The GE U30C is a six-axle locomotive built by General Electric from 1966 to 1976. With 600 units sold, the U30C proved to be a viable alternative for customers who were unable to purchase SD40s from Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) due to production backlog. Throughout its ten-year production span, the U30C was known for reliability issues concerning its electrical system. However, most railroads were assured of the reliability of the GE Model 752 DC traction motor, and began to place orders for U30Cs starting in 1966. When production ended, the last U30Cs carried pre-Dash 7 specifications, which would be carried in its replacement, the GE C30-7.
GE U30C
GE U30C on delivery for Ferrocarril del Pacifico Mexico
most scrapped, some preserved, others rebuilt into the GE Super 7 Program
The U30C served customers of all kinds, from mining, to general freights, coal trains, and even as a power source unit for the Department of Transportation's subway-car test tracks in Pueblo, Colorado before a connection from the commercial electric power grid could be established (Cudahy 1979).
Not to be outdone in the freight sector, GE produced a passenger version of the locomotive, the GE U30CG. The U30CG only sold six units for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.
When most U30Cs were being retired due to old age and mechanical or electrical problems, General Electric initiated a rebuild program where older Universal Series locomotives would be upgraded with the latest technology and fuel-saving systems. GE would then strip the locomotive down to its frame and engine, and completely rebuild the locomotive with new components. When completed, the unit would receive a new designation: GE C30-S7R (R for Rebuilt frame of traded-in locomotive). In the later years, the rebuild frame was discontinued, and a brand new frame would be used, re-designating the locomotive as GE C30-S7N (N for New frame). The only external difference was a large vent on the fireman's side ahead of the engine compartment. The final variation came with the discontinued frame of the Universal series and instead, using GE C40-8 kits. This new model also featured a microprocessor, officially designating this locomotive as GE C30-S7NMP.
A variant of the U20C export locomotive was known as the U30C. This version is unrelated to the U30C built for North America.
Cudahy, Brian J. (1979), Under the Sidewalks of New York, The Stephen Greene Press, ISBN0-8289-0352-2
Diesel Era Staff (March–April 1994). "General Electric's U30C". Diesel Era. Vol. 5, no. 2. pp. 6–22, 38–45.
Marre, Louis A. (1995). Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years: A Guide to Diesels Built Before 1972. Railroad Reference Series. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN978-0-89024-258-2.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to GE U30C locomotives.
Thompson, David. GE U30C Original Owners
January 24, 2023
u30c, axle, locomotive, built, general, electric, from, 1966, 1976, with, units, sold, u30c, proved, viable, alternative, customers, were, unable, purchase, sd40s, from, electro, motive, diesel, production, backlog, throughout, year, production, span, u30c, kn. The GE U30C is a six axle locomotive built by General Electric from 1966 to 1976 With 600 units sold the U30C proved to be a viable alternative for customers who were unable to purchase SD40s from Electro Motive Diesel EMD due to production backlog Throughout its ten year production span the U30C was known for reliability issues concerning its electrical system However most railroads were assured of the reliability of the GE Model 752 DC traction motor and began to place orders for U30Cs starting in 1966 When production ended the last U30Cs carried pre Dash 7 specifications which would be carried in its replacement the GE C30 7 GE U30CGE U30C on delivery for Ferrocarril del Pacifico MexicoType and originPower typeDiesel electricBuilderGE Transportation SystemsModelU30CBuild dateNovember 1966 October 1976Total produced600 plus 6 U30CG SpecificationsConfiguration AARC CGauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeLength67 feet 3 inches 20 50 m Prime moverGE 7FDL 16Performance figuresPower output3 000 hp 2 200 kW CareerLocaleNorth AmericaDispositionmost scrapped some preserved others rebuilt into the GE Super 7 ProgramThe U30C served customers of all kinds from mining to general freights coal trains and even as a power source unit for the Department of Transportation s subway car test tracks in Pueblo Colorado before a connection from the commercial electric power grid could be established Cudahy 1979 Not to be outdone in the freight sector GE produced a passenger version of the locomotive the GE U30CG The U30CG only sold six units for the Atchison Topeka amp Santa Fe Railroad When most U30Cs were being retired due to old age and mechanical or electrical problems General Electric initiated a rebuild program where older Universal Series locomotives would be upgraded with the latest technology and fuel saving systems GE would then strip the locomotive down to its frame and engine and completely rebuild the locomotive with new components When completed the unit would receive a new designation GE C30 S7R R for Rebuilt frame of traded in locomotive In the later years the rebuild frame was discontinued and a brand new frame would be used re designating the locomotive as GE C30 S7N N for New frame The only external difference was a large vent on the fireman s side ahead of the engine compartment The final variation came with the discontinued frame of the Universal series and instead using GE C40 8 kits This new model also featured a microprocessor officially designating this locomotive as GE C30 S7NMP A variant of the U20C export locomotive was known as the U30C This version is unrelated to the U30C built for North America Contents 1 Original owners 2 Images 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOriginal owners EditOwner Quantity Numbers NotesAtchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 6 400 405 model U30CGAtlantic Coast Line Railroad 4 3021 3024 3021 was the first U30C built Burlington Northern Railroad 180 5300 5394 5800 5839 5900 5944 5800 5805 5900 5911 new as 5300 5305 1st and 5353 5364 1st 5802 preserved in Gillette Wyoming Colorado amp Southern Chicago Burlington amp Quincy 4 890 893 All sent to Burlington Northern Same numbers Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 13 3300 3312Chicago and North Western Railway 7 930 936 934 was wrecked and rebuilt into a U34CH in 1978 Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific Railroad Milwaukee Road 8 5651 5658Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Rock Island 18 4582 4599 XR SeriesDelaware and Hudson Railroad 12 701 712Detroit Edison 11 007 012 018 022Ferrocarril del Pacifico 8 401 408Kaiser Steel Eagle Mountain Mine Division 5 1030 1034 Ballasting Sand added to the frame to increase weight considered the heaviest U30Cs ever built Louisville and Nashville Railroad 79 1470 1499 1534 1582 1499 was presented in an XR Series paint scheme Missouri Pacific Railroad 35 25 29 960 983 3329 3334Norfolk and Western Railroad 3 8000 8002Pennsylvania Railroad 5 6535 6539Reading Railroad 5 6300 6304Soo Line Railroad 10 800 809Southern Railway 5 3800 3804 High short hoodSouthern Pacific Railroad 37 7900 7936 Ballasting Sand added to the frame to increase weight Union Pacific Railroad 150 2810 2959 2851 was delivered with a fiberglass nose United States Department of Transportation 1 1Images Edit Colorado and Southern No 890 GE U30C Tanazania Zamba Railway Authority GE U30C At Mlimba Station Burlington Northern GE U30C at Illinois Railway Museum in July 2004See also EditIranian locomotivesReferences EditCudahy Brian J 1979 Under the Sidewalks of New York The Stephen Greene Press ISBN 0 8289 0352 2 Diesel Era Staff March April 1994 General Electric s U30C Diesel Era Vol 5 no 2 pp 6 22 38 45 Marre Louis A 1995 Diesel Locomotives The First 50 Years A Guide to Diesels Built Before 1972 Railroad Reference Series Waukesha Wisconsin Kalmbach Publishing ISBN 978 0 89024 258 2 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to GE U30C locomotives Thompson David GE U30C Original Owners Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title GE U30C amp oldid 1039602508, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
