Diesel of the Day 7/27: EMD GP30

Today’s diesel is a unique model whose external styling was not repeated: the EMD GP30. Electro-Motive saw that GE was garnering much interest and several sales of their shiny new U25B, so the GP30 was developed to compete. (‘30’ was chosen because it is greater than ‘25’! Originally EMD was to call this unit the GP22, but the marketing department wanted to one-up GE.) Like the U25B, the GP30 incorporated a sealed, filtered engine compartment designed for ease of access and maintenance. EMD chose the 16-cylinder 567D3 turbocharged two-stroke engine to power the GP30, rated at 2,250 horsepower. While this was a bit less than the competing U25B’s 2,500, EMD bet on returning customers preferring the tried-and-true reliability of their products. They guessed correctly, and the GP30 went on to sell 948 units between 1961-63 compared to GE’s 478 U25Bs. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the GP30 is its unique rounded cab and carbody styling, developed by GM R&D to set the diesel apart from competing units. The design was not repeated on later models, but is quite striking. You can see it in today’s photo, which shows GP30 number 1030, an ex-Louisville & Nashville Railroad diesel that now works for the Orlando & Northwestern tourist railway near where I live.