An Article by Drayton Blackgrove
The EMD GP30, introduced in 1961 by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division (EMD), was a groundbreaking locomotive that combined increased horsepower with a distinctive, modernized design. Throughout its production, the GP30 underwent numerous modifications, which many modelers and locomotive aficionados refer to as “Phases”. These changes were often subtle but reflected ongoing refinements in manufacturing and operational efficiency. Below is a breakdown of the key production phases of the GP30.
Phase I: Early Production (1962-1963)
Phase Ia (March – June 1962)
• Wire-grill inertial intake screens.
• Flush radiator intake grills.
• Both sides of cab the same length.
• Two-section panels on electrical/clean air compartment under the inertial air intake grills.
• Fabricated cab heater intakes, same as earlier EMD Geep production (GP7/9/18/20).
Phase Ib1 (June – October 1962)
• Cab heater intakes changed to five stamped “inverted” louver design.
Phase Ib2 (August – October 1962)
• Union Pacific (UP) custom order
• Built concurrently with Phase Ib1, but with a longer left-hand side of the cab to provide room for an additional seat, per request by UP.
Phase Ic1 (November 1962 – January 1963)
• One-piece panel replaces the two-section panels under the inertial intake grills.
• Both sides of cab the same length.
Phase Ic2 (November 1962 – January 1963)
• Built alongside Phase Ic1, but featured the extended cab length on the left-hand side as standard.
Phase Id (January – March 1963)
• Extended cab length on the left-hand side.
• Height of radiator intakes increased slightly, with protruding wire ribs.
Phase Ie (April – June 1963)
• The rear sand filler hatch changed from pull-out “drawer” style on right-hand side hood end on previous production, to a square hatch, similar to the hatch on the front, mounted on top of the hood end.
• Norfolk & Western (N&W) ordered Phase Ib1 units with this hatch as an option in 1962.
Phase II: Late Production (1963)
Phase IIa (June – August 1963)
• Inertial intake screens revised to include a pair of vertical stiffeners
Phase IIb (August – November 1963)
• Front and rear sand fills changed to round design.
Conclusion
The production phases of the EMD GP30 illustrate the evolutionary changes in locomotive design and manufacturing. These refinements improved functionality, maintenance, and crew accommodations while maintaining the locomotive’s core characteristics. Understanding these phases helps historians, model railroaders, and railfans identify specific variations within the GP30 fleet and appreciate the locomotive’s place in railroading history.
