EMD G8
The EMD G8 was a General Motors-built diesel-electric locomotive of which 382 were built between 1954 and 1965 for both export and domestic use. They were built by both Electro-Motive Division in the United States and by General Motors Diesel Division in Canada for use in ten countries, being equipped to operate on several different track gauges.Overview
The G8 was built for use in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Liberia, and New Zealand. The 1967 Israeli invasion of Sinai captured Egyptian G8 number 3256, which became Israel Railways number 251.
The G8 was also built in Australia under licence by Clyde Engineering, with Victorian Railways purchasing a total of 89 between 1955 and 1969, with later variants including a redesigned cab, carbody and radiator and those built after 1967 equipped with the newer EMD 645 engine rather than the EMD 567 which had been fitted to the earlier locomotives. They were designated as the T class.
BHP also purchased two G8s, classed as the DE class, for service on its mine railways in the Middleback Ranges, South Australia. Both locomotives also saw service on the Coffin Bay mineral sands tramway out of Port Lincoln.
