GE U25C

The U25C The U25C's Legacy	Lake Superior & Ishpeming #2501 at Marquette, Michigan on 18 June 1989 (Ted Ellis photo)
New: 1 June 2022
General Electric's 2500-hp, four-axle "U-Boat" has long received a lot of traction in the hobby and industry press since its formal introduction in 1960, and understandably so. Meanwhile, its three-year-younger U25C cousin has stood in the shadows. It is interesting that it took the railroad industry that much additional time to express an interest in the GE six-axle model. Let's remember that Alco, Baldwin, EMD and FM had carried a six-motor model in their respective catalogs since the early 1960s. The railroads' initial response arrived during the last quarter of 1963 with two separate purchases of four U25Cs by Oro Dam Constructors (#8010-8013) and Atlantic Coast Line (#3000-3003). By the close of 1965, GE's Erie, Pennsylvania plant had produced an additional 105 of six-axle freight units. The sound of 2500-hp FDL16 engines pounding uphill with long coal drags or expiding hot freights across the midlands has long since past, and nearly all have succumbed to the cutting torch. The lone survivor is Lake Superior & Ishpeming #2501, which stands mute in a park near the Presque Isle ore dock at Marquette, Michigan. Without question, the U25C was the "grand-daddy" of more than 6500 six-axle domestic locomotives. LS&I sidebar: On Wedessday April 10th 1968, I met with LS&I motive power superintendent W.H. Shultz in his Marquette office. My purpose that morning was to grab pictures of the railroad's recently purchased U23Cs #2300 and 2301 tentatively scheduled for delivery some time on the 10th. Superintendent Shultz advised apologetically that pictures of the new units would not be possible because they were still enroute from Pennsylvania. Although chagrin was heavy, there would be a consolation prize of sorts in the form of ex-Great Northern RS3 #230. Stenciled "G.E. Co." under the cab window, the Erie-builder had provided the four-axle Alco as temporary back-up power. The question I posed to Mr. Shultz was, "What prompted LS&I in 1964 to discontinue its long-time Alco relationship in favor of GE?" -- or some words to that effect. He explained that the ore hauler had initially solicited a proposal from Alco for two new 2000-hp six-axle locomotives, but it was dismissed by the Schenectady builder. Shultz went on to say that the only six-axle locomotive Alco was interested in selling was their Century 628, and they had no interest in building a custom model. Hence, LS&I entered conversations with General Electric. GE's marketing philosophy at the time was no order was too small as evidenced by its sale of four U25C's to Oro Dam Constuctors and Atlantic Coast Line. The result -- E-built locomotive have plied LS&I rails for more than five decades. A U25C roster and data sheet appear at the end of this page.

The U25C
The U25C's Legacy

Lake Superior & Ishpeming #2501 at Marquette, Michigan on 18 June 1989 (Ted Ellis photo)

New: 1 June 2022

General Electric's 2500-hp, four-axle "U-Boat" has long received a lot of traction in the hobby and industry press since its formal introduction in 1960, and understandably so. Meanwhile, its three-year-younger U25C cousin has stood in the shadows. It is interesting that it took the railroad industry that much additional time to express an interest in the GE six-axle model. Let's remember that Alco, Baldwin, EMD and FM had carried a six-motor model in their respective catalogs since the early 1960s. The railroads' initial response arrived during the last quarter of 1963 with two separate purchases of four U25Cs by Oro Dam Constructors (#8010-8013) and Atlantic Coast Line (#3000-3003). By the close of 1965, GE's Erie, Pennsylvania plant had produced an additional 105 of six-axle freight units.

The sound of 2500-hp FDL16 engines pounding uphill with long coal drags or expiding hot freights across the midlands has long since past, and nearly all have succumbed to the cutting torch. The lone survivor is Lake Superior & Ishpeming #2501, which stands mute in a park near the Presque Isle ore dock at Marquette, Michigan. Without question, the U25C was the "grand-daddy" of more than 6500 six-axle domestic locomotives.

LS&I sidebar: On Wedessday April 10th 1968, I met with LS&I motive power superintendent W.H. Shultz in his Marquette office. My purpose that morning was to grab pictures of the railroad's recently purchased U23Cs #2300 and 2301 tentatively scheduled for delivery some time on the 10th. Superintendent Shultz advised apologetically that pictures of the new units would not be possible because they were still enroute from Pennsylvania. Although chagrin was heavy, there would be a consolation prize of sorts in the form of ex-Great Northern RS3 #230. Stenciled "G.E. Co." under the cab window, the Erie-builder had provided the four-axle Alco as temporary back-up power.

The question I posed to Mr. Shultz was, "What prompted LS&I in 1964 to discontinue its long-time Alco relationship in favor of GE?" -- or some words to that effect. He explained that the ore hauler had initially solicited a proposal from Alco for two new 2000-hp six-axle locomotives, but it was dismissed by the Schenectady builder. Shultz went on to say that the only six-axle locomotive Alco was interested in selling was their Century 628, and they had no interest in building a custom model. Hence, LS&I entered conversations with General Electric. GE's marketing philosophy at the time was no order was too small as evidenced by its sale of four U25C's to Oro Dam Constuctors and Atlantic Coast Line. The result -- E-built locomotive have plied LS&I rails for more than five decades.

A U25C roster and data sheet appear at the end of this page.

Original Owners (including multiple paint schemes)
Atlantic Coast Line #3013 at Waycross, Georgia on 12 April 1966. (Keith Ardinger photo / R. Craig collection)	Chicago Burlington & Quincy #561 at Lincoln, Nebraska in October 1965. (Chuck Zeiler photo)
Lake Superior & Ishpeming #2500 & 2501 at Presque Isle, Michigan on 10 April 1965.	Lake Superior & Ishpeming #2500 at Eagle Mills, Michigan on 16 May 1984. (Chuck Schwesinger photo)
Louisville & Nashville #1507 at Atlanta, Georgia on 14 February 1971. (Bill Folsom photo / R. Craig collection)	Louisville & Nashville #1500 at Sharonville, Ohio on 19 April 1974. (Dan Dover photo / R. Craig collection)
Northern Pacific #2526 at St. Paul, Minnesota on 31 May 1968 (Ray Sabo photo / R. Craig collection)	Oro Dam Constructors #8019 at Oroville, California on during the summer of 1964. (Robert Morris Photography)
Pennsylvania RR #6504 at Walbridge, Ohio on 17 April 1970. (R. Craig photo)	Reference Sources for this webpage: Extra 2200 South, issue #75 GE Advanced Generation, 1989, by James W. Kerr GE Locomotives, volumes 1 & 2, 1981, by James W. Kerr Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia, 1984, by Simmons & Boardman The Modern Locomotive Handbook, 1979, Railway Fuel & Operating Officers Assn. Diesel & Electric Locomotive Specifications, 1981, by F. K. Hudson. GE Advanced Generation, 1989, by James W. Kerr GE U25 Promotional Brochure, 1962
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Second-hand Owners (including multiple paint schemes)
Burlington Northern #5637 (ex-ChicagoBurlinton & Quncy 557) at Clyde Yard (Chicago) on 22 Sept. 1968. (R. Craig photo)	Conrail #6800 (ex-Penn Central #6500) at North Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin on 14 October 1979 (Chuck Schwesinger photo)
Conrail #6519 (ex-Penn Central/Pennsylvania #6519) at Rockville, New York during the Summer of 1977. (Ben Helsel photo )	Penn Central #6501 (ex-Pennsylvania RR #6501) at West Detroit, Michigan on 22 September 1969. (R. Craig photo)
Seaboard #1504 (ex-Atlantic Coast Line #3001) at Dolton, Illinois on 7 April 1984 (William Raia photo / R. Craig collection)	Seaboard Coast Line #2118 (ex-Atlantic Coast Line #2118) at Atlanta, Georgia on 5 July 1970 (Bill Folsom photo / R. Craig collection)
Louisville & Nashvlle #1525 (ex-Oro Dam Condtructors #8019) at Decoursey Yard, Kentucky on (Dan Dover photo / X2200 South Magazine photo)	Seaboard Coast Line #2118 (ex-Atlantic Coast Line #2118) at Atlanta, Georgia on 5 July 1970 (Bill Folsom photo / R. Craig collection)

GE U25C Quantity Built 113 (9/1963 to 12/1965)
Last Roster Revision: 11 June 2014	R. Craig Photo at Flat Rock, Michigan in March 1965
--	Info Supplied by: John Komanesky
Original Owner	Road Rd #	2nd Owner & Rd #	Bldr Numbers	Batch Numbers	Bldr Dates
Atlantic Coast Line	3000-3003	Seaboard Coast Line 2100-2103	34969-34972	1810	12/63
	3004-3010	SCL 2104-2110	35064-35070	1845	11/64
	3011-3017	SCL 2111-2117	35609-35615	1875	10/65
	3018-3020	SCL 2118-2120	35616-35618	1875	11/65
Chicago Burlington & Quincy	550, 551	Burlington Northern 5630-5631	35597, 35598	1865	8/65
	552-560	BN 5632-5640	35599-35607	1865	9/65
	561	BN 5632-5641	35608	1865	10/65
Lake Superior & Ishpeming	2500, 2501	--	35062, 35063	1823/1825	5, 7/64
Lake Superior & Ishpeming	#2501 last surviving U25C -- located in park within sight of Presque Isle ore docks
Louisville & Nashville	1500, 1501	--	35545, 35546	1855	5/65
	1502-1511	--	35548-35557	1855	5-7/65
	1512	--	35547	1855	5/65
	1513-1517	--	35558-35562	1855	10/65
Northern Pacific	2500-2505	Burlington Northern 5600-5605	35035-35040	1821	5/64
	2506-2514	BN 5606-5614	35041-35049	1821	6/64
	2515, 2516	BN 5615-5616	35582, 35583	1847	5/65
	2517-2524	BN 5617-5624	35584-35591	1847	6/65
	2525-2529	BN 5625-5629	35592-35596	1847	7/65
Oro Dam	8010, 8012 & 8013	#8010 & 8012 wrecked	34815, 34817 & 34818	1800	9/63
	8011/8020	Louisville & Nashvlle 1520	34816	1800	9/63
	#8011 wrecked, rebuilt and re-#d 8020
	8014 &8015	L&N 1521 & 1522	34819 & 3482	1800	5/64
	8016	wrecked	34821	1800	5/64
	8017, 8018	L&N 1523 & 1524	35563, 35564	1896	12/65
	8019	L&N 1525	35629	1896	12/65
Pennsylvania	6500-6502	Penn Central / Conrail 6500-6502	35057-35059	1850	4/65
	6503	PC /CR 6503	35056	1850	4/65
	6504-6509	PC /CR 6504-6509	35050-35055	1850	4/65
	6510-6515	PC /CR 6510-6515	35619-35622	1895	11-12/65
	6516-6519	PC /CR 6516-6519	35623-35628	1895	12/65
Source of information: Extra 2200 South. Additional information from Dave Dallner. Batch / order numbers provided by Dave Dallner. Original upload: 23 October 2010

Technical Data
Drawings and Technical Data Supplied by: Jean-Denis Bachand
POWERTRAIN
Engine: General Electric	FDL16 (4-cycle) @ 2500 hp	Bore & Stroke: 9.0" x 10.5"	RPM (Max. / Min.): 1050 / 650
Main Gen.: GT598	Traction Motors: GE-752 (six)	Tractive Force (starting): 92,000 lbs @ 25%	Tractive Force (continuous): 60,000 lbs @ 10.7 mph
TRUCKS
Wheel Arrngmnt: C-C	Wheel Dia: 40"	Turning Radius (min): 39 degrees	Wheelbase: 13'-00"
M/U Capability	Dyn. Braking	Loco Wgt: 252,000 lbs.	Speed: 70 mph / Gear Ratio: 74:18
SPECIFICATIONS / DIMENSIONS
Total Length: 64'-06"	Locomotive Wheel Base: 51'-04"	Engine Hood Height: 15'-03""	Cab Heighth*: 14'-07"
Cab Width: 9'-11"	Top of Walkway: 5'-07.6"	Length over handrails: 10'-06.5"	Distance between Truck Centers: 38'-04"
M/U Capability: Yes	Dynamic Braking: Yes	Loco Wgt: 348,000 lbs.	Speed: 70 mph / Gear Ratio: 74:18
T/M Blower (3): Mechanical Driven	Auxillary Generator: GY27	Air Comp.: Westinghouse 3CDC	Air Brake: Westinghouse 26L
CAPACITIES
Fuel Oil: 1700 gal. or 2900 gal.	Lub Oil: 355 gal.	Cooling Water: 290 gal.	Sand: 32 cubic feet
NOTES & CREDITS
Note: Height dimensions are from top of railhead.

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The U25C The U25C's Legacy

GE U25C

Quantity Built 113 (9/1963 to 12/1965)

Source of information: Extra 2200 South. Additional information from Dave Dallner.

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The U25C
The U25C's Legacy