My new job!

[Kali]

Just as simple as a hydraulic pump coupled somehow to each engine feeding 2 hydraulic motors, 1 on each axle. Parts are everywhere for that kind of stuff. Fire would be about the only way to total it, unless I owned it. Then a meteor or something would fall on it.

If it's an actual 50's designed torque converter rather than a pump/motor system like that then it might end up uneconomical to repair rather than being unrepairable. Not really many things to go wrong in one regardless, though.

[mapitts]

Could be a fluid coupling of some kind. The OP did say something about chain drive. Torque converter to transmission with sprockets on an output shaft that drives the axles. The chain would be the weakest link. No pun intended. Just seems an odd way of doing it. We are talking about GM / EMD though, so all bets are off.

[Chacal]

Just as simple as a hydraulic pump coupled somehow to each engine feeding 2 hydraulic motors, 1 on each axle. Parts are everywhere for that kind of stuff.

I'm thinking hydraulic excavators. That's pretty much how their tracks work.

[mapitts]

Exactly. I would still like to see how the hydraulics are set up to run w/ chain drive to the axles. I can picture it in my head, but, I would love to see pics of that setup (hint).

[Toonces]

That thing screams '50s, before I even googled it I knew it was from then. :P The odd design with the "fenders" like on 50's cars, looks very "futuristic" Nice rare locomotive, didn't know such a thing existed as a GMDH-1. What does AMOCO KAYBOB mean on the number boards? Does it have no real number? What do yall call it at work then, just "the switcher?"

If you think that locomotive screams the '50s, then check out this one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_LWT12