The GE U30C is a six-axle
locomotive
A locomotive is a rail transport, rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, Push–pull train, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for ...
built by
General Electric
General Electric Company (GE) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, incorporated in the New York (state), state of New York and headquartered in Boston.
Over the year ...
from 1966 to 1976. With 600 units sold, the U30C proved to be a viable alternative for customers who were unable to purchase
SD40 SD40 may refer to:
* Canon PowerShot SD40, a digital camera
* EMD SD40, a diesel-electric locomotive
* South Dakota Highway 40
* SD-40 alcohol, ethanol denatured alcohol, denatured by adding denatonium benzoate
* School District 40 New Westminster, ...
s from
Electro-Motive Diesel
Electro-Motive Diesel (abbreviated EMD) is a brand of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. Formerly a division of General Motors, EMD has been owned by Progress Rail since 2010.
Electro-Motive ...
(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.
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
Pueblo ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality that is the county seat of and the List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous municipality in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The ...
before a connection from the commercial
electric power grid
An electrical grid (or electricity network) is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers. Electrical grids consist of power stations, electrical substations to step voltage up or down, electric power tran ...
could be established .
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 Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT&SF, was one of the largest Railroad classes, Class 1 railroads in the United States between 1859 and 1996.
The Santa Fe was a pioneer in intermodal freight tra ...
.
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.
Original owners
Preservation
•
Burlington Northern
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States–based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1995.
Its historical lineage begins in the earliest days of railroad ...
#5383 is preserved and operational at the
Illinois Railway Museum
The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM, reporting mark IRMX) is the largest railroad museum in the United States. It is located in the Chicago metropolitan area at 7000 Olson Road in Union, Illinois, northwest of downtown Chicago.
Overview
...
•
Burlington Northern
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States–based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1995.
Its historical lineage begins in the earliest days of railroad ...
#5802 is preserved and on display in
Gilette, Wyoming.
•
DOTX #001 is preserved at the Pueblo Railroad Museum in
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality that is the county seat of and the List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous municipality in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The ...
.
•
Reading
Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch.
For educators and researchers, reading is a multifacete ...
#6300 is preserved at the
Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in
Hamburg, Pennsylvania
Hamburg (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania German: ''Hambarig'') is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,270 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The town is though ...
.
• VLIX #1497 (ex
-L&N 1497) is preserved at the Southern Appalachia Railroad Museum in
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson County, Tennessee, Anderson and Roane County, Tennessee, Roane counties in the East Tennessee, eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, Knoxville. Oak Ridge's po ...
, awaiting restoration.
• VLIX #9009 (ex-
DEEX #009) is preserved at the Southern Appalachia Railroad Museum in
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson County, Tennessee, Anderson and Roane County, Tennessee, Roane counties in the East Tennessee, eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, Knoxville. Oak Ridge's po ...
, awaiting restoration.
Images
File:Colorado and Southern 890.jpg, Colorado and Southern No. 890 GE U30C
File:Tazara GE U30C Mlimba.JPG, Tanazania Zamba Railway Authority GE U30C At Mlimba Station
File:Ferrocarril del Pacífico new GE U30C at GM&O Glenn Yard, Chicago, IL on way to delivery on December 22, 1969 (34295929875).jpg, Ferrocarril del Pacífico U30C during delivery to Mexico, 1969
See also
*
Iranian locomotives
References
*
*
*
External links
* Thompson, David.
GE U30C Original Owners'
{{GE diesels
Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States
U30C
C-C locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1966
Freight locomotives
Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States
Standard-gauge locomotives of Mexico
Diesel–electric locomotives of Mexico
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway locomotives
Chesapeake and Ohio locomotives
Chicago and North Western Railway locomotives
Milwaukee Road locomotives
Norfolk and Western Railway locomotives
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