In the mid-eighties, GO Transit was looking to replace its aging locomotive fleet with a specially designed locomotive that could meet the growing demands for service across the Greater Toronto Area. The locomotive needed to be able to quickly accelerate while pulling up to 10 of the new BiLevel coaches. In close consultation with GO Transit, GMD developed the F59PH. It is equipped with a turbocharged 12-cylinder two-stroke diesel prime mover (12-710G3A), a full-width North American comfort cab, with HEP provided by a smaller 600hp GM 
8-cylinder diesel.

Due to the success of the locomotives with GO Transit, Metrolink in California placed an order for 22 F59PHs, which were delivered between 1992 and 1993. In the mid-2000s, GO would begin retiring part of their fleet which saw many of these locomotives sent to other commuter agencies across North America.

The Rapido Trains N Scale F59PH locomotive features:

• Scaled from field measurements and blueprints
  
• Unique F59PH body and details — First time in N!
  
• Incredible underbody detail including separate piping
  
• Separate wire grab irons
  
• Working headlight, ditch lights and marker lights
  
• Lit American-style red marker lights housings per prototype
  
• Accurate F59PH sounds on sound-equipped models 
  
• Will operate smoothly on DC and DCC layouts