NW2 Diesel Locomotive

Prototype Information

The EMD NW2 rolled out in 1939 as one of EMD’s first widely successful diesel switchers. Its 12-cylinder 567 engine delivered 1,000 horsepower, giving it the muscle to replace steam switchers in yards across the country. With its compact frame and short hood, the NW2 handled tight curves and heavy switching work with ease.

From 1939 to 1949, EMD built more than 1,100 NW2s. Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Pennsylvania, and Great Northern all rostered them, and many industries bought their own for plant service. The locomotive’s reliability proved that diesel power could dominate switching just as it was beginning to take over the main line.

NW2s kept working for decades, many lasting into the 1970s and beyond on short lines and in industrial service. Dozens survive today in museums and on tourist railroads, reminders of the switcher that helped kickstart the diesel era.