The
EMD FT was a
diesel-electric locomotive produced between November 1939 and November 1945, by
General Motors'
Electro-Motive Division (the "F" stood for 1400 horsepower (rounded from 1350) and the "T" for twin, as it came standard in a two-unit set). All told 555 cab-equipped
A units were built, along with 541 cabless booster
B units, for a grand total of 1,096 units. The locomotives were all sold to customers in the
United States. It was the first model in EMD's very successful
F-unit series of
cab unit freight diesels, and was the locomotive that convinced many U.S.
railroads that the diesel-electric freight locomotive was the future. Many rail historians consider the FT one of the most important locomotive models of all time.