EMD GA18

EMD GA18
Taiwan Railway Administration S405 on display at Miaoli Railway Museum
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder GM-EMD La Grange, Illinois, USA Model GA18 Build date February–November 1969 Total produced 7
Specifications Configuration: ​  •  AAR B-B Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 32 in (813 mm) Wheelbase 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (Each truck) Length 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) Width 9 ft 8+3⁄4 in (2.97 m) Height 12 ft 2+11⁄16 in (3.73 m) Axle load 13.5T Loco weight 108,000 lb (48,990 kg) (54T) Prime mover GM 8-645E Engine type V8 2-stroke diesel Aspiration Roots blower Traction motors Two D75MC DC Cylinders 8 Loco brake Straight air Train brakes Air(Taiwan, Chile), Vacuum (Zambia) schedule 26-LA
Performance figures Maximum speed 45 mph (72 km/h) Power output 1,000 hp (750 kW)
Career Locale Taiwan (5), Chile (1), Zambia (1) Disposition Most scrapped, with the only known preserved example being S405, owned by Taiwan Railway Administration

The EMD GA18 was an export locomotive built by GM-EMD in 1969. The GA18 was a derivative of the EMD G18 and was designed as an extremely light locomotive with low axle loading which used freight car trucks driven by cardan shafts and two traction motors attached to the underframe. It was the successor model of the EMD GA8. They were powered by an EMD 8-645E prime mover rated at 1100 bhp and 1000 hp for traction. ^{[1] [2]} Only seven units were built. ^[3]

Original Owners

Chile

• 1 FCAB 953

Taiwan

• 5 Taiwan Railway Administration S401-S405

Zambia

• 1 Nchanga Consol Copper 10

Taiwan Railway Administration

Taiwan Railway Administration purchased five GA18 locomotives in 1969 ^[1] which were equipped with special cab signal display and track sorting devices for use as Qidu hump yard switching locomotives. They were named the S400 series by the TRA. In addition to yard switching, the TRA S400 series GA18's were also used to pull short run commuter trains. ^[4] After the closing of Qidu hump yard, the S400 series were used as general road switchers until their retirement. All have been scrapped with the exception of S405 which has been preserved and restored in its original blue paint scheme, and S402 which is currently stored in a half-dismantled state, Currently awaiting scrapping as it's nearly impossible to restore. Both locomotives are located in Taipei Railway Workshop

Gallery

• 
  TRA S400 series GA18 pulling a coal train
• 
  Disused TRA S402 at Taipei Railway Workshop
• 
  Taiwan Railway Administration S405 on display at Miaoli Railway Museum (Currently moved to Taipei Railway Workshop)
• 
  TRA S405 control stand
• 
  TRA S405 cab signal display for hump yard operation

References

1. "GM Diesels Set Sail For Taiwan". Railway Age. 167: 97. 8 December 1969.
2. Jane's World Railways Fourteenth Edition 1971-1972. 1972. p. 413.
3. "Export GA18 Order Numbers". The UNofficial EMD Homepage.
4. Extra 2220 South May-June 1971. 1971. p. 12.