On 10-16-97 ANDREW HAMBLYN wrote to KEN FREEMAN... 
 
 AH> our GMDD built locos arrived in NZ in 1955 and lasted untill the late 
 AH> 70's  
 AH> before being rebuilt with chop noses, new electics and replaced the 
 AH> 567c  
 AH> with the 645 (i think). 
 Theses engines are 45 years old and still going strong... 
Yep. Don't know what EMD/GMDD did to make them that good, other than keeping 
the desing simple. Quite a number of GP9's here have also been fitted with 
645  power assemblies (they keep the same block and crank). With that type 
rebuild, makes them almost (I say again, almost) a GP38. Somebody once called 
the GP38 the Chevy Nova of locomotives, I'd say that title should really go 
to the GP9.  
                                  K 
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