#3963

GE U23C

🇺🇸 United States ·built by GE Transportation· from 1968· model of American 2300-hp Co′Co′ diesel-electric locomotives

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Variante Boa Vista-Guaianã 13-10-2012 08-34-29 (8086037955): Amauri Aparecido Zardeto from Itu, Brasil· CC BY 2.0
2. Variante Boa Vista-Guaianã 13-10-2012 08-21-35 (8086034706): Amauri Aparecido Zardeto from Itu, Brasil· CC BY 2.0

what is it?

The 2300 horsepower GE U23C diesel-electric locomotive model was first offered by GE in 1968, and featured a V-type 12 cylinder version of the standard GE FDL diesel motor. Designed as a competitor to EMD's SD38 and SD39 series, it was intended for heavy transfer, drag and hump service where speed was not a priority.

who runs it

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Penn Central Transportation Company Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Rede Ferroviária Federal S.A.Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad

base stats

speed 113 km/htop speed
power 1.7 MWpower output
built 223made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 58 years ago, in 1968.
1.7 MW is about 20 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.

diesel locomotive: A diesel engine on board drives the wheels, usually through a generator (diesel-electric).

spec sheet

built: 1968–1976
number built: 223
kind: Diesel-electric
traction: diesel
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
builders: GE Transportation, General Electric
operators: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Penn Central Transportation Company, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Rede Ferroviária Federal S.A., Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad
top speed: 113 km/h
power: 1.7 MW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: C-C

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q4039140, Wikipedia: GE U23C (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.