GE U18B

The GE U18B diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as a branch line road-switcher in 1973.[1] It was the only North American locomotive powered by the 8-cylinder 7FDL engine.[2] The U18B was not a popular seller with GE only making about 150 of them, and they were mostly purchased by Maine Central and Seaboard Coast Line.[1] Railroads lost interest in specialized road units entering the 1970s.[1] The U18Bs were noted for having reliability issues and being underpowered.[1] The Maine Central referred to their U18Bs as the independence class and named their units after revolutionary war heroes.[3][1] 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.[4][5]

GE U18B
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Electric
ModelU18B
Build dateMarch 1973 – October 1976
Total produced163
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length54 ft 8 in (16.66 m)
Prime moverGE 7FDL
Engine typeV8 4-stroke diesel
AspirationTurbocharger
Displacement5,344 cu in (87.57 L)
Cylinders8
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in (228.6 mm × 266.7 mm)
TransmissionDC generator, DC traction motors
Loco brakeStraight air, Dynamic
Train brakes26-L Air
Performance figures
Power output1,800 hp (1.34 MW)
Career
LocaleNorth America

Original Owners


Image Railroad Quantity Numbers Notes
Maine Central Railroad[6] 10[6] 400–409[6] Blomberg trucks;[6] part of a cancelled SCL order
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México[6] 45[6] 9000–9044[6] AAR type-B trucks[6]
Providence and Worcester Railroad[6] 1[6] 1801[6] FB-2 trucks[6]
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad[6] 105[6] 250–261, 300–392[6] 325-392 with Blomberg trucks, all others FB-2.[6] All to CSX. 10 additional units on order but cancelled
Texas Utilities[6] 2[6] 101–102[6] AAR type-B trucks[6]

See also

References
  1. "GE "U18B" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Production Roster". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  2. "Origins of the GE FDL engine". RAILROAD.NET. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  3. "Maine Central Roster". trainweb.org. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  4. Miller, T. C. B. (September 1963). "Maintenance of Diesel Electric Locomotives in Service". Journal of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers. 53 (295): 577–661. doi:10.1243/jile_proc_1963_053_055_02. ISSN 0534-283X.
  5. Kte'pi, Bill (2014), "Electric Diesel Locomotive", Encyclopedia of Transportation: Social Science and Policy, Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., doi:10.4135/9781483346526.n177, ISBN 9781452267791, retrieved 2022-03-25
  6. "U18B Roster". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
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