EMD E8

The EMD E8 was a 2,250-horsepower (1,678 kW), A1A-A1A passenger-train locomotive manufactured by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of La Grange, Illinois. The cab version, or E8A, was manufactured from August 1949 to January 1954, and 450 were produced – 447 for U.S., and 3 for Canada. The booster version, or E8B, was manufactured from December 1949 to January 1954, and 46 were produced – all for the U.S. The 2,250 hp was achieved with two 1,125 hp (839 kW) 12 cylinder model 567B engines, each driving a generator to power the two traction motors on one truck. The E8 was the ninth model in the line of passenger diesels of similar design known as EMD E-units.

The noses of the E8 cab units had the appearance of a bulldog's snout when viewed from the side, and E7, E8, and E9 units (and their four axle cousins, the F-unit series) have been nicknamed “bulldog nose” units. Earlier E-unit locomotives had a more slanted nose and were nicknamed “shovel nose” units or “slant nose” units. After passenger trains were canceled on the Erie Lackawanna in 1970, the E8s were re-geared for freight and were very reliable for the EL. These units were on freight trains until the early years of Consolidated Railroad Corporation ("Conrail").