GE 70-ton switcher
Ex-Southern Pacific No. 5100 at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, in Portland, Oregon, in 2013
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | GE Transportation Systems |
| Model | 70-ton switcher |
| Build date | January 1947–December 1955 |
| Total produced | 238 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration: |
|
| • AAR | B-B (C-C in metric gauge) |
| • UIC | Bo′Bo′ |
| Gauge |
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge, (1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) and 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) Brazil) |
| Loco weight | 70 short tons (63 long tons; 64 t) |
| Prime mover | Cooper-Bessemer FWL-6T |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Power output | 500–660 hp (373–492 kW) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Locale | North America and Brazil |
The GE 70-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between about 1942 and 1955. It is classified as a B-B type locomotive. The first series of "70 tonners" were a group of seven center-cab locomotives built for the New York Central Railroad in November 1942. These units differ from the later end-cab versions. Locomotives exported to Brazil were known as GE 64T (70 short tons or 63 long tons or 64 metric tons) and nicknamed "scooters".
The Modesto and Empire Traction Company used nine of these reliable 70-ton locomotives (MET No. 600–609) on its railroad along with two former-Southern Pacific EMD SW1500s. The company has since retired and sold all of these locomotives except number 600. The GE locomotives are also used by the Santa Maria Valley Railroad.
The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad still has locomotives 50, 51 and 53. 50 and 51 are original to the line, 53 was purchased second hand. 50 and 53 are currently in service (3/17). 51 suffered a catastrophic engine failure and is permanently out of service. It will be used for parts as necessary.
DownEast Scenic Railroad's 54, ex Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad 54, originally Berlin Mills Railway 16 is also in service. (11/16)
The Oregon Pacific Railroad owns the former Southern Pacific 5100. The locomotive is painted in the historic Southern Pacific scheme and is currently out-of-service.
Ex-Norfolk Southern Railway (1942–1982) 703, GE builder #30015, ex-Southern Railway #703; to Naporano Iron & Metal (May 1978); to Lake Ontario Steel (May 1978); now at South Simcoe Railway and now powered by a Cummins VTA1710 V12 engine. The Denton Farmpark (Denton, NC) has the High Point Thomasville & Denton Railroad 202; it has been restored and is operational.
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Wikipedia