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The GE U50C

(Please note that the models featured here are not the GE U50C.)

The GE U50C was the successor model to the earlier U50 design of the early 1960s. Once again this high horsepower locomotive was only purchased by Union Pacific, which again requested a powerful single-unit locomotive in an attempt to reduce operating costs by employing less units per train. Perhaps the biggest difference in the two designs was the truck setup and overall weight, as the U50C weighed considerably less and was also much shorter. Union Pacific had asked the locomotives to be designed from a similar model it had requested the Electro-Motive Division to construct. While the U50C attempted to solve deficiencies from the earlier U50, more arose with the new design. At the time, GE was simply not as proficient with diesel locomotive development as EMD. Interestingly, even though UP purchased more U50Cs than U50s, it had scrapped or sold its entire roster of them after just a few years of service.

The GE U50C, again a singular request by Class I Union Pacific, was slightly different from the U50 in that it was meant to be used in high-speed freight service instead of heavy drag service. The model still came equipped with two FDL model prime movers that combined produced 5,000 horsepower. However, with less need for extreme pulling power the engines were of the 12-cylinder variety, not sixteen which were used on the U50. While the prime movers employed in the locomotive were essentially those used in the U25C of 1963 the model's radiator design was more similar to the U33B/C due to the shorter length (making them much larger and more rectangular).

The shorter length not only allowed the U50C to be much lighter but it also featured a C-C truck setup (since it was not to be used in heavy drag service) further reducing the unit's weight. While the U50 weighed in at 557,000 pounds (or 278 1/2 tons) the U50C weighed just 442,660 (or 221 1/3 tons). Even though this allowed for reduced wear on the track structure the model was still plagued with numerous problems due to several design flaws, particularly in the electrical system which caught fire several times. As it turned out the trucks were still not sufficient to handle the locomotive's weight, as cracks were found in them.

Virtually every problem imaginable was happening to the U50Cs. Aside from the issues mentioned above the locomotives suffered from dynamic brake issues, oil pressure problems, and leaking water coolant. Despite all of these issues Union Pacific would eventually roster a fleet of 40 U50Cs, numbered 5000-5039 by the time General Electric had completed production of the locomotives in November, 1971. At the time, GE was still fine tuning the development of its Universal series as its models released in the 1960s were regularly plagued with similar mechanical issues.

However, the company's late model U-boats like the U30C, U33C, and U36C were much were reliable and carried many of the same components as its later "Dash 7" line. Still, at the time of the U50C's development EMD was simply a better locomotive builder not only due to the past successes of models like the GP38, GP35, GP30, GP9, GP7 and its E/F series but also because of the reliability of its powerful DDA40X "Centennial" model. Even though the locomotives was an experimental design also built for UP, and constructed at the same time as the U50C, it was so reliable that much of the fleet remained in service through the 1990s. Today, #6936 is still operational as part of UP's Heritage Fleet.

In any event, because of the severe reliability issues the railroad had with the U50C all 40 were retired, sold, or scrapped by 1978 after less than ten years of service. For technical data on the GE U50Cs please click here. Lastly, for more information about the GE U50C and all of the builder's U-boat models please refer to the chart below.

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GE U-Boat Road Switchers

Model Type	Units Built	Date Built	Horsepower
U18B	163	1973-1976	1,800
U23B	481	1968-1977	2,250
U25B	478	1959-1966	2,500
U28B	148	1966	2,800
U30B	296	1966-1975	3,000
U33B	137	1966-1975	3,300
U36B	125	1969-1974	3,600
U23C	223	1968-1976	2,300
U25C	113	1963-1965	2,500
U28C	71	1965-1966	2,800
U30C	606	1966-1976	3,000
U33C	375	1968-1975	3,300
U36C	238	1971-1975	3,600
U50C	40	1969-1971	5,000
U50/D	26	1963-1965	5,000

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.

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