The Conrail GP8 and GP10 fleet originally began their lives as EMD GP7 and GP9's built for a variety of roads in the early fifties. Conrail, with hundreds of units lined up in graveyards and in dire need for reliable power decided to begin a GP rebuild program.
The railroad selected the Illinois Central Gulf RR's Paducah, KY shop to perform the work in 1976. At Paducah, the short hood high noses were chopped for better visibilty and the control stands were set up for the new short hood lead operation. The prime movers were overhauled and all former GP7's received the 567BC while the GP9's received 567C's. Air filter work was also performed, outfitting the new Geeps with Dynacell paper air filters.
Nine GP8 units were turned out during the third quarter of 1976 wearing new CR paint and road numbers 5720-5728. Sixteen GP10's were released as well sporting CR paint and numbered 7560-7575.
By 1978, Conrail desired more from the rebuild program and selected another 39 GP7's to be rebuilt. This program was not as extensive as the original consisting of only mechanical and electrical work. The dynamic brakes were removed, and the control stand remained setup for long hood forward operation. Paducah was not the only shop contracted this time around. The work was split between Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific's Silvis, IL shop, Morrison Knudsen's Boise, ID shop and ICG Paducah. The units were returned to Conrail during the third quarter of 1978 wearing 5400 series CR road numbers. The 1976 batch (5720-5728) were subsequently renumbered 5400-5408.
59 GP9's were also sent out for rebuilding in 1978 split between Paducah, Morrison Knudsen and Precision National Corporation in Mount Vernon, IL. This was the first rebuilding program PNC had undertaken and after the 6th unit, Conrail terminated the PNC contract due to quality and delivery issues. The remainder of PNC's contract was given to Paducah for completion. The same work, electrical and mechanical, was done and by early 1979 Morrison Knudsen turned out 17 units (7513-7529), PNC 6 (7530-7537) and 36 from Paducah (7545-7597). Road numbers 7532, 7536, 7538-7544, 5414-5427 were never used.
The GP8's lasted well into the 1990's and though most all were stored in the mid 80's, all but 1 were reactivated in 1987 when a batch of GP38-2's went off lease. The units were again returned to storage until 1989 when less than a dozen were reactivated again to make up for the loss of 10 MP15's that were returned to their lessor. This was the last active group until April 11, 1991 when the entire class was retired.
General
Built 1950-1953Rebuilt 1976, 1978
Weight- 249,000lbs
Maximum Curvature Per Single Unit- 39°
Engine
Model- 16-567C or BCMain Generator- D12B
Traction Motors- D27
Performance
Horsepower- 1500Maximum Continuous Tractive Effort- 40,000lbs
Minimum Continuous Speed- 11mph
Capacities
Fuel- Units5400, 5407, 5428-5431, 5439, 5440, 5462- 1600 gallons
5401-5405, 5408, 5409, 5411-5413, 5435-5438, 5442-5448, 5460, 5461- 800 gallons
5406- 1100 gallons
5460, 5461- 1200 gallons
5410, 5433-5434, 5441, 5449- 1700 gallons
Air Brake Equipment
Schedule- Units5400-5408, 5430-5449, 5455, 5457- 26L
5413, 5428-5429, 5460-5462- 24RL
5409-5412, 5450-5454- 6SL
5456, 5458-5459- 6BL
Trucks
Gear Ratio- 15:62Special Features
5407, 5428-5431 Cab Signal Equipped
Snow Plow- Both End, 5413, 5430, 5435, 5439-5441, 5445, 5446
Allignment Control Coupler- As of 1986, units 5400-5413, 5432-5443, 5449-5453, 5458, and 5460-5461 were cleared for removable neoprene coupler stops, while 5428-5431 could have various other designs
Roster
| CR # | Previous # | Builders # | Build Date | Rebuild Release Date | Other |
| 5400 | CR 5720 | 18749 | 10-1953 | 9-30-76 | Ex CR 5836, nee RDG 634 |
| 5401 | CR 5721 | 15460 | 3-1952 | 10-20-76 | Ex CR 5620, ex P&E 5620, ex NYC 5620:2 nee NYC 5681 |
| 5402 | CR 5722 | 12999 | 11-1950 | 10-29-76 | Ex CR 5613, nee P&E 5613 |
| 5403 | CR 5723 | 13005 | 12-1950 | 11-9-76 | Ex CR 5619, nee P&E 5619 |
| 5404 | CR 5724 | 12011 | 12-1950 | 11-11-76 | Ex CR 5947, ex EL 1217, nee Erie 1217 |
| 5405 | CR 5725 | 13000 | 11-1950 | 11-15-76 | Ex CR 5614, nee P&E 5614 |
| 5406 | CR 5726 | 17892 | 2-1953 | 12-13-76 | Ex CR 5927, ex EL 1407, nee D&LW 968 |
| 5407 | CR 5728 | 18635 | 8-1953 | 12-13-76 | Ex CR 5856, ex PC 5856 ex PRR 5856, nee PRR 8556 |
| 5408 | CR 5729 | 12008 | 12-1950 | 12-15-76 | Ex CR 5944, ex EL 1214, nee Erie 1214 |
| 5409 | CR 5622 | 13008 | 12-1950 | 7-19-78 | Nee P&E 5622 |
| 5410 | CR 5624 | 13010 | 12-1950 | 7-29-78 | Nee P&E 5624 |
| 5411 | CR 5744 | 18448 | 5-1953 | 8-26-78 | Ex PC 5744, nee NYC 5744 |
| 5412 | CR 5804 | 18508 | 6-1953 | 9-15-78 | Ex PC 5804, nee NYC 5804 |
| 5413 | CR 5813 | 18423 | 5-1953 | 11-4-78 | Nee RDG 623 |
| 5428 | CR 5874 | 18653 | 9-1953 | 8-2-78 | Ex PC 5874, ex PRR 5874, nee PRR 8574 |
| 5429 | CR 5879 | 18658 | 9-1953 | 9-22-78 | Ex PC 5879, ex PRR 5879, nee PRR 8579 |
| 5430 | CR 5860 | 18639 | 9-1953 | 10-3-78 | Ex PC 5860, ex PRR 5860, nee PRR 8560 |
| 5431 | CR 5861 | 18640 | 9-1953 | 12-30-78 | Ex PC 561, ex PRR 5861, nee PRR 8561 |
| 5433 | CR 5639 | 14201 | 8-1951 | 12-5-78 | Ex PC 5639, nee NYC 5639 |
| 5434 | CR 5631 | 18517 | 7-1951 | 11-27-78 | Ex PC 5631, ex NYC 5631:2, nee NYC 5813 |
| 5435 | CR 5662 | 14224 | 10-1951 | 11-17-78 | Ex PC 5662, nee NYC 5662 |
| 5436 | CR 5621 | 13007 | 12-1950 | 2-1-79 | Nee P&E 5621 |
| 5437 | CR 5618 | 13004 | 12-1950 | 1-19-79 | Nee P&E 5618 |
| 5438 | CR 5615 | 13001 | 11-1950 | 1-26-79 | Nee P&E 5615 |
| 5439 | CR 5835 | 18758 | 10-1953 | 10-26-78 | Nee RDG 633 |
| 5440 | CR 5786 | 18490 | 6-1953 | 10-14-78 | Ex PC 5786, nee NYC 5786 |
| 5441 | CR 5660 | 14222 | 10-1951 | 10-6-78 | Ex PC 5660, nee NYC 5660 |
| 5442 | CR 5962 | 12242 | 3-1951 | 9-19-78 | Ex EL 1224, nee Erie 1224 |
| 5443 | CR 5961 | 12017 | 12-1950 | 12-27-78 | Ex EL 1223, nee Erie 1223 |
| 5444 | CR 5946 | 12010 | 12-1950 | 12-23-78 | Ex EL 1216, nee Erie 1216 |
| 5445 | CR 5941 | 12005 | 10-1950 | 11-14-78 | Ex EL 1211, nee Erie 1211 |
| 5446 | CR 5939 | 11841 | 10-1950 | 11-14-78 | Ex EL 1209, nee Erie 1209 |
| 5447 | CR 5937 | 11839 | 10-1950 | 12-19-78 | Ex EL 1207, nee Erie 1207 |
| 5448 | CR 5936 | 11838 | 10-1950 | 9-10-78 | Ex EL 1206, nee Erie 1206 |
| 5449 | CR 5625 | 13011 | 12-1950 | 9-10-78 | Nee P&E 5625 |
| 5450 | CR 5607 | 9234 | 8-1950 | 10-2-78 | Ex PC 5607, nee NYC 5607 |
| 5451 | CR 5617 | 13003 | 11-1950 | 11-8-78 | Nee P&E 5617 |
| 5452 | CR 5628 | 14190 | 7-1951 | 10-24-78 | Ex PC 5628, nee NYC 5628 |
| 5453 | CR 5912 | 18478 | 6-1953 | 9-8-78 | Ex PC 5912, ex NYC 5912, nee NYC 5774 |
| 5454 | CR 5922 | 12020 | 12-1950 | 10-27-78 | Ex EL 1403, nee Erie 1403 |
| 5455 | CR 5932 | 11834 | 10-1950 | 9-26-78 | Ex EL 1202, nee Erie 1202 |
| 5456 | CR 5933 | 11835 | 10-1950 | 10-18-78 | Ex EL 1203, nee Erie 1203 |
| 5457 | CR 5934 | 11836 | 10-1950 | 9-20-78 | Ex EL 1204, nee Erie 1204 |
| 5458 | CR 5979 | 16933 | 9-1952 | 11-14-78 | Ex EL 1241, nee Erie 1241 |
| 5459 | CR 5930 | 11823 | 8-1950 | 10-10-78 | Ex EL 1200, nee Erie 1200 |
| 5460 | CR 5993 | 15720 | 4-1952 | 11-2-78 | Ex EL 1278, nee DL&W 959 |
| 5461 | CR 5991 | 15718 | 4-1952 | 12-18-78 | Ex EL 1276, nee DL&W 957 |
| 5462 | CR 5838 | 18751 | 10-1953 | 12-6-78 | Nee RDG 636 |
