GE Universal Series

The GE Universal Series locomotives were diesel locomotives originally launched by GE in early 1956. The latest variant in the Universal Series was built in 2005. Initially, there were nine U-series models: U4B, U6B, U9B, U9C, U12B, U12C, U18B, U18C and UD18B. They were designed to be readily adaptable to different track gauges for export markets and very reliable. The U5B and U8B appeared later, being first built for RFFSA, Brazil in 1961.^[1]

Engines

The Universal Series has at its heart the Cooper Bessemer engine. General Electric built four demonstrators in 1954 with Cooper Bessemer engines for road testing. This demonstrator set was numbered the 750ABCD. The demonstrators were made up of two cab units and two booster units. The demonstrators spent considerable time testing on the Erie Railroad. The 750AB were UM12s built with eight cylinder, FVBL-8 engines rated at 1200 horsepower. The 750DC were UM18s built with 12 cylinder, FVBL-12 engines rated at 1800 horsepower. After testing the units were rebuilt in October 1959 at GE-Erie with 16 cylinder engines rated at 2000 horsepower. The former demonstrators were sold to the Union Pacific as UM20s in April 1960 and numbered UP 620AB-621AB. The UM20s were retired in October 1963.

Demonstrators

While the GE 750 demonstrator was still testing GE built two XP24 demonstrators, numbers 751 and 752 in 1959. These units became the first U25Bs. The GE U25B became the first widely sold domestic market GE Universal Series locomotive. North American Universal Series locomotives are often called "U-Boats" by railfans and model railroaders.

Other Universal Series locomotives

• GE U10B, introduced 1978
• GE U12B, introduced 1958
• GE U14C, introduced 1974
• GE U15C, introduced 1979
• GE U17C, introduced 1973
• GE U18C1, introduced 1959
• GE U20C, introduced 1964
• GE U20C1, introduced 1966
• GE U23B, introduced 1968
• GE U23C, introduced 1968
• GE U25B, introduced 1959
• GE U25C, introduced 1963
• GE U26C, introduced 1971
• GE U28B, introduced 1966
• GE U28C, introduced 1965
• GE U28CG, introduced 1966
• GE U30B, introduced 1966
• GE U30C, introduced 1966
• GE U30CG, introduced 1967
• GE U33B, introduced 1966
• GE U33C, introduced 1968
• GE U36B, introduced 1969
• GE U34CH, introduced 1970 (passenger unit)
• GE U36C, introduced 1971
• GE U36CG, introduced 1974
• GE U50, introduced 1963
• GE U50C, introduced 1969
• GE UM6B, introduced 1973
• GE UM20B, Demonstrator #750 built in 1954
• GE UM12C, introduced 1956

Gallery

• 

  GE U5B NOVOESTE #2061 - "Luiz F. M. Barone"

• 

  GE U5B ALL (América Latina Logística) #2087

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  GE U5B FCA (Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica) #2039

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  GE U20C, South African Class 33-000 no 33-002

• 

  GE U12C, Ferrocarril Belgrano Sur, Argentina

See also

• List of GE locomotives

References

Notes

1. Palmano, Steve. "GE Export U-Series Model Evolution". GE Export Page.

• "GE Export Page".
• "Origins of the GE FDL engine". railroad.net Railroad Forums.

Bibliography

• Lamb, J. Parker (2007). Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive. Railroads Past and Present. Bloomington, IN, USA: Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253348630.
• McDonnell, Greg (1994). U-Boats: General Electric's Diesel Locomotives. Toronto: Boston Mills Press. ISBN 1550461125.
• Schafer, Mike (1998). Vintage Diesel Locomotives. Enthusiast Color Series. Osceola, WI, USA: MBI Publishing. ISBN 0760305072.
• Solomon, Brian (2000). The American Diesel Locomotive. Osceola, WI, USA: MBI Publishing. ISBN 0760306664.
• Solomon, Brian (2003). GE Locomotives: 110 Years of General Electric Motive Power. St. Paul, MN, USA: MBI Publishing. ISBN 9780760313619.
• Solomon, Brian (2010). Modern Locomotives: High Horsepower Diesels 1966–2000. New York: Crestline. ISBN 978-0785826811.
• Solomon, Brian (2010). Vintage Diesel Power. Minneapolis, MN, USA: MBI Publishing. ISBN 9780760337950.
• Solomon, Brian (2012). North American Locomotives: A Railroad-by-Railroad Photohistory. Minneapolis, MN, USA: Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760343708.