GMD GF6C
Encyclopedia
The GF6C was an electric locomotive
for freight duties built by General Motors Diesel
in collaboration with ASEA of Sweden
.
Seven of these locomotives were built in 1983 and 1984, for use on the BC Rail's electrified Tumbler Ridge
subdivision.
Similar to EMD's GM6C
testbed locomotive, the GF6C used a frame and running gear that was identical to that of EMD's popular SD40-2
Diesel locomotive
., but had a wide cab and carbody similar to that of GMD's SD40-2F.
BC Rail chose electrification for the Tumbler Subdivision because of the long, non-ventilated tunnels, as well as steep grades and sharp curves. The line served the Quintette and Bull-Moose coal mines, and hauled coal from said mines to an interchange with CN
, where diesel power took over to haul the coal to Prince Rupert
where it was loaded onto deep-sea coal carrier ships.
The line did not get as much traffic as expected, though, and was thus not profitable enough to pay for the electricity required to run the seven locomotives.
The GF6C served until the catenary
was removed in 2000. In 2004, the Paul D. Roy family purchased locomotive 6001 and donated it to the Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum
in Prince George
; the remaining six locomotives were scrapped. 6001 is currently preserved and in remarkable condition, and, according to the museum's curator and park manager, is still operable if provided with 50 kV of electricity.
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
for freight duties built by General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
in collaboration with ASEA of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Seven of these locomotives were built in 1983 and 1984, for use on the BC Rail's electrified Tumbler Ridge
Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia
The District Municipality of Tumbler Ridge is a small town in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. The municipality of , with its population of 2,454 people, incorporates a townsite and a...
subdivision.
Similar to EMD's GM6C
EMD GM6C
The GM6C was a solitary testbed electric locomotive for freight duties built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of the United States in collaboration with ASEA of Sweden. It was rolled out from EMD's La Grange, Illinois plant on May 1, 1975...
testbed locomotive, the GF6C used a frame and running gear that was identical to that of EMD's popular SD40-2
EMD SD40-2
The EMD SD40-2 is a C-C locomotive produced by EMD from 1972 to 1989.The SD40-2 was first introduced in January 1972 as the mid-range offering in EMD's six-axle "Dash-2" series, competing against the GE U30C and the MLW M630...
Diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
., but had a wide cab and carbody similar to that of GMD's SD40-2F.
BC Rail chose electrification for the Tumbler Subdivision because of the long, non-ventilated tunnels, as well as steep grades and sharp curves. The line served the Quintette and Bull-Moose coal mines, and hauled coal from said mines to an interchange with CN
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
, where diesel power took over to haul the coal to Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
where it was loaded onto deep-sea coal carrier ships.
The line did not get as much traffic as expected, though, and was thus not profitable enough to pay for the electricity required to run the seven locomotives.
The GF6C served until the catenary
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
was removed in 2000. In 2004, the Paul D. Roy family purchased locomotive 6001 and donated it to the Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum
Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum
The Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum is in Prince George, British Columbia. Its collection consists of over sixty pieces of rolling stock , nine historical buildings and numerous smaller artifacts on an site...
in Prince George
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
; the remaining six locomotives were scrapped. 6001 is currently preserved and in remarkable condition, and, according to the museum's curator and park manager, is still operable if provided with 50 kV of electricity.