The GE U18B is a diesel-electric branch line road switcher locomotive that GE Transportation introduced in 1973. It was the only North American locomotive powered by the eight-cylinder 7FDL engine, and GE built just 163 of them, mostly for Maine Central and Seaboard Coast Line. Its small size earned it the nickname Baby Boats. Railroads were losing interest in specialized road units as the 1970s began, and the U18B was noted for reliability problems and for being underpowered. Maine Central called its units the Independence class and named them after revolutionary war heroes. A follow-on B18-7 appeared in a 1978 GE service manual but was never ordered or built. Eight former CSX units still work on the Pickens Railway in South Carolina.
Facts
Engine Class Connections
Exemplifies
Source GE U18B (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source GE U18B (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. GE U18B (Wikipedia)
Lead, year first built
The GE U18B diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as a branch line road switcher locomotive in 1973.
Lead, diesel fuel
diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation
Engine description
It was the only North American locomotive powered by the 8-cylinder 7FDL engine.
Production total
The U18B was not a popular seller with GE only making 163 of them
Production or service status
8 ex CSX U18Bs, nos. 9500 - 9508, can be found in service on the Pickens Railway located in the Upstate Region of South Carolina
Lead, builder
The GE U18B diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as a branch line road switcher locomotive in 1973.
Exemplifies: Rail Transport, Lead, locomotive
The GE U18B diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as a branch line road switcher locomotive in 1973.
In Group: American Diesel-Electric Road Locomotives, Service and customers
branch line road switcher locomotive
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