GE U18B
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 A Maine Central Railroad U18B, on lease to the short-lived Niagara and Western New York Railroad, July 2002 |
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| Power type | Diesel |
|---|---|
| Builder | General Electric (GE)  USA |
| Model | U18B |
| Build date | March 1973 – October 1976 |
| Total production | 163 |
| AAR wheel arr. | B-B |
| UIC classification | B'B' |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Length | 54 ft 8 in |
| Total weight | varies by railroad |
| Prime mover | GE 7FDL |
| Engine type | 4-stroke diesel |
| Aspiration | turbocharger |
| Displacement | 5,344 in³ |
| Cylinders | V8 |
| Cylinder size | 9 in × 10.5 in |
| Transmission | DC generator, DC traction motors |
| Top speed | varies by railroad |
| Power output | 1,800 hp (1,342 kW) |
| Tractive effort | varies by railroad |
| Locomotive brakes | Straight air, Dynamic |
| Train brakes | 26-L air |
| Locale | North America |
| WikiProject Trains {{Infobox Locomotive Auto}} |
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The GE U18B Diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as a branch line roadswitcher in 1973. Easy to spot due to its relatively short length — 54 ft 8 in — it was the first and only North American locomotive powered by the 8-cylinder 7FDL engine.
The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) bought 105 U18Bs, far more than the second-best U.S. customer, the Maine Central Railroad (MEC), which ordered 10. Most of the SCL and MEC U18Bs rode on refurbished Blomberg trucks, recycled from old EMD locomotives, making the U18B even more visually distinct from other GE locomotives.
Many railfans refer to GE's Universal Series locomotives as "U-Boats." Due to its smaller size, the U18B received the nickname "Baby Boat."
Not many U18Bs still exist, but some shortline railroads, such as the Pickens Railway, still have several U18Bs in everyday service.
GE included information about a B18-7 locomotive (which would have followed the U18B) in its 1978 "Series-7 Road Locomotives" service manual, but none of these updated units were ordered, sold, or built.
[edit] Original Owners
| Railroad | Quantity |
|---|---|
| National de Mexico | 45 |
| Maine Central Railroad | 10 |
| Providence and Worcester Railroad | 1 |
| Seaboard Coast Line Railroad | 105 |
| Texas Utilities | 2 |
[edit] References
- Sarberenyi, Robert. GE U18B Original Owners.
- GE Transportation. Locomotive Service Manual for Series-7 Road Locomotives (Section 1).
- GE Transportation. Operating Manual - Diesel-Electric Locomotive - GEJ-3856C (1973).
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