Electro-Motive Division of General Motors was North America’s leading locomotive builder from 1945 to 1983. After the early years of custom-built motive power and trains, EMD took to the rails in a big way when it built its first freight locomotives in 1939. The FT locomotive put the future of steam locomotion on notice, and the classic bulldog nose styling became an icon of locomotive design. In 1949, the GP (for general purpose) was born of functionalism, with the Geeps morphing into a whole line of purely utilitarian freight locomotives that became staples on nearly every railroad in North America. Railroading’s desire for more horsepower introduced further refined series of locomotives with four-and-six-axle (and traction motor) versions available.

Over the years, EMD locomotives have worn just about every colour of the spectrum. Within these pages is a vivid survey of thirty-five years of Mike Danneman photographs illustrating the EMD locomotive.