The SD20 is the product of a rebuilding program by the Illinois Central Gulf's Paducah Shops as a conversion from the

EMD SD7 An SD7 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between May 1951 and November 1953. It had an EMD 567B 16-cylinder engine producing for its six traction motors. 188 were built for United States railroads. ...

EMD SD24 The EMD SD24 was a six-axle ( C-C) diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between July 1958 and March 1963. A total of 224 units were built for customers in the United States, comprising ...

, SD24B (cabless), and

EMD SD35 An EMD SD35 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June 1964 and January 1966. Power was provided by an EMD 567D3A, 16-cylinder engine which generated . A fuel tank was used on this unit. ...

locomotives. The program involved rebuilding the 567 engine to 645E with 2000 horsepower rating, eliminating the turbocharger if equipped with one, upgrading the electronics to Dash 2 technology, and adding cabs to the B units. A total of 42 units were rebuilt. Original heritage of the rebuilt units was 3 Union Pacific SD7s, 4 Union Pacific SD24s, 10 Union Pacific SD24Bs, 21 Southern SD24s, and 4 Baltimore and Ohio SD35s. Many of the units to be rebuilt were purchased from Precision National. Three of the ex-Southern SD24s wore Precision reporting marks. The locomotives were rebuilt between August 1979 and December 1982. Road Numbers assigned were 2000–2041. Unit 2041 was the last Paducah rebuild.

Usage

Many SD20s are still in use with leasing companies and regional and shortline railroads. The

Wisconsin and Southern Railroad The Wisconsin and Southern Railroad is a Class II regional railroad in Southern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois currently operated by Watco. It operates former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) and Chicago ...

and

Indiana Harbor Belt The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad is a Class III railroadSurface Transportation BoardThe Belt Railway Company of Chicago -- Trackage Rights Exemption -- Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company January 9, 2002 in the United States. Ownership The IHB ...

are both notable second and third owners of the SD20. On January 22, 2008, the Wisconsin Southern ran its last run using an SD20, all have now been sold.

References

*Extra 2200 South Jan Feb Mar 1992 Issue #94 "Illinois Central Railroad, Illinois Central Gulf, Illinois Central Part 2: Paducah Switchers and SD20s" pp. 21–23, 31–32. *https://web.archive.org/web/20110718122106/http://www.wsorrailroad.com/gallery/sd20farewell.html

External links

Wisconsin Southern SD20 Farewell
Electro-Motive Diesel locomotives Standard gauge locomotives of the United States {{US-train-stub