EMD E5

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EMD E5
EMD E5
Preserved E5 Silver Pilot at Illinois Railway Museum
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
Model E5
Build date 1940–1941
Total production 11 A units, 5 B units
AAR wheel arr. A1A-A1A
Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Engine type dual EMD 567
Cylinders V12
Power output 2,000 hp
Career Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and subsidiaries
Disposition One unit preserved in operating condition at the Illinois Railway Museum

The EMD E5 was a 2,000 hp, A1A-A1A passenger train-hauling diesel locomotive manufactured by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of La Grange, Illinois, and produced exclusively for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad ("The Burlington Route"), and its subsidiaries, during 1940 and 1941. The E5 was distinguished from the otherwise very similar E3, E4 and E6 by being clad in polished stainless steel to match the Burlington's Zephyr trains. Like those other models, the E5 had a sloping "slant nose" equipped with two headlights — a regular stationary headlight and a gyrating signal light. The E5 was the sixth model in a long line of passenger diesels of similar design known as EMD E-units.

The 2,000 hp. was achieved by putting two model 567 V12 1,000 hp engines in the engine compartment, each engine driving its own electrical generator to power the traction motors.

The last surviving EMD E5 diesel, named Silver Pilot, is owned and operated by the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. Last used on the Fort Worth and Denver Railway (a CB&Q subsidiary) on the Texas Zephyr, the E5 is matched with one of the Burlington's Nebraska Zephyrs, a 5 car, articulated, stainless steel 1936 passenger train. This equipment was used in the production of the 1992 film A League of Their Own, and for the 2006 film Flags of Our Fathers, E5 9911A Silver Pilot was used with 4 stainless steel passenger cars relettered to resemble the Zephyr trainset.

[edit] Original Owners

Railroad Cab-equipped
A units
Cabless booster
B units
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad 9 3
Colorado and Southern Railway 1 1
Fort Worth and Denver Railway 1 1

[edit] Locomotive Names


Name Cab/Booster #(as built)
Silver Bullet (cab) 9909
Silver Speed (cab) 9910A
Silver Power (booster) 9910B
Silver Pilot (cab) 9911A
Silver Mate (booster) 9911B
Silver Meteor (cab) 9912A
Silver Comet (booster) 9912B
Silver Wings (cab) 9913
Silver Arrow (cab) 9914A
Silver Swift (cab) 9914B
Silver Carrier (cab) 9915A
Silver Clipper (cab) 9915B
Silver Racer (cab) 9950A (C&S)
Silver Steed (booster) 9950B (C&S)
Silver Chief (cab) 9980A (FW&D)
Silver Warrior (booster) 9980B (FW&D)

[edit] References and external links