GMD GP40TC

The General Motors-Electro Motive Divison GP40TC was a four-axle passenger diesel locomotive developed exclusively for Government of Ontario Transit (GO Transit). They were essentially EMD GP40s built on an SD40 frame, to accommodate HEP equipment. They were the first production locomotive in North America to be factory equipped with HEP.
8 units were built, and they operated from 1966 to 1988, when they were retired and sold to Amtrak. They have since been rebuilt into GP38-H3s, and continue in service today as switchers, as well as backup power if a nearby train fails to move.
==History==
When the Government of Ontario first proposed the idea for a commuter rail, it was decided that the locomotives and cars would be based off of existing locomotives, so they could be sold off should the system fail. This is why the locomotives were originally painted in a unique paint scheme including the CN blue-black paint as the base colour so the locomotives wouldn't require a full repaint if sold to CN. As GO Transit became more popular, they were repainted into GO's unique "Hockey Stick" paint scheme. With that set in mind, the government placed an 8-unit order with General Motors of London, ONT, for the motive power. They were designated "GP40TC," with the "TC" standing for "Toronto Commuter."
Fortunately for the government, the system was an instant success and was soon choked to its limits
They are unlike any GP40 ever built; they are evidently longer, as due to the HEP generator they were built on an SD40 frame. The nose has been shortened as well-they were only 60 inches long as opposed to the 81 inch nose found on other GP40s.
The HEP systems of these units were known to produce a very shrill whine, which the residents living near the GO Willowbrook yard found extremely annoying. Installation of lineside power and sound-deadening material solved this problem.
Due to the cramped space the HEP generators were installed in and the difficulties in servicing them, amongst other reasons, GO made the decision to order locomotives without HEP generators (and instead use rebuilt FP7s and F9Bs to supply HEP) until 1988, when they and GMD designed the F59PH.
The GP40TC units were numbered 500-507, and were classed by CN as GCE-430a. The units were formerly numbered 9800-9807 and 600-607, which overlaps the MP40PH-3C roster.
All were retired and sold to Amtrak by 1988, being replaced by the first F59PH order. They have been rebuilt to GP38H-3 specifications, and continue in service today.
CN also briefly used them along with GO's F40PH's on frieght trains around Toronto during weekends, when not in use by GO Transit.
he S-2 was built between August 1940 and June 1950, with a total of 1502 completed, while the S-4 was constructed between June 1949 and August 1957 (MLW until 1957) with total sales of 797.
== Gallery ==
File:AMTK 525.jpg
== ==
Category:Amtrak locomotives
Category:Four-axled diesel locomotives
Category:EMD locomotives
Category:Metrolinx Vehicles
Category:Diesel locomotives
Category:Go Transit locomotives
Category:Locomotives