EMD Diesel Locomotives

As the early 1960s arrived, the Gulf Mobile & Ohio recognized that all of its first-generation mainline diesel-electric road power was at the 15 year mark of life expectancy. Although most of the road's first gen "motors" had been Alco products, there was an awareness around the country that the venerable builder of locomotives was on its last legs. As such, the Rebel Route entered the second generation of the diesel-electric transition by ordering 31 of Electro-Motive's brand new GP30 model. Units 500-530 were constructed at La Grange, Illinois, in 1962 and 63. The new motors sported a bold black & white paint scheme new to the road, developed by artists at EMD. They also road on so-called "Alco" trucks — AAR type B trucks — from trade in models the GP30s were replacing. The entire class went into the Illinois Central Gulf merger in 1974, many wearing faded GM&O colors into the 1980s. Some were sold to shortlines or regionals, such as the Paducah & Louisville. A handful were sold to CSX Transportation, who turned them into road slugs. Most were scrapped by the late 1980s.

Gulf Mobile & Ohio's ongoing enlargement and modernization of its road power ranks continued when Electro Motive Division of GM announced the GP38 model: a non-turbocharged 2000 hp road switcher making use of GM's new 645 prime mover. GM&O placed an order for 20 such units, and they were built at LaGrange in the summer of 1969. Whereas the GP38 was built with a DC electrical propulsion circuit, EMD began offering an AC version of the same model. GM&O purchased a baker's dozen of this alternative GP38AC "motor," all built in the spring of 1971. Only 240 examples of the AC unit were ever built, making GM&O's share 5% of the production total. In 1972, Electro Motive Division further refined the popular 38 series with the introduction of its "Dash 2" line: a significant upgrade to solid-state electrical components and traction control. GM&O ordered 15 of the upgraded models, which would prove to be the company's last locomotive order. Built in April and August of 1972, their arrival on the property took place during the merger that resulted in the Illinois Central Gulf.

Among all three types of the 38 series purchased by GM&O, none of them were equipped with dynamic brakes. All of them survived well into the Illinois Central Gulf merger and the reboot of the Illinois Central that followed. Many are still serving today in lease pools or on shortline rosters.

In the middle of the 1960s, Gulf Mobile & Ohio began hosting unit coal trains on the northern end of its system. To supply ample power for these long and heavy movements, the road ordered from Electro Motive Division 21 examples of its muscular SD40 offering. The SD40 road on C-C trucks, offering 6 axles of traction underneath a 3000 horsepower 645 prime mover. EMD painted these heavy road units in a bright red and white paint scheme, earning them the nickname "Big Reds" on the railroad. Also purchased was one of EMD's testbed prototypes for the SD40 series, SD40X #434. All of these units went into the Illinois Central Gulf merger and most carried on as ICG/IC road power for years.