Canadian National Purges Fleet of Unique GMD-1 Locomotives

By David Stowe

TORONTO — After a remarkable six decades of service, the GMD-1 era on Canadian National appears to be coming to an end.

On March 10, CN retired the majority of the 1,200 horsepower light road switchers still on the roster, including locomotives 1408, 1412, 1437, 1440 and 1444.

The locomotives were stored out of service at MacMillan Yard in Toronto. 

Offered as a Canada-only model when introduced in 1958, CN bought most of the 101 examples built, minus five ordered by Northern Alberta. The locomotives were essentially an update of EMD’s 1,000 horsepower NW5 from 1946.

They were a success compared to the U.S. version, the RS1235, of which only two were built for Chicago & Illinois Midland.

As of this week, it appeared only GMD-1 locomotives were still serviceable on the system. Five of the locomotives — 1400, 1405, 1419, 1421 and 1438 — were in Winnipeg, Man., and one, 1439, was in Hamilton, Ont. 

Some of the previously retired GMD-1s have found new careers on short lines on both sides of the border.