2. Conrail EMD SD50 6734 built Dec. 1983 and seen in Danville, IL June 25, 1992. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 3. Conrail EMD SD50 6795 built May 1985, became CSX SD50 8683, and seen in La Port, IN Sept. 25, 1998. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/25 17:44 by MartyBernard.

EMD had a series of problems with the SD50 some were solved others less so. At the time of the SD50's introduction EMD(like the rest of GM) was going from making most of their parts in-house to a lot of outsourcing, unfortunately they failed to put inplace a rigorous quality control program.

C&NW had 35 SD50s. 1. CNW EMD SD50 7016 built Dec. 1985 seen in Boone, IA March 25, 1989. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 2. CNW EMD SD50 7016 built Dec. 1985 seen in Cedar Rapids, IA May 30, 1992. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection

1. CNW EMD SD50 7019 built Dec. 1985 and seen at Fairfax, IA July 13, 1987. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 2. CNW EMD SD50 7019 built Dec. 1985 and seen west of Boone, IA Aug. 19, 1995. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 3. CNW EMD SD50 7026 built Dec. 1985 and seen at Marshall Town, IA Sept. 3, 1988.

4. Conrail EMD SD45 6175 built Dec. 1967 and seen in Oelwein, IA Nov. 5, 1983. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 5. Conrail EMD SD45 6192 built Jan. 1968 and seen in Oelwein, IA April 25, 1983. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 6. Conrail EMD SD50 6718 built Nov. 1983 became CSX 8649 and seen in Moline, OH July 25, 1984.

With all the reported reliability problems the EMD SD50 has, and the UP starting to retire them while older SD40-2's still soldier on, how are the GP50's fairing? The BNSF has quite a few GP50's still apparently operating fine, and the UP has inherited them from the …

1. CNW EMD SD50 7027 built Dec. 1985 and seen at Clinton, IA May 28, 1992. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 2. CNW EMD SD50 7027 built Dec. 1985 and seen at Quarry, IA Sept. 16, 1984. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 3. CNW EMD SD50 7028 b

1. CNW EMD SD50 7005 built Dec. 1985 and seen at Bertram, IA Aug. 10, 1991. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 2. CNW EMD SD50 7005 built Nov. 1985 and seen at Fairfax, IA June 5, 1993. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 3. CNW EMD SD50 7006 b

1. CNW EMD SD50 7010 built Nov. 1985 and seen at Cedar Rapids, IA July 16, 1989. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 2. CNW EMD SD50 7010 built Nov. 1985 and seen at Cedar Rapids, IA Sept. 28, 1991. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 3. CNW EMD

C&NW had 35 SD50s all in the 7000 series. 1. CNW EMD SD50 7000 built Nov. 1985 seen at Cedar Rapids, IA Aug. 1986. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS collection 2. CNW EMD SD50 7000 built Nov. 1985 seen at Cedar Rapids, IA June 1994. Bill Kuba