MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS

The GP-class engines, widely considered a true railroader's locomotive, evolved from the designer's desire to produce an ugly but entirely functional and economical engine. Dick Dilworth is quoted as saying that he wanted to make a diesel so ugly that railroads would not showboat it but keep it in service in the back country, "where it could really do useful work," and so plain and unornamented that it would sell at a lower price than more glamorous locomotives. Little did he know that railroaders would approve so heartily of his "ugly" engine. In GP (for "General Purpose") engines, commonly called "Geeps," form followed function with results that made it perfect for a variety of railroading duties. The 1750 horsepower GP-9, introduced in 1954, was an unqualified success, with 3,601 units built. It was a road switcher that earned its General Purpose name by pulling almost every kind of train imaginable, including mainline and way freight, mainline and branchline passenger, and even commuter. Engineers loved the narrow hood that allowed them to see both in front of and behind the locomotive, and mechanics found the engine easy to access and repair. M.T.H. is proud to present the much loved GP-9 in three new roadnames: BNSF, Jersey Central, CalTrain, and Wabash.