EMD GP35
by
Mike Gerenday
On this portion of Diesels of the Alaska Railroad, let's look at the GP35 locomotives. This installment will be a two-in-one to cover the sole GP30 and it's rebuild.
The EMD GP30 was considered the first of the "second generation" diesel locomotives and was built over a two year span with the 16 cylinder 567D3 producing 2,250hp. With it's unique hump, the GP30 was a recognizable unit.
In 1963, the ARR bought one GP30 using the original 1501 B unit as a trade-in after it was in the Grandview wreck of late 1961 and numbered it 2000. The 2000 was rebuilt in 1974 and was re-numbered into 2504. in 2001 the 2504 was butchered in Anchorage.
The EMD GP35 was built from 1963 to 1965 using the 16cyl 567D3A producing 2,500hp. Early production units still used the thicker frames, while the later production units used the new style frame used on the GP38 and up models.
In December 1965, the ARR purchased three GP35 locomotives numbering 2501-2503. In 1974, GP30 2000 was re-built into a GP30U and was re-numbered 2504. The 25xx were used on the ARR until their retirement in 2000, where the 2503 was wrecked in 1976 when it tried to swim in the Susitna River a few miles north of Talkeetna. 2503 was re-built to GP40 specs and was re-numbered 3051 and was named John E. Manley. 3051 was rebuilt a second time and re-numbered 3021 and retired in 1997 and is now privately owned.
The 25xx were all black and yellow until the wreck of 2503. After 2503 was re-built and re-numbered 3051, it was repainted into the Bold Alaska scheme. It's obvious in the early photos of 3051 it was originally a GP35. After the second re-build 3051 now 3021 looked more like a GP40.
Athearn made a great model of the 2501 and 2503 some years back, and a GP35 painted into the Bold Alaska scheme would fit the bill for a model of 3051/3021.
Here is a link to learn more about the EMD GP30
Here is a link to learn more about the EMD GP35
Page created 12/10/20 and last updated 12/10/20