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The GE Universal Series is a series of diesel locomotives intended for the export market introduced by General Electric in early 1956. General Electric had previously partnered with Alco, producing locomotives for export using Alco's 244 engine, and provided electrical parts for Alco's domestic production. However, with the advent of the Universal Series, GE ended its partnership with Alco and entered the export locomotive market on its own.

The export-oriented Universal Series should not be confused with the "U-Boats" for the North American market, which began with the U25B.[citation needed] The Universal Series are built to a much smaller loading gauge (Bern loading gauge) and are significantly lower in weight when compared to US locomotives sharing the same engine and horsepower rating. Universal Series locomotives can also be identified by the lack of battery boxes usually found under North American locomotives' cabins

Naming convention

The designations of the Universal series describe the locomotive model in compact form: U for Universal, followed by the engine's nominal horsepower rating in hundreds, and finally the number of axles; B = B-B (4 axles); C = C-C (6 axles). An 'M' indicated a modified version of the base model. Along with their development, the same numbers were often reused by different locomotive models. Even the same designation could be shared with domestic locomotives. For example, both the U18C and U20C model numbers refer to different locomotives offered at different dates with different engines (8- and 12-cylinder); and the export U30C model shared the same model number with the US U30C, but had a 12-cylinder, rather than a 16-cylinder engine.

Engines

The initial models of the Universal Series used Caterpillar 375 (8-cylinder), Caterpillar 397 (12-cylinder), Cooper-Bessemer FWB-6L (6-cylinder), Cooper-Bessemer FVBL-8 and FVBL-12 (8- and 12-cylinder, respectively). Later models substituted higher-power Caterpillar engines for the smaller locomotives or GE's own 7FDL8 and 7FDL12 engines for the larger ones. Unlike EMD, GE never had a 16-cylinder engined export locomotive model in the Universal series.

Engine Number of locomotives built using engine
Cooper-Bessemer FWB-6L 40
CB FBVL-8 333
CB FBVL-12 191
Caterpillar D379 342
Cat D398 736
General Electric 7FDL8 885
GE 7FDL12 1510
Others 54

Specifications

Based on the March 1989 GE Locomotives catalog, the following models were offered at the following specifications.

Model Engine Horsepower (traction) Wheel arrangement Length (over end frames) Height (over cabins) Nominal weight (fully loaded) Tractive effort (at 30% adhesion)
U10B Caterpillar 3512 800 hp B-B 33 ft 6 in 12 ft 110,000 lbs 33,000 lbs
U18C 7FDL8 1800 hp C-C 52 ft 12 ft 0.5 in 193,300 lbs 57,990 lbs
U20C 7FDL12 2000 hp C-C 52 ft 12 ft 0.5 in 196,000 lbs 58,800 lbs
U22C

UM22C

7FDL12 2150 hp C-C 52 ft 12 ft 0.5 in 196,000 lbs 58,800 lbs (U22C)

62,700 lbs (UM22C)

U26C 7FDL12 2600 hp C-C 55 ft 6 in 12 ft 1.5 in 210,000 lbs 63,000 lbs
U30C 7FDL12 3000 hp C-C 55 ft 6 in 12 ft 1.5 in 210,000 lbs 63,000 lbs

Models

Upon introduction in 1956, nine locomotive models were offered, as follows:

Model Engine Horsepower (traction) Wheel arrangement Type Photo
U4B CAT 375 340 B-B End-cab switcher Not built
U6B CAT 397 640 B-B End-cab switcher
U9B

Data Sheet

CB FWB-6L 900 B-B Road switcher
U9C

Data Sheet

CB FWB-6L 900 C-C Road switcher
U12B CB FVBL-8 1200 B-B Road switcher
U12C CB FVBL-8 1200 C-C Road switcher
U18B CB FVBL-12 1800 B-B Road switcher Not built
U18C CB FVBL-12 1800 C-C Road switcher
UD18B CB FVBL-12 1800 B-B Road switcher

The evolution of Universal Series locomotives is complex due to the frequent model name changes and the reusing of the same model names for different locomotives. One method to understand the growth and development of the Universal Series is to divide the nine original models into three groups: 1) small locomotives, 2) intermediate powered locomotives, and 3) high powered locomotives.

Small Locomotives

Initial model First update Second update Third update
U4B

Data Sheet

U5B (1961)

(540 hp)

Data Sheet

U6B* (1965)

(640 hp)

U10B* (1974)

(950 hp)

U6B

Data Sheet

U8B (1961)

(810 hp)

Data Sheet

UM10B (1962), later renamed U10B (1964)

(950 hp)

U11B (1974)

(1000 hp)

In this table, and the following two tables, asterisks indicate repeated model numbers

Between the initial models and the first update, the Caterpillar 375 and 397 engines were replaced with 379 and 398, respectively.

The UM6B was a narrow-gauge variant of the U6B, built for South African Railways.

Intermediate Powered Locomotives (8-cylinder)

Initial model First update Second update Third update Fourth update Fifth update Sixth update
U12B U13B (1960)

(1300 hp)

U13B* (1963)

(1300 hp)

U15B (1969)

(1500 hp)

U17B (1973)

(1700 hp)

U12C U13C (1960)

(1300 hp)

U13C* (1963)

(1300 hp)

U15C (1969)

(1500 hp)

U14C, U17C (1973)

(1400 hp, 1700 hp)

U18C* (1976)

(1800 hp)

U20C* (1995)

(2000 hp)

Between the first and second updates, the Cooper-Bessemer engine was replaced with 7FDL8 engine. The body style was also changed with a low short hood and Hi-Ad trucks replacing the high short hood and outside-equalized trucks.

A variation of the U18C was the U18A1A, built for the Indonesian railway. These locomotives had the same C-C trucks but one fewer traction motor in each truck, and downrated to 1650 horsepower. Most of these locomotives have been rebuilt to U18C standards.

The 6-cylinder U9B and U9C models were an evolutionary dead end, and no uprated versions were produced.

High Powered Locomotives (12-cylinder)

Initial model First update Second update Third update Fourth update Fifth update
U18C
U20C (1964)

(2000 hp)

U20C* (1971)

(2000 hp)

U26C (1971)

(2600 hp)

U22C, UM22C (1975)

(2150 hp)

U30C (1982)

(3000 hp)

As with the intermediate powered locomotives, the Cooper-Bessemer engine was also replaced with 7FDL12 engine.

The differently-rated U22C, U26C and U30C models were offered at the same time.

The U18C and the earlier U20C model had a variant with an additional non-powered leading axle in each truck, resulting in a lower axle loading and a 1C-C1 wheel arrangement. These locomotives were only purchased by the South African Railways.

No U18B was produced, and the few UD18 locomotives built were exported to Mexico.

Universal Series Locomotives in Numbers

Between 1956 and 2001, 4091 Universal Series locomotives were built, consisting of the following models:

Model Number of locomotives of a model
U20C and U20C1 1000
U10B 510
U18C, U18C1 and U18A1A 420
U26C 392
U15C and U15A1A 322
U6B and UM6B 156
U5B 139
SG10 and SG15 126
U12C 123
U8B 122
U13C 109
U12B 97
U22C and UM22C 93
UM10B and UM10A1A 91
UM12C 80
U13B 74
U11B 62
U17C 58
U30C 52
Other models 65

South Africa has the largest number of Universal Series locomotives, with 1040 locomotives (including SG10 and SG15 models), followed by Brazil with 864 locomotives. Other countries owning more than 100 locomotives are Argentina (182), Colombia (167), Indonesia (192), Mozambique (120) and The Philippines (126).

The majority of the locomotives were built in the General Electric plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, however, licensees such as Dorbyl (South Africa), GE do Brasil (Brazil) and Babcock y Wilcox (Spain) constructed significant numbers of locomotives. Other licensees building smaller numbers of locomotives included Krupp (49), GE Lokindo (16), GE Montreal (16), Goninan (13) and Nippon Sharyo (1).

Builder Number of locomotives built by builder
General Electric 2478
Dorbyl (South Africa) 709
GE do Brasil 544
Babcock y Wilcox (Spain) 259
Others 101

Production of Universal Series locomotives peaked in the 1970s, with almost 2000 locomotives built during this period.

Decade Number of locomotives built during decade
1956-1960 527
1961-1970 1125
1971-1980 1926
1981-1990 369
1991-2001 144

The majority of Universal Series locomotives operated on meter gauge and 3 ft 6 in gauge railway lines.

Gauge Number of locomotives built for gauge
2 ft and 3 ft 243
Meter and 1050 mm 1056
3 ft 6 in 2101
Standard 296
1600 mm 191
1668 mm and 1676 mm 204

Gallery

Further developments

Parallel to the developments of domestic US locomotives, 'Dash-7' versions of Universal Series locomotives were produced, among others, C18-7i (Egypt), C20-7i and C24-7i (Pakistan), C22-7i (Argentina), and C30-7i (Iran and Mongolia). The ADTranz 'Blue Tiger' (DE-AC33C) was a high-powered locomotive designed for the export market. During its short production run, three variations were produced: Germany (1435 mm gauge, 7FDL12 engine, 21 t axle load), Malaysia (1000 mm gauge, 7FDL12 engine, 20 t axle load), and Pakistan (1676 mm gauge, 7FDL16 engine).

As of 2022, no Universal Series locomotive remained in the Wabtec (successor to GE Transportation) catalog. However, the C30ACi and C21EMP-C25EMP series are the direct descendants of the U18C lineage; while the C20ACi is the descendant of the U12C series. Examples of the modern-day versions of Universal Series locomotives are Chilean C23EM, Indonesian C20EMP and CM20EMP, and Pakistani C20EMP locomotives.

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Lamb, J. Parker (2007). Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive. Railroads Past and Present. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34863-0.
  • McDonnell, Greg (1994). U-Boats: General Electric's Diesel Locomotives. Toronto: Boston Mills Press. ISBN 1550461125.
  • Schafer, Mike (1998). Vintage Diesel Locomotives. Enthusiast Color Series. Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7603-0507-2.
  • Solomon, Brian (2000). The American Diesel Locomotive. Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7603-0666-6.
  • Solomon, Brian (2003). GE Locomotives: 110 Years of General Electric Motive Power. St. Paul, MN, USA: MBI Publishing. ISBN 9780760313619.
  • Solomon, Brian (2010). Modern Locomotives: High Horsepower Diesels 1966–2000. New York: Crestline. ISBN 978-0785826811.
  • Solomon, Brian (2010). Vintage Diesel Power. Minneapolis, Minnesota: MBI Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7603-3795-0.
  • Solomon, Brian (2012). North American Locomotives: A Railroad-by-Railroad Photohistory. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-4370-8.
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