The EMD Centennial That Silenced GE Turbines in 1969

In the 1960s, GE’s gas turbines roared across the American West, hauling freight with unmatched power. But their reign was short-lived. When Union Pacific needed a locomotive to mark its 100th anniversary, EMD answered with the DDA40X “Centennial”—a twin-engine diesel monster that proved more practical, reliable, and efficient than GE's turbines.

The Centennial wasn’t just powerful—it was a strategic masterstroke. EMD delivered unmatched horsepower in a modular, easy-to-service design that saved railroads fuel and maintenance costs while delivering big performance. With GE’s turbines bleeding cash and struggling with breakdowns, the Centennial crushed the competition without ever needing to shout.

This is the story of how one locomotive silenced another, and how EMD’s engineering brilliance ended the turbine era and redefined the horsepower wars of American railroading.
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