GE "U33C" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, History

Last revised: January 1, 2025

The U33C was one of General Electric's most powerful six-motored road-switchers, and one of the last cataloged before moving on to the more technologically advanced "Dash 7" line.

Once GE had proven its worth with the U30C, a model that sold more than 600 examples, the company's sales began to take off.

This was particularly true with the "Dash 7" line, a continuation of the U-boat series sporting upgraded electronics and other features.

A pair of new Northern Pacific U33Cs - the last new engines the railroad acquired before the Burlington Northern merger - is seen here in Missoula, Montana during 1969.

For the Class I's that acquired U33Cs, many remained in use through the early 1990's. However, over time the units were slowly phased out in favor of newer "Dash 7" and "Dash 8" variants.

The U33C was General Electric's first six-motored model to sport a noticeably flared rear radiator; needed to handle the unit's 3,300 horsepower.

The model sold relatively well for GE with some 375 units out-shopped by the time production ended in 1975. Southern Pacific purchased the most, taking possession of 212 units between 1969 and 1975

Photos

Burlington Northern U33C #5738 leads a quartet of units still clad in predecessor liveries as they lead an eastbound freight through the yard at Livingston, Montana during August of 1971. Drew Jacksich photo.

History

The U33C began production in September, 1967. As Greg McDonnell notes in his book, "U-boats," the first four units produced were Milwaukee Road #8000-8003.

These units had been ordered as U30C's but were upgraded to U33C specs during the course of production. While the late-era Milwaukee acquired many GE products, these four were the only U33C variants it rostered.

The model continued to utilize GE's standard 4-cycle, 7FDL16 prime mover. Aside from a slight bump in horsepower, and the rear flared radiator, the U33C was otherwise identical to the U30C.

Burlington Northern U33C #5726 and a trio of SD45's appear to be on the Oregon Trunk Line during the 1970s. American-Rails.com collection.

Reception

While sales for the U33C were not as strong as that of its earlier counterpart it did sell to 11 different Class I's and a private company (S.J. Groves & Sons). The roads to purchase the model included:

Santa Fe (25)
Burlington Northern (39)
Delaware & Hudson (12)
Erie Lackawanna (12)
Great Northern (15)
Illinois Central (10)
Milwaukee Road (4)
Northern Pacific (10)
Penn Central (24)
Southern Railway (10)
Southern Pacific (212)

Some lines like the Milwaukee and Santa Fe had become regular buyers of GE products by the 1970s. From a historical perspective, GE's decision to sell its own road-switchers, and their ultimate success, put Alco out of business.

Milwaukee Road U33C #8002, and a mate, layover at the Tideflats Yard in Tacoma, Washington in July, 1968. Note the boxcabs on the next track over. These U-boats were the first in the U33C production run and had been delivered earlier that year. Fred Byerly photo. American-Rails.com collection.

The revered company, which had been in business since 1901 (and with successors that dated back to the industry's earliest days), closed its plant in Schenectady, New York in early 1969.

Data Sheet

Entered Production	1/1968 (Milwaukee Road #8000)
Years Produced	1/1968 - 1/1975
GE Class	U33C
Engine	7FDL16 (16 cylinder)
Engine Builder	General Electric
Horsepower	3300
RPM	1050
Length	67' 3"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	15' 4"
Width	9' 11"
Weight	363,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity	3,000 Gallons
Air Compressor	3CDC (Westinghouse)
Air Brake Schedule	26L (Westinghouse)
Trucks	C-C
Truck Type	Trimount/Adirondack
Truck Wheelbase	13' 0"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	752 (6), GE
Traction Alternator	GTA11AC, GE
Auxiliary Generator	GY27, GE
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Dynamic Brakes	Optional
Gear Ratio	74:18
Tractive Effort/Starting	91,650 Lbs
Tractive Effort/Continuous	92,500 Lbs at 10.7 mph
Top Speed	70 mph

Erie Lackawanna U33Cs in pool service operating on the Delaware & Hudson; the units are seen here cresting Richmondville Hill near East Worcester, New York in April of 1971. Jim Shaughnessy photo.

Production Roster

Total Built = 375

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Milwaukee Road	8000-8003*	36504-36507	1936	1/1968-2/1968	4
Penn Central	6540-6559	36670-36689	1934	2/1968-4/1968	20
Illinois Central	5050-5059	36690-36699	1951	4/1968-5/1968	10
Penn Central	6560-6563	36864-36867	1964	8/1968	4
Great Northern	2530-2538	36776-36784	1961	5/1968-7/1968	9
Erie Lackawanna	3301-3306	36785-36790	1962	7/1968	6
Southern Pacific	8600-8629	36899-36928	1981	1/1969-4/1969	30
Great Northern	2539-2544	37026-37031	1802	4/1969	6
Southern Pacific	8630-8644	37032-37046	1807	4/1969-5/1969	15
Erie Lackawanna	3307-3315	37054-37062	1810	8/1968	9
Santa Fe	8500-8524	37073-37097	1811	6/1969-8/1969	25
Northern Pacific	3300-3309	37118-37127	1809	7/1969	10
Southern Pacific	8645-8646	37179-37180	1812	10/1969	2
Southern Pacific	8647-8687	37181-37221	1812/1814	2/1970-6/1970	41
S.J. Groves & Sons Construction	507-508	37366-37367	1817	10/1969	2
Southern Railway	3805-3809**	37388-37392	1815	4/1970	5
Delaware & Hudson	754-762	37616-37624	1844	9/1970-12/1970	9
Burlington Northern	5725-5734	37685-37694	1841	2/1971-3/1971	10
Burlington Northern	5735-5763	37972-38000	1853	7/1971-9/1971	29
Southern Pacific	8688-8713	38095-38120	1871	2/1970-6/1970	26
Southern Pacific	8714-8737	38121-38144	1871	10/1971-12/1971	26
Southern Railway	3810-3814**	38213-38217	1861	1/1972	5
Southern Pacific	8768-8777	38785-38794	1811	1/1973-2/1973	10
Southern Pacific	8778-8785	39297-39304	1811	6/1973-7/1973	8
Southern Pacific	8786-8796	39733-39743	1856	2/1974-4/1974	11
Southern Pacific	8585-8599	39753-39767	1842	12/1974-1/1975	15

* Ordered as U30C's but upgraded to U33C specs during production.

** Equipped with a high, short hood.

Sources

Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

Marre, Louis A. Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years, A Guide To Diesels Built Before 1972. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1995.

McDonnell, Greg. U-boats. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1994.

Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.

Solomon, Brian. GE Locomotives: 110 Years Of General Electric Motive Power. St. Paul: MBI Publishing, 2003.

Erie Lackawanna U33C's, seen here after being returned from the Delaware & Hudson, are once more wearing their EL livery at Hornell, New York on January 15, 1976. Carl Sturner photo. American-Rails.com collection.

The Universal line is often considered a success from a macro view as General Electric refined its product and, in doing so, sold continually more locomotives.

However, operating and maintenance crews generally disliked the U-boat, complaining of their rough ride and suffering reliability issues by comparison to similar EMD products.

However, General Electric, which already offered a reliable and rugged traction motor (the 752), corrected these issues over time.

Unfortunately, with such a high turnover trade-in program as GE continually improved its product, no U33C's were preserved.