The GE U18B

The GE U18B was a late model (one of the final Universal designs General Electric ever cataloged), 4-axle Universal design which the company intended to market as a secondary, light branch locomotive. While GE did sell more than 150 U18Bs overall it was not an extremely successful model as railroads generally did not buy many "specialty" designs (i.e., those intended for a specific purpose) and the unit bore complaints about being underpowered and somewhat suffered from reliability issues. Additionally, considering that the model was a second-generation class diesel railroads could employ units of their first generation fleet for the same type of work the U18B was designed for, all without spending a dime. Still, interestingly, a handful of U18Bs remain in operation today, notably on the Pickens Railway, a shortline operating in South Carolina.

Providence & Worcester U18B #1801 switches its train at the small yard in Plainfield, Connecticut on June 1, 2000. This "Baby Boat" was purchased new by the P&W in 1976, its only such example.

The GE U18B began production in March, 1973, interestingly towards the very end of the Universal line's production run. Like the U23C, the U18B utilized a unique version of GE's 4-cycle FDL prime mover which featured only eight cylinders that produced 1,800 horsepower. While virtually all GE models built during this time featured the now-well known flared radiator due to the low horsepower rating of the U18B this simply wasn't needed, which made it appear as an early Universal model. Still, the U18B was easily identifiable by its much shorter frame, as it was only 54'-08" in length and weighed just 219,000 pounds. Interestingly, even though the locomotive was relatively light and carried a short frame it did offer quite a bit of tractive effort using refurbished Blomberg trucks; 83,500 pounds of starting effort and 57,500 continuous (by this point virtually all diesel locomotives came equipped with dynamic braking).

As was generally case when it came to locomotives railroads were more interested in models which could perform multiple tasks rather than one which was intended for a specific purpose. Thus, GE had a tough time selling the U18B although it did ultimately outshop 163 to two Class Is (Maine Central and Seaboard Coast Line), a shortline (Providence & Worcester), a utility (Texas Utilities), and Mexican railroad Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México by the time production had ended in October, 1976. Had it not been for the SCL, GE's sales of the U18B would have looked very poor. However, the railroad by the 1970s was becoming an increasingly loyal customer of the company and purchased 105 between 1973 and 1974.

A former Seaboard Coast Line U18B, now CSX #1976, is seen here in Tampa, Florida on January 22, 1988.

Production on the U18B had ended by October, 1976. Apparently the unsuccessful nature of the model convinced General Electric to scrap any plans to released a follow-up design, which would have been known as the B18-7 as part of the company's new "Dash 7" series (offering new electronics among other features). Perhaps it required GE to learn its lesson the hard way but it came to find out what earlier builders like Alco, Baldwin, and Fairbanks-Morse (by then long gone from the market) already knew; railroads love redundancy and usually do not respond well to specialized equipment suited for a particular task.

Today, again, you can find a handful of U18Bs still in operation on shortlines although there are none known to be preserved. For a total production roster of GE U18Bs please click here. Also, for technical data on the model please click here. Lastly, for more information about the GE U18Bs and all of the builder's U-boat models please refer to the chart below.

GE U-Boat Road Switchers

Maine Central U18B #406, the "Colonel John Allan," leads its northbound freight out of Brunswick Yard with assistance from two GP7s on August 20, 1981. Shortly, the train will arrive in Augusta. Note the old tell-tales above the first GP7.

For more information on the General Electric Universal series consider Mike Schafer’s Vintage Diesel Locomotives, which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic GEs, or diesels in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both.  You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.