2433282 - NORFOLK SOUTHERN LEGACY SD40E #6319

Facing growing competition from the larger "Dash 7s" of General Electric, EMD pushed its 16-cylinder 645 engine to its max. The 3500 horsepower SD50 produced nearly the same horsepower output as the SD45 but with a power plant 20% smaller. Although the front of the locomotives didn't change much in appearance, a longer frame and hood allowed rearrangement of the dynamic brakes and produced a long, sleek, and imposing design. With its engine pressed to its limits, operating problems plagued the SD50s. Despite being delivered to 12 railroads, production would last less than 5 years. In 1986 the new SD60 replaced the earlier model in a very similar car body but with an all-new engine. It would be the building block for the next generation of EMD power. Despite the early problems, many railroads rebuilt and tuned the SD50s into reliable power which would serve well for decades to come. In the past 10 years, more extensive rebuilds have kept fleets running for second, third or even fourth o