EMD GA8

The EMD GA8 is an export diesel locomotive designed by GM-EMD in the late 1950s as a simplified design for overseas railways with light rail and sharp curves. It was described as an extremely lightweight road locomotive able to handle passenger or freight trains and switching. It is notable for freight car trucks driven by cardan shafts and two traction motors fixed to the underframe, which allowed most servicing without removing the motors, and for an 8-567C prime mover; late units had an 8-567E. The demonstrator was built in late 1958 or early 1959 and export production began in 1960. The related GL8 of 1960 uses standard trucks and multiple unit capability. Customers included railways in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and Zambia, and examples are still in operation.