The EMD E6 was a 2,000 h.p., A1A-A1A, passenger train locomotive manufactured by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois. The cab version, or E6A, was manufactured from November, 1939 to September, 1942, and 92 were produced. The booster version, or E6B, was manufactured from April, 1940 to February, 1942, and 26 were produced. The 2,000 h.p. was achieved by putting two 1,000 h.p., 12 cylinder, model 567 engines in the engine compartment. Each engine drove its own generator to power the traction motors. The E6 was the seventh model in a long line of passenger diesels of similar design known as EMD E-units.

Compared with other passenger locomotives made by EMD before and after these models, the noses of the E3, E4, and E6 cab units had pronounced slants when viewed from the side. Therefore, these three models have been nicknamed “slant nose” units. Some units made before these models were called “shovel nose” units because of their appearance. Some units made during and after these models were called “bulldog nose” units, because of their appearance.

Only two E6s survive today. One is operated by the Midland Railway, in Baldwin City, Kansas. It is privately owned. It is ex-Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad E6A #630. None of the engines or generators function. But all the safety equipment works, so it is still used on some trains.

The other E6 is located at the Kentucky Railway Museum, in New Haven, Kentucky. It is ex-Louisville and Nashville E6A #770. This unit is for display only, as it came to the museum without a majority of its internal parts.

References

• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter’s Guide, pp. EMD–121 to EMD–123. Kalmbach Books. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 66-22894.

External Links

• Midland Railway roster (http://www.midland-ry.org/midland/mrr_eqp.html)
• Kentucky Railway Museum motive power (http://www.kyrail.org/motivpwr.htm)