We love trains here at Essex Publishing, and it’s been our pleasure to produce a 100th anniversary book about one of the iconic global brands in the railroad industry: EMD®.

Founded in 1922 as the Electro-Motive Engineering Corporation, EMD was a pioneer in the development of rail locomotives and engines; its seminal innovation paired a powerful gasoline (and later, diesel) engine with an electric transmission to solve problems of limited horsepower and high costs in steam locomotion. One Century of Progress: The Story of EMD, published in October 2023, tells the story of how EMD sent the steam locomotive to its grave, became the world’s largest manufacturer of locomotives and, after a series of ownership changes including a 2010 acquisition by Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, evolved into a sophisticated technology company providing innovative solutions in conventional and digitally enabled rail transportation.

The 144-page book was created with a readership of Progress Rail customers, partners, employees and retirees, along with industry VIPs and rail buffs, in mind.