EMD LWT12

EMD LWT12
A preserved EMD LWT12 at theNational Museum of TransportationinSt. Louis, Missouri
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Designer Chuck Jordan Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) Model LWT12 Build date 1955 Total produced 3
Specifications Configuration: ​ •AAR B-1 Gauge 4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge Prime mover EMD12-567C Cylinders 12 Transmission Diesel-electric Loco brake straight air Train brakes air Safety systems air-actuatedbell,air horn
Performance figures Power output 1,200hp(890kW)
Career Operators Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad,New York Central Railroad,Pennsylvania Railroad,Union Pacific Railroad Locale North America Disposition Two are preserved in museums

TheEMD LWT12was adiesel–electricpower carthat was built in 1955 byGeneral Motors Electro-Motive Division(EMD), to pull a lightweight passengertrainset.TheGeneral Motors Companydeveloped both components under the project name,Train Y,but later marketed them as theAerotrain.Diesel power was provided by anEMD 567C12-cylinderengine, which produced 1,200hp(890 kW).Two other GM Diesel engines provided current for train-heating, lighting and air-conditioning.

The LWT12 was underpowered, especially on grades, and the Santa Fe and Union Pacific Railroads were required to supply a "helper" unit to assist them in service. The LWT12 was essentially anEMD SW1200switcherlocomotive, suitably geared for high-speed passenger service (83 mph) and wrapped in a distinctive aerodynamic shell. Its industrial styling was inspired by the hoods and grills of futuristic automobiles then on GM's drawing boards.

Originally, the EMD LWT12 was intended to be part of an inseparable set along with ten specially designed high-speed, low-cost, 40-foot (12.19 m) passenger cars. These cars were built from bus bodies sourced from GM's GMC division which were then widened by 18 inches (457 mm), had their front and rear modified and were attached to a generic undercarriage.

The advantages of this design were that instead of refurbishing the whole carriage, the body mounted on the undercarriage would bescrappedin whole and a complete new modified bus body would be installed in its place with all of the different technical advances that had been developed, essentially resulting in a completely new car for a fraction of the cost. Also, all parts used by these carriages were sourced internally by GM and were also used in other products.

All of this meant that initial outlay, as well as maintenance costs, were significantly lower than traditional passenger cars resulting in a situation where railroad companies could offer rail fares similar to bus fares of the time.This design, as well as the EMD LWT12 were the cover feature article of the September 1955Popular Mechanicsmagazine. Two of these whole train sets were built for the purpose of being driven across the United States for public viewing.

Only three LWT12 units were built. The first, EMD serial number 20826, entered service on theChicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad(the Rock Island line) theJet Rockettrain betweenChicagoandPeoria.The unit later became the Rock Island's locomotive number 1.TheAmerican Car and Foundry Companyconstructed the train'sTalgo IIcoaches.

The Rock Island preferred the single-axle Talgo cars over the double-axle GM bus-body coaches being built for theAerotrain.But they were also drawn to the futuristic styling of GM's locomotive, over the more traditional look of theFairbanks-Morse unitselected by ACF to pull the Talgo cars, so the railroad mated the two to form a unique lightweight consist of its own.

The second and third GM diesels, EMD serial numbers 21463 and 21464, powered the two GMAerotraindemonstrators that toured the country in 1955, before being leased to four railroads for revenue service testing in 1956–1957.All of the roads rejected theAerotrain,and the two GM demonstrators were eventually sold at great discount to the Rock Island Line, where they joined theJet Rockethybrid.Two of the three LWT12 locomotives continued in commuter service with theAerotraincoaches, until retired in 1965.

The EMD LWT12 locomotives and several passenger cars of the two General MotorsAerotrains are presently on display within the United States. TheNational Railroad MuseuminGreen Bay, Wisconsinnow exhibits the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad'sAerotrainlocomotive number 2.TheNational Museum of TransportationinKirkwood, Missouri(nearSt. Louis) exhibits the Rock Island'sAerotrainlocomotive number 3 and two passenger cars.

See also

• List of GM-EMD locomotives
• EMD SW1200

External links

• Popular Mechanics Magazine (September 1955),Ten buses grow into a train