EMD GP20 High Hood

Burlington Northern  No. 2009

DC Powered GP20 Is Loaded With Features.

In 1955, faced with increasing pressure from long-haul trucks, declining passenger revenues and mounting costs, Union Pacific equipped several GP9s with turbochargers as an experiment.

Inspired by UP’s success, EMD created its own turbocharger for the 567 prime mover, and introduced the six-axle SD24 in 1958.

The following year saw the creation of a four-axle version, christened the GP20.

Impressed by the new model's ability to deliver maximum horsepower at various altitudes Western Pacific ordered the first six, with Great Northern ordering 36 units shortly thereafter.

As conceived, the long hood was actually the front of these engines – they would be the only high-hood examples built – and a short, high hood was installed behind the cab.

Typically assigned to priority freights early in their careers, the 1960s saw a period of change and the arrival of newer power bumped these GP20s into secondary service.

As WP merged with UP and GN became part of Burlington Northern, most of the high-hood units were still in service, many being repainted and renumbered for their new owners, and spent their last years in local and yard service.

Upon retirement, a few of these engines went to work for shortline operators. In 1985, Western Pacific #2001, the very first GP20, was donated by UP to the Feather River Rail Society and it has been restored to its as-built appearance.

• Prototype specific details
• Retooled handrails & other parts for more accurate detail
• Over 135 factory-applied parts
• Consumer-applied parts pack included
• Heavy diecast chassis
• 5-pole motor with skew wound armature
• Precisely meshed worm gear & spur teeth for silent running
• LED directional headlights
• Magnetic knuckle couplers

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