Second Generation Diesel

The Second Generation Diesel Era, spanning roughly the 1970s through the 1990s, witnessed the transformation of American railroads through massive corporate mergers, technological advancement, and the rise of intermodal shipping.

This era began with the creation of Conrail from the bankrupt northeastern railroads (1976) and the formation of Burlington Northern (1970) and continued through the mega-mergers of the 1990s that created today's major carriers. Railroad mileage declined as duplicate routes were abandoned, but the remaining lines were upgraded for higher speeds and heavier loads.

Locomotive technology advanced rapidly. The EMD SD40-2 became the standard against which all other locomotives were measured, while GE emerged as a serious competitor with the U-series and later Dash-7 and Dash-8 locomotives. Microprocessor controls replaced older electro-mechanical systems.

Intermodal shipping exploded, with double-stack container trains revolutionizing freight transportation. Unit trains became increasingly common, replacing the diverse mixed freight of earlier eras. Railroads became specialized, high-volume freight movers.