The Diesel That Did It: General Motors' FT Locomotive

The Diesel That Did It tells the story of the FT, a diesel-electric locomotive that revolutionized railroading in 1939 and established a new standard for reliability, flexibility, and cost. It was created by a group of gifted engineers and designers in an obscure factory in La Grange, Illinois, and its arrival unsettled many railroad employees and gave fresh ammunition to their labor unions. Wallace W. Abbey's book explores how EMC (and its successor Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) conceived the FT and how it ultimately emerged as the dominant locomotive power plant for 20 years.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 22 November 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

The Diesel That Did It is a captivating tale that delves into the remarkable story of the legendary diesel-electric locomotive, the FT. As war loomed in 1939, American railroads stood at a pivotal juncture, poised for a transformative shift that would reshape the industry forever. In an obscure factory nestled in La Grange, Illinois, a group of gifted engineers and designers embarked on a mission to engineer a revolution that would upend railroading and ultimately render the steam locomotive obsolete. Their creation, the FT, was a groundbreaking diesel-electric, semi-streamlined freight engine. The FT would set a new benchmark for reliability, flexibility, and cost, revolutionizing the way freight was transported.

However, the arrival of the FT stirred up considerable unease among railroad employees and provided fuel to their labor unions, who perceived it as a threat to the cherished traditions of a century-old industry. Wallace W. Abbey's The Diesel That Did It takes readers on a journey to explore how EMC (and its successor, Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) conceived the FT and how it ultimately emerged as the dominant locomotive power plant for a remarkable 20 years.

For Abbey, the history of the Santa Fe Railway and the FT are inextricably linked. The Diesel That Did It also provides a deep dive into how the great American railroad, at the height of its Super Chief glory, ventured into uncharted territory by embracing the diesel engine. Through a stunning collection of over 140 exquisite photographs by Abbey and other renowned photographers, The Diesel That Did It unfolds as a captivating narrative that is sure to captivate railroaders and rail enthusiasts alike.

Dimension: 254 x 254 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253062789