GO Transit 720-726

GO Transit 720-726 were EMD GP40's that were rebuilt by Rock Island's Silvis Shops (and later, Chrome Crankshaft) to "Dash 2" specifications in 1979 and 1980. They were originally built in 1967 for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (Rock Island, CRI&P).

The Rock Island spent much of the 1970's in financial dire straights, culminating with its third bankruptcy in March, 1975. Placed under the trust of a receiver, the railroad continued to operate while at the same time trying to find efficiencies wherever possible. One of these plans for increased efficiency was to purchase from the leasor a group of aging GP40's numbered 362-381, and rebuild them at the railroad's heavy maintenance shops in Silvis, IL into GP40M-2's numbered in the 3000-series.

This program appeared to be successful, but a court in January 1980 ruled that the railroad would not be able to successfully reorganize, and thus was to be liquidated on March 31, 1980.

Chrome Crankshaft, a company specializing in aftermarket railroad engine parts, purchased the Silvis shops as well as all of the 3000-series locomotives completed or in progress. Amongst these were two, 3005 and 3006, which were largely completed but not painted. After languishing on the Silvis property for about a year, GO Transit purchased all seven rebuilt units and had Chrome make some modifications that would better suit their use in commuter service.

Much like the GP40-2(W)'s 700-710, they were not equipped with a HEP engine and generator, and so were not capable of powering a train by themselves. Thus, they had to be paired with either another locomotive that did provide HEP, or with one of the 900-series Auxiliary Power/Control Units (APCU) or the 800-series Auxiliary Power Units (APU). These units were also equipped with pass-through HEP cables, so that they could be coupled between an APCU and the rest of the train.

They were retired in 1994, and traded back to EMD on GO's last F59PH order, 562-568. They were then equipped with dynamic brakes, repainted, and placed in EMD's general leasing fleet under the reporting marks EMDX and numbered in the 200's. Prior to being sold, they were frequently leased to Canadian Pacific for pulling freight trains, often in matching GO sets or mixed with other CP units.

Details

Fleet Number	Date	Serial #	Status/Disposal	Notes
720	1967	32600	Retired Traded in to EMD (1994), repainted as EMDX 204 Ex-LLPX 3207 (Sept 2004), now St. Lawrence & Atlantic 3207.	Built as CRI&P 374, renumbered to 3005. Rebuilt by CRI&P/Chrome Crankshaft in 1980, purchased by GO in 1982.
721	1967	32601	Retired Traded in to EMD (1994), repainted as EMDX 205 Ex-LLPX 3208 (Sept 2004), now St. Lawrence & Atlantic 3208.	Built as CRI&P 375, renumbered to 3002. Rebuilt by CRI&P/Chrome Crankshaft in 1979, purchased by GO in 1982.
722	1967	32602	Retired Traded in to EMD (1994), repainted as EMDX 206 Ex-LLPX 3211 (Sept 2004), now St. Lawrence & Atlantic 3211.	Built as CRI&P 376, renumbered to 3003. Rebuilt by CRI&P/Chrome Crankshaft in 1980, purchased by GO in 1982.
723	1967	32603	Retired Traded in to EMD (1994), repainted as EMDX 202 Ex-LLPX 3205 (Sept 2004), now St. Lawrence & Atlantic 3205.	Built as CRI&P 377, renumbered to 3001. Rebuilt by CRI&P/Chrome Crankshaft in 1979, purchased by GO in 1982.
724	1967	32605	Retired Traded in to EMD (1994), repainted as EMDX 203 Ex-LLPX 3206 (Sept 2004), now St. Lawrence & Atlantic 3206.	Built as CRI&P 379, renumbered to 3006. Rebuilt by CRI&P/Chrome Crankshaft in 1980, purchased by GO in 1982.
725	1967	32606	Retired Traded in to EMD (1994), repainted as EMDX 200 Ex-LLPX 3203 (Sept 2004), now St. Lawrence & Atlantic 3203.	Built as CRI&P 380, renumbered to 3004. Rebuilt by CRI&P/Chrome Crankshaft in 1980, purchased by GO in 1982.
726	1967	32607	Retired Traded in to EMD (1994), repainted as EMDX 201 Ex-LLPX 3204 (Sept 2004), now St. Lawrence & Atlantic 3204.	Built as CRI&P 381, renumbered to 3000. Rebuilt by CRI&P/Chrome Crankshaft in 1979, purchased by GO in 1982.