 “B” engines (2,250 hp (1.68 MW) total), the E9 had the uprated 567 “C” engine (2,400 hp (1.8 MW) total). They both used the same body style, with a grille along the top of the sides the length of the loco, and several “porthole” windows below it.

Model descriptions are as built, EMC/EMD locomotives are often rebuilt to newer standards.^[1][2][3]

Engines

While there were some cosmetic differences between E-unit models, the major line of development was technological, and largely that of increasing power. The first model, the EA/EB, was rated at 1800 hp (1300 kW), then the E3 was rated at 2,000 hp. The last model, the E9, was rated at 2,400 hp (1800 kW).

Early models (EA/EB through E2) used the Winton 201-A engine that had been purchased by Electro-Motive Corporation, the immediate ancestor of the Electro-Motive Division ofGeneral Motors. This engine had been designed for submarine use, and wasn't well suited to the sustained full throttle operation often needed in railroad service. It was not unusual for heavy repairs to be done en route on one engine while the other engine propelled the train at reduced speed. The 201-A engines used in E-units were 900 hp (700 kW) V12s.

The E3 introduced the 567 series diesel, which would power all later E units. The 567 was designed for railroad locomotives, a supercharged 2 stroke 45 degree V type with 567 cu in (9.29 L) displacement per cylinder, a total of 6,804 cu in (111.50 L) per engine. Two D.C. generators powered four traction motors, two on each truck, in an A1A-A1A arrangement. This truck design was used on all E units and on CB&Q 9908 and MP 7100 power cars. EMC/EMD has built all of its major components since 1939. ^[4] [5]

Trucks

All E-units used the same EMD passenger truck design by engineer Martin Blomberg. This was an A1A-A1A truck, with the outer axles powered and the center axle unpowered. Like the well-known two-axle Blomberg B trucks, these trucks had outside spring hangers between the wheels for better cushioning of side-to-side motion. Also like the Blomberg B, there were no drop equalizers between the axles. The success of the design is shown by the few changes to it over the years.

Styling

The EA and E1 had sloping noses with recessed headlights, while the E2 had a more bulbous "bulldog" nose. Models E3 through E6 had a sloping nose but with a protruding headlight, while models E7 through E9 used a less sloped (closer to vertical) style like the freight F-units. A patent of 1937 signed by several EMC engineers defined the styling.^[6]

Many older E-units were updated to newer styles. The E8 introduced the one-piece stamped Farr stainless-steel side grilles that made a continuous band from front to rear just below the roof, but these were often retrofitted to earlier units. Side windows were half-rounded on the EA/EB, square on the E1, round on the E2, square on most E3 through E7 units, and rounded portholes again on the E8 and E9, but again many railroads updated older locomotives.

The E5 units were unique, produced for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in all stainless steel with fluted lower carbody sides, to match the railroad's Zephyr passenger trains. Models E3 through E9 used the EMD model 567 engine, named after its engine displacement in cubic inches per cylinder. Although similar in some ways to the earlier Winton design, the 567 model had been developed by EMD specifically for locomotive use, and exhibited excellent performance and reliability in high speed passenger train service. The 567 had a greater displacement per cylinder than the 201-A and ran at a higher maximum rpm, elements which when combined gave greater engine output. The 12V-567 V12 model used in the E3 through E6 developed 1000 hp (750 kW). The E7 model used the 12V-567A rated at 1000 hp (750 kW). The E8 used the more advanced 567B unit, with improved exhaust manifolds and other enhancements to give 1,125 hp each. More development resulted in the 1200 hp (900 kW) 567C engine used in the E9.

Other changes

Other improvements occurred independently of the change in engine design. The E8, for example, was the first model to incorporate electric cooling fans, and offer dynamic braking as an option.

Models

Model designation	Build year	Total produced	AAR wheel arrangement	Prime mover	Power output
EA/EB	1937–1938	6 A units, 6 B units	A1A-A1A	Winton 201-A	1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
E1	1937–1938	8 A units, 3 B units	A1A-A1A	Winton 201-A	1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
E2	1937	2 A units, 4 B units	A1A-A1A	Winton 201-A	1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
E3	1938–1940	17 A units, 2 B units	A1A-A1A	EMD 567	2,000 hp (1,490 kW)
E4	1938	14 A units, 5 B units	A1A-A1A	EMD 567	2,000 hp (1,490 kW)
E5	1940–1941	11 A units, 5 B units	A1A-A1A	EMD 567	2,000 hp (1,490 kW)
E6	1939–1942	91 A units, 26 B units	A1A-A1A	EMD 567	2,000 hp (1,490 kW)
E7	1945–1949	428 A units, 82 B units	A1A-A1A	EMD 567A	2,000 hp (1,490 kW)
E8	1949–1954	450 A units, 46 B units	A1A-A1A	EMD 567B	2,250 hp (1,678 kW)
E9	1954–1964	100 A units, 44 B units	A1A-A1A	EMD 567C	2,400 hp (1,790 kW)