The GT26CW-2 is the Dash-2 variant of the GT26CWdiesel-electric locomotive series created by the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors for export to Iran, Israel, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, South Korea, Turkey and Yugoslavia. Various licensees have also constructed or refurbished this model. It is similar to the highly successful SD40-2 North American locomotive.
As of 2017, Israel Railways operates fourteen locomotives. It purchased one GT26CW-2 unit from EMD in 1989 for the purpose of hauling coal imported through the Port of Ashdod to the Rutenberg Power Station in Ashkelon until a dedicated coal pier was completed at the Rutenberg site in 2000. Since then the locomotive, numbered 701, has been used for general freight service on Israel Railways' network.
In the mid-2010s Israel Railways purchased thirteen units from NRE which were completely rebuilt by TŽV Gredelj from 11 Croatian RailwaysHŽ series 2062 GT26 units plus 2 new frames and designated as NGT26CW-3 variants. They were delivered to Israel Railways between August 2015 and December 2017 and numbered 710–722.
In Morocco, the GT26CW-2 is variously given the designations DH-350, DH-370, and DK 550, depending on its usage.[1][additional citation(s) needed]
Peru
The Empresa Nacional de Ferrocarriles del Peru (Enafer) operated six JT26CW-2s, a unique variant of the GT26CW-2, on the section that would later become the Andean Central Railway. These were a unique variant of the model produced by Brazilian Corporation Villares, which is now GEVISA. After ENAFER was privatized, the remaining units fell into hands of the recently created private empress. Out of the 6 units, only 3 remain on service.
South Korea
From December 1989 to October 2000, the Korean National Railroad received GT26CW-2s from Electro-Motive Division and Hyundai Rolling Stock Co. (present:Hyundai Rotem) The locomotives are used for freight service, Mugunghwa passenger trains, Saemaul passenger trains, and excursion trains (G-Train, S-Train, and the Haerang). on all Korail lines, though some are currently owned by the Korea Rail Network Authority.
Very little is known about their construction. However, it is known that 83 units were constructed between December 1989 and October 1996 as the 7300-series, units 7301–7383, were constructed between December 1996 and May 1998 as 7400-series units 7401-7414 and 7500-series units 7557–7583, and 70 units were constructed between November 1998 and October 2000 as 7400-series units 7415–7484.
The Turkish State Railways received 89 units built by Tülomsaş between 2003 and 2009. The units are numbered TCDD DE33000. They have the latest innovations of the GT26 series, mainly noticed by a spacier cab view.
Yugoslavia
The Yugoslav Railways (Jugoslavenske Željeznice) received 14 GM GT26CW-2s from EMD. Mainly used for freight and passenger trains between Knin and Split (Dalmatinska pruga, today part of M604 railway (Croatia)). All locomotives went to service on Hrvatske Željeznice after the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991. They are now classified as HŽ series 2063. In the meanwhile, some were sold to NRE which then completely rebuilt and refurbished them in Croatia before selling some of them to Israel Railways.
