An EMD GP50 is a 4-axle diesel–electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD). It is powered by a 16-cylinder EMD 645F3B diesel engine, which can produce between 3,500 and 3,600 hp (2,610 and 2,685 kW). 278 examples of this locomotive were built by EMD between 1980 and 1985. BN 3110-3162 were all delivered with five cab seats, the final five of these having the cab lengthened 23 in (584 mm) vs. the standard EMD cab. The GP50 retains the same overall length of 59 feet 2 inches (18.03 meters) as the GP38, GP39, and GP40 series locomotives.
History
EMD delivered the first GP50s to Chicago and North Western in the summer of 1980. Much of the GP50's new technology was tested and developed with the experimental GP40X. And in early 2016, Norfolk Southern rebuilt one GP50 into their first GP59ECO. These units, most of which utilized GP59 cores, have similar specifications as the earlier GP33ECO program but have been built without public funding contributing to their construction.
BNSF
In 2004, BNSF started rebuilding and derating GP50s and reclassifying them as GP25s. These locomotives are regoverned to using new load control systems (LCS).