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_(10567941576).jpg)
_in_Rutherford_Yard%2C_Harrisburg%2C_PA_on_May_10%2C_1970_(21829139283).jpg)
5 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Ferrocarril del Pacífico new GE U30C at GM&O Glenn Yard, Chicago, IL on way to delivery on December 22, 1969 (34295929875): Marty Bernard from U.S.A.· Public domain
- 2. Norfolk and Western 8001 (U30C) (10567941576): Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China· CC0
- 3. Reading 6303 (U30C) in Rutherford Yard, Harrisburg, PA on May 10, 1970 (21829139283): Roger Puta· Public domain
- 4. Tazara GE U30C Mlimba: J.W.H. van der Waal· CC BY 2.5
- 5. UP U30C 2827: Wikimedia Commons· CC BY-SA 3.0
what is it?
The GE U30C is a six-axle locomotive built by General Electric from 1966 to 1976. With 600 units sold, the U30C proved to be a viable alternative for customers who were unable to purchase SD40s from Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) due to production backlog. Throughout its ten-year production span, the U30C was known for reliability issues concerning its electrical system.
base stats
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 60 years ago, in 1966.
- 2.2 MW is about 26 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- 20.4 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
diesel locomotive: A diesel engine on board drives the wheels, usually through a generator (diesel-electric).
spec sheet
- built
- 1966–1976
- status
- preserved
- number built
- 600
- kind
- Diesel-electric
- traction
- diesel
- origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- builders
- GE Transportation, General Electric
- top speed
- —
- power
- 2.2 MW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- wheel arrangement
- Co'Co'
- length
- 20.4 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q5513311, Wikipedia: GE U30C (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.