NW5

From RailroadfanWiki

The Electromotive Division NW5 is a 4 axle, 1,000 HP diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by EMD between 1946 and 1947. It uses a 12 cylinder 567A prime mover rated at 1,000 HP. The NW5 rides on an elongated frame and road switcher Geep style Blomberg trucks. The elongated frame was needed to create space for the steam generator housed in the nose of the locomotive, which was used to provide heat to passenger cars while switching occupied passenger trains.

13 NW5's were built, with Great Northern getting 10, Union Belt of Detroit getting 2, and 1 going to Southern. The locomotives were primarily used to switch busy passenger stations; UBD's switched the Fort Street Union Depot in Detroit. The design was EMD's answer to Alco's RS locomotives, but apparently lost interest after so few sales. 4 are preserved today, with one in operation on the Massachusetts Central, and another at the Lake Superior RR Museum.

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