The EMD FT is a 1,350-horsepower (1,010 kW) diesel-electric locomotive that was produced between March 1939 and November 1945, by General Motors' Electro-Motive Corporation (EMC), later known as GM Electro-Motive Division (EMD).

Feb 28, 2025 · Officially, the FT stood for Freight, Twenty-seven hundred horsepower (two units). The demonstrator set embarked on a cross-country tour in November, 1939 featuring A units #103 and #103A and B units #103(b) and #103A(b).

Aug 1, 2016 · By 1947 the now-Electro-Motive Division of General Motors was cranking out four to six diesel locomotives a day. It’s appropriate in this 75th anniversary year of that fateful tour that the original FT, No. 103, is still with us.

EMD’s FTs were, essentially, a pair of diesels, similar to the later F3s through the F9s. The famous “bulldog nose” was first offered on the FT, later finding its way to later F-units (F3s through F9s) as well as later E-units (E7s through E9s). A total of 555 cab-equipped FT “A section” diesels were built, with 541 cabless FT “B sections”.

The EMD FT was considered the first successful diesel-electric locomotive built. It was designed and built by the Electro-Motive Corporation (now Electro-Motive Diesel) as an alternative to steam power.

General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) locomotive #103 (FT 103) was a demonstrator with 1350 horsepower. First successful diesel electric locomotive. This locomotive proved the efficiency of diesel electric power, ending the steam locomotive era. National Engineering Landmark declared 1982.

Feb 20, 2025 · The FT (which stood for Freight, Twenty-seven hundred horsepower) was a superb locomotive and although its 2,700 horsepower came from an A-B setup of a cab (A) plus booster (B), each rated at 1,350 horsepower, the model would be embraced by the rail industry for the efficiencies it held over steam power as well as being rugged and easy to maintain.

Introduced in 1939, the EMD (Electro-Motive Division - General Motors) FT locomotive was "the diesel that did it," proving the viability of diesel power in road freight service and portending the eventual end of steam power in American railroading.

its builders, knew what the new creation could do. True, the 17-year-old Electro-Motive had been a pioneer in diesel propulsion for railroad use, having built a successful line of self-propelled passenger cars (doodle-bugs), d. esel switchers, and diesel passen-ger locomotives. But t.