The GE U30C is a six-axle
locomotive
A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the Power (physics), motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, Motor coach (rail), motor ...
built by
General Electric
General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...
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 by adding denatonium benzoate
Denatonium, usually available as denatonium benzoate (u ...
s from
Electro-Motive Diesel
Progress Rail Locomotives, doing business as Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), is an American manufacturer of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. The company is owned by Caterpillar through its s ...
(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 and the List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous municipality of Pueblo County, Colorado, Pueblo County, Colorado ...
before a connection from the commercial
electric power grid
An electrical grid is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers. Electrical grids vary in size and can cover whole countries or continents. It consists of:Kaplan, S. M. (2009). Smart Grid. Electrical Power ...
could be established .
Not to be outdone in the freight sector, GE produced a passenger version of the locomotive, the
GE U30CG
The GE U30CG was a passenger-hauling diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems. It was a passenger variant of GE's U30C design purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. ATSF had purchased ten U28CG locomotive ...
. The U30CG only sold six units for the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT&SF, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The railroad was chartered in February 1859 to serve the cities of Atchison and Topeka, Kansas, and ...
.
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
General Electric Company (GE) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York (state), New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated ...
(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
General Electric Company (GE) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York (state), New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated ...
(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
The GE C40-8 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between 1987 and 1992. It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives, and its wheel arrangement is of a C-C type.
This locomotive model is often r ...
kits. This new model also featured a microprocessor, officially designating this locomotive as
GE C30-S7NMP
General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energy, ...
.
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
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:GE U30C BN 5383.jpg, Burlington Northern GE U30C at 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
Histo ...
in July 2004
See also
*
Iranian locomotives
While passenger trains are operated by private operators, motive power is generally provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI). Additionally, Alborz Niroo Equipment & Railway Fleet Company runs freight train using privately owned die ...
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