EMD G12
| Company type | Diesel-electric locomotive series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Locomotive manufacturing |
| Founded | 1950s |
| Founder | General Motors Electro-Motive Division (GM-EMD) |
| Products | Diesel-electric locomotives |
The EMD G12 represents a series of export locomotives manufactured by GM-EMD along with its Canadian branch, General Motors Diesel. In 1957, the Australian licensee Clyde Engineering produced ten units destined for New Zealand, five for Hong Kong, 23 for Queensland, 14 for Western Australia, and seven for BHP. Another Australian licensee, Commonwealth Engineering, constructed 42 locomotives for Queensland Rail between 1964 and 1966. The production of these units occurred throughout the 1950s and 1960s, catering to international markets.
These locomotives were equipped with EMD 12-567C prime movers delivering , with some later upgraded to EMD 645 engines. Variants featuring A1A-A1A and C-C wheel arrangements were designed with reduced axle loads compared to the B-B configuration.
Australia
- 7 units operated by BHP Whyalla DE class
Brazil
A total of 241 locomotives were distributed as follows:
- 2 units for Estrada de Ferro de Goiás numbered 5201–5202
- 30 units for Mogiana Railway numbered 3001–3030
- 43 units for Estrada de Ferro Noroeste do Brasil numbered 1101–1143
- 17 units for Rede de Viação Paraná-Santa Catarina numbered 1321–1337
- 18 units for Companhia Paulista de Estradas de Ferro numbered 700–717
- 25 units for Rede Mineira de Viação numbered 2201–2207 and 2211–2228
- 71 units for Viação Férrea do Rio Grande do Sul numbered 2121–2145, 2161–2168, and 6169–6206
- 35 units for Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas numbered 531–565
Canada
- Two locomotives for the London & Port Stanley Railway, designated L4 and L5
- One demonstrator unit from General Motors Diesel, number 7707, which was later acquired by Sweden’s Statens Järnvägar as T42. This locomotive operated from 1956 until 1983 and is now preserved and operational at the Swedish State Railroad Museum.
Chile
- Three locomotives owned by Andes Copper Mining, numbered 81–83, now operated by Ferronor.
Egypt
- Ninety-seven units served by Egyptian Railways, numbered from 3701 to 3797. During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured four of these (3712, 3715, 3766, and 3795), integrating them into Israel Railways' fleet.
Israel
- Twenty-three locomotives utilized by Israel Railways, numbered from 104 to 126; several were rebuilt with 12-645E engines. Following the Six-Day War in 1967, four Egyptian G12s seized during the conflict were renumbered as units 127 through 130.
Iran
- One hundred thirty-seven locomotives operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, marked from 40.01 to 40.137.
- Many of these feature upgraded full-view driver cabs similar to those on GT26 models.
- In 2001, the Railway Research Center (MATRAI) converted a G12 locomotive into a Hybrid locomotive employing AC drive technology.
Hong Kong
- Five locomotives owned by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, numbered from No. 51 to No. 55.
- Constructed by Clyde Engineering in Sydney during two periods: Nos. 51 and 52 in 1955, and Nos. 53 through 55 in 1957.
- No. 51, named "Sir Alexander" after Governor Alexander Grantham, was retired in 1997 and preserved at the Hong Kong Railway Museum in 2004.
- Units No. 52 to No. 55 were withdrawn from service in June 2004; all were sold to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia in October 2005 and reintroduced as TL152 through TL155 by early 2007 following rebranding.
- TL152 (formerly No. 52 "Lady Maurine") was sold around 2014 to K&AB Rail, then transferred to SCT in 2020; it currently functions as a shunter at Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal in Dooen.
- TL153 (formerly No. 53 "H.P. Winslow") is on static display at Dalby Machinery Centre in Queensland.
- TL154 (formerly No. 54 "R. Baker") is stored at Tailem Bend; it is non-operational and used primarily for spare parts.
- TL155 (formerly No. 55 "R.D. Walker") underwent restoration in 2020 and is leased out to SCT.
- Initially, these locomotives bore painted names on their valances which were later replaced with cast nameplates; upon sale to CFCLA, all names except that of No. 51 were removed.
- Throughout their operational lives, modifications included fitting air conditioning systems, diesel generators, strengthened windows, widened steps, and upgraded exhaust arrangements.
- Their liveries evolved from original green and silver schemes to grey featuring KCR logos during the 1980s; subsequently, red or blue color schemes were applied in the late 1990s. For preservation purposes, No. 51 was repainted in a livery closely resembling its original colors.
Mexico
- 84 units operated by Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, numbered 5806–5889
Netherlands
- 5 locomotives from Dutch State Mines SM 151-155, constructed between 1956 and 1959 under Henschel G12 license from Germany. These were sold in 1970 to Nederlandse Spoorwegen as the NS 2901–2905 series, and later transferred in 1975 to Spain’s Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha.
South Korea
- A total of 25 units for Korean National Railways, numbered 4001–4015 (with locomotives 4011–4015 modified to reach speeds of 153 km/h and renumbered as 4301–4305), plus an additional set numbered 4101–4110
Nigeria
- Fleet of 25 locomotives owned by Nigerian Railways, identified as numbers 1101–1125
Norway
- Two units for Sydvaranger, labeled 1 and DE101 – G12 models, which operated on the Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line from 1954 until 1997
Sri Lanka
- Two Sri Lanka Railways Class M2C locomotives, numbered 626 and 627, primarily utilized on upcountry routes prior to 2010
Sweden
- One locomotive acquired by SJ in 1956, initially designated T5 and later reclassified as T42; built by GM for European demonstration purposes and currently preserved at the Swedish Railway Museum
Venezuela
- Three locomotives assigned to Government Coal Mines, numbered sequentially from 01 to 03
Argentina
- Twenty-five units serving the Sarmiento Railway, originally numbered 4501–4525 and subsequently renumbered to 6551–6575
Australia
- Thirteen locomotives classified as the Queensland Rail 1400 class
Brazil
- Total of twenty-six locomotives distributed as follows:
- Six for Rede Mineira de Viação, numbers 2708–2712
- Twenty for Viação Férrea do Rio Grande do Sul, numbered 2101–2120
Indonesia
- Eleven BB201 series locomotives operated by Indonesian State Railways
Mexico
- Six units of Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, numbered from 5800 through 5805
New Zealand
- One hundred forty-six locomotives of the New Zealand DA class locomotive, numbered consecutively from 1400 to 1545
Sri Lanka
- Twelve locomotives in service with Sri Lanka Railways, most currently operational except for M2 unit 571 which was destroyed due to terrorism
- Class M2: units numbered 569–573
- Class M2A: units 591–593 (unit 591 was rebuilt following tsunami damage)
- Class M2B: units 594–595
- Class M2D: units 628–629
Taiwan
- Fifty-two locomotives under the Taiwan Railway Administration, numbered R21 through R72; some were enhanced with 12-645E engines; units R56–R59 were transferred to Malawi Railways in July of 2006
United States
- A single demonstrator unit produced by the Electro-Motive Division in the year 1956
Argentina
- Sixty GR12 model locomotives assigned to the Sarmiento Railway, originally numbered from 6576 to 6635 with some changes in numbering over time
Australia
- Sixty-six total units distributed as:
- Ten units of the Queensland Rail 1450 class
- Forty-two units of the Queensland Rail 1460 class, many of which were later sold to Tranz Rail and converted into New Zealand’s DQ class
- Fourteen units of the WAGR A class
Chile
Forty-one locomotives deployed across various industrial sectors:
- Three GR12s for Andes Copper Mining Co, numbers 91–93
- Three GR12s operated by Chile Iron Mines, identified as numbers 5–7
- Nineteen GR12s serving Chilean State Railways, numbered Dt13.01 through Dt13.19
- Six GR12s belonging to Cia De Acero Del Pacifico, numbers ranging from 701 to 706
- Ten GR12s used by FC AyB, numbered consecutively from1400 to1409
Colombia
- Twenty-seven locomotives managed by National Railways of Colombia, bearing numbers from401 to427
Liberia
Seven locomotives, numbered 21 through 27, were supplied to National Iron Ore.
Peru
Cerro De Pasco operated seven GR12 units, designated 31 to 37.
South Africa
South African Iron Steel utilized three locomotives, identified as D31 to D33.
Tunisia
The Sfax-Gafsa Railway fleet included six GR12 locomotives, numbered from 501 to 506.
Preservation
In Korea, KORAIL's unit 4102 stands as the only preserved G12 model, exhibited at the Daejeon MPD alongside SD9 number 5025; both engines contributed to the construction of the KTX Gyeongbu line. Moreover, a former KCRC G12 locomotive built in Australia is conserved at the Hong Kong Railway Museum.