GE U28C explained

GE U28C
Powertype:Diesel
Builder:GE Transportation Systems
Buildmodel:U28C
Builddate:February 1966  - November 1966
Totalproduction:71
Aarwheels:C-C
Length:64feet Phase I or 67feet Phase II
Fuelcap:3500 gallons Phase I or 4000 gallons Phase II
Primemover:GE FDL-16
Alternator:GTA 9 Phase II (PRR units)
Generator:GT 598 Phase I and Phase II
Cylindercount:16
Poweroutput:2800hp

The U28C locomotive was developed by General Electric from the U25C, with a slight increase in power of 3000NaN0. A passenger-hauling variant, the U28CG, was also produced for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Development

General Electric built ten uprated U25Cs in 1965. Facing the competitive pressure of the second generation horsepower race, GE built these units with increased horsepower. The competitive 2750 horsepower Alco C628 had more horsepower and the 3000 horsepower Alco C630 was announced in July 1965. General Motors had the 3000 horsepower EMD SD40 demonstrators testing on several railroads. The increase in unit horsepower was happening that year. The uprated units were built for three railroads that were already operating the U25C. The first uprated units were built for the Northern Pacific between May and July 1965. These were NP #2518-2520 and were rated at 2750 horsepower. Three more uprated U25Cs were built as Atlantic Coast Line #3011-3013 in December 1965. The ACL units were rated at 2800 horsepower. The last four uprated U25Cs were rated at 2800 horsepower and were built for the Pennsylvania Railroad in December 1965. These were PRR #6516-6519. Six additional PRR U25Cs were uprated to 2800 horsepower: 6500–6503, 6510–6511. In early 1966 General Electric began offering the 2800 horsepower U28C. A total of 28 look-a-like U28Cs were built between February 1966 and July 1966 as Chicago Burlington and Quincy #562-577 and Northern Pacific #2800-2811. These early Phase I U28Cs shared the 64 foot 4 inch frame that was standard with the predecessor U25C.

A drawing of the proposed longer frame U28C is in the November 1965 issue of Trains Magazine. Starting in May 1966 GE began producing the U28C on a longer frame. The new length for these U28Cs was 67 feet 3 inches. These are the 43 Phase II units built for Louisville and Nashville, Pennsylvania, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific. The Phase II units used either the General Electric GT 598 Generator or the GTA 9 Alternator. The 10 Santa Fe U28CGs were also built on this longer frame. Starting in November 1966 and through mid 1967 GE built 24 look a like Phase I U30Cs that used the same carbody as the Phase II U28Cs.

Original owners

GE produced 71 U28C locomotives, not including ten U28CG passenger variants for the Santa Fe:[1]

RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad16562–577to Burlington Northern 5650–5665, U25C-style carbody
Louisville and Nashville Railroad81526–1533Late-style carbody
Northern Pacific Railway122800–2811to Burlington Northern 5666–5677, U25C-style carbody
Pennsylvania Railroad156520–6534Late-style carbody
Southern Pacific Railroad107150–7159Late-style carbody
Union Pacific Railroad102800–2809Late-style carbody

Preservation

Ex-Union Pacific 2804 is preserved at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. The rear of the locomotive has been cutaway to show the inner workings of a diesel locomotive.[2]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sarberenyi . Robert . GE U28C and U28CG Original Owners.
  2. Web site: Rail . Museum of Transportation . 28 November 2015 . 9 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180609011010/http://transportmuseumassociation.org/the-collection/rail/ . dead .