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GE U18B

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GE U18B
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Electric Model U18B Build date March 1973 – October 1976 Total produced 163
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo′ Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Length 54 ft 8 in (16.66 m) Prime mover GE 7FDL Engine type V8 4-stroke diesel Aspiration Turbocharger Displacement 5,344 cu in (87.57 L) Cylinders 8 Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (228.6 mm × 266.7 mm) Transmission DC generator, DC traction motors Loco brake Straight air, Dynamic Train brakes 26-L Air
Performance figures Power output 1,800 hp (1.34 MW)
Career Locale North America

The GE U18B diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as a branch line road switcher locomotive in 1973.^[1] It was the only North American locomotive powered by the 8-cylinder 7FDL engine.^[2] The U18B was not a popular seller with GE only making about 150 of them, and they were mostly purchased by Maine Central and Seaboard Coast Line.^[1] Railroads lost interest in specialized road units entering the 1970s.^[1] The U18Bs were noted for having reliability issues and being underpowered.^[1] The Maine Central referred to their U18Bs as the Independence class and named their units after revolutionary war heroes.^[3][1] GE included information about a B18-7 locomotive (which would have followed the U18B) in its 1978 "Series-7 Road Locomotives" service manual, but none of these updated units were ordered, sold, or built.^[4][5]

Original Owners[edit]

Image	Railroad	Quantity	Numbers	Notes
	Maine Central Railroad[6]	10[6]	400–409[6]	Blomberg trucks;[6] part of a cancelled SCL order
	Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México[6]	45[6]	9000–9044[6]	AAR type-B trucks[6]
	Providence and Worcester Railroad[6]	1[6]	1801[6]	FB-2 trucks[6]
	Seaboard Coast Line Railroad[6]	105[6]	250–261, 300–392[6]	325-392 with Blomberg trucks, all others FB-2.[6] All to CSX. 10 additional units on order but cancelled
	Texas Utilities[6]	2[6]	101–102[6]	AAR type-B trucks[6]

See also[edit]

• Maine Central
• Seaboard Coast Line

References[edit]