thumb|300px|[[Wisconsin Central Ltd.|WC 715 at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, WI]]
The EMD GP30 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between July 1961 and November 1963. A total of 948 units were built for railroads in the United States and Canada (2 only), including 40 cabless B units for the Union Pacific Railroad.
It was the first so-called "second generation" EMD diesel locomotive, and was produced in response to increased competition by a new entrant, General Electric's U25B, which was released in 1959. The GP30 is easily recognizable due to its high profile and stepped cab roof, unique among American locomotives. wasn't quite equivalent to the GE and ALCO offerings, but EMD hoped the railroads' familiarity with EMD equipment would improve their chances. The locomotive in which the 16 cylinder, 567D3 would be fitted, was improved along the lines of the U25B; sealed long hood, central air intake, and engineered for easier maintenance access. The frame and trucks of the GP20 were carried across; the extra equipment for the centralized air system required more space behind the cab, and since the locomotive was not going to be lengthened, extra space was achieved vertically by raising the height of the locomotive, giving room for the central air system, turbocharger and electrical cabinet all behind the cab. Marketing literature claimed 30 distinct improvements from the GP20 and that this was the reason for the number. Seventy units were sent to EMD, 65 to Morrison Knudsen (now Washington Group International) and 25 to VMV Paducahbilt in Paducah for rebuilding, and the rebuilds are known as GP39E, GP39M, and GP39V respectively. The changes included new generators, Dash-2 modular electronic control systems and 567D3 engines upgraded with EMD 645-series power assemblies, rated at 2,300 hp (1,720 kW) and designated 12-645D3. Some of these units received new EMD spartan cabs. These units are still in service on locals and smaller lines throughout the BNSF Railway system.
alt=BNSF #2745 a GP39E|thumb|[[BNSF Railway|BNSF #2745, a GP39E]]
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) had previously performed a similar upgrade in its own Cleburne, Texas shops, stripping the locomotives down to bare metal and rebuilding with new equipment. The 567D3 engines were upgraded to a 2500-horsepower rating by the use of 645-series power assemblies. The generators and traction motors were upgraded and control and electrical equipment was replaced. The trucks received Hyatt roller bearings and single-shoe brake systems. Rooftop air conditioners and new horns were added. The locomotives were repainted in the blue and yellow Yellowbonnet scheme, and designated GP30u (for upgraded). 78 of these survived until the BNSF merger, and were eventually all sold off. In 2016, BNSF traded Larry's Truck and Electric 26 GP38s for 24 of the former ATSF GP30us for their GP39-3 rebuild program. The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad acquired a total of six of the former BNSF/ATSF GP30us from Larry's and designates them as GP39RN locomotives.
The Soo Line Railroad rebuilt three GP30s with CAT 3516 engines rated at . These were designated GP30C.
The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad rebuilt two GP30s in the early 1980s. These units were designated GP26. , the units remain in service on the Cimarron Valley Railroad.
The Chessie System rebuilt its GP30 units into GP30Ms, adding newer components, new traction motors and reducing their power to 2000 hp. They lasted with CSX into the mid-to-late 1990s, long after Seaboard System GP30s had been sold, retired and scrapped, or turned into road slugs.
Preservation
Many GP30s have been preserved by a variety of museums, societies and tourist railways. All preserved examples are cab units, as the cabless booster units have been scrapped. A number of these preserved locomotives are in operational condition. The following is a list of preserved GP30s in North America.
thumb|300px|[[New Hope and Ivyland Railroad 2198]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+GP30s in preservation
!Original railroad
!Original road number
!Preserved railroad
!Preserved road number
!Preservation organization
!Location
!Status
!Citations
!Notes
|-
|Baltimore & Ohio
|6923
|Raritan Central Railway
|5
|Cincinnati Scenic Railway
|Cincinnati, Ohio
|Operational
|
|Rebuilt as a GP30M. To be moved from New Jersey to Ohio and repainted into a temporary scheme for the United States Semiquincentennial and later B&O's "Sunburst" scheme.
|-
|Baltimore & Ohio
|6944
|Baltimore & Ohio
|6944
|B&O Railroad Museum
|Baltimore, Maryland
|Operational
|
|
|-
|Baltimore & Ohio
|6955
|Baltimore & Ohio
|6955
|Cincinnati Scenic Railway
|Cincinnati, Ohio
|Undergoing restoration
|
|Successfully acquired and undergoing mechanical restoration. See facebook page for details.
|-
|Canadian Pacific
|5000
|Canadian Pacific
|5000
|Alberta Railway Museum
|Edmonton, Alberta
|On static display
|
|One of only two GP30s built in Canada
|-
|Chesapeake & Ohio
|4625
|Branson Scenic Railway
|99
|Branson Scenic Railway
|Branson, Missouri
|Operational
|
|South end locomotive
|-
|Cotton Belt
|5006
|Cotton Belt
|5006
|Arkansas Railroad Museum
|Pine Bluff, Arkansas
|On static display
|
|
|-
|Denver & Rio Grande Western
|3011
|Denver & Rio Grande Western
|3011
|Colorado Railroad Museum
|Golden, Colorado
|On static display
|
|
|-
|Louisville and Nashville
|1030
|Waldens Ridge Railroad
|1030
|Southern Appalachia Railway Museum
|Knoxville, Tennessee
|Operational
|
|
|-
|Nickel Plate Road
|900
|Nickel Plate Road
|900
|Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum
|Bellevue, Ohio
|On static display
|
|
|-
|Nickel Plate Road
|901
|Nickel Plate Road
|901
|Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad
|Cincinnati, Ohio
|Operational
|
|
|-
|Nickel Plate Road
|902
|Nickel Plate Road
|902
|Cincinnati Scenic Railway
|Cincinnati, Ohio
|Operational
|
|
|-
|Norfolk & Western
|536
|Illinois Southern
|536
|GSMR
|Dillsboro, North Carolina
|Static display, in derelict condition
|
|On display along with U18B #1901 following filming of The Fugitive.
|-
|Pennsylvania Railroad
|2233
|Conrail
|2233
|Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
|Strasburg, Pennsylvania
|On static display
|
|
|-
|Union Pacific
|844
|Union Pacific
|844
|Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City
|Boulder City, Nevada
|Operational
|